The Budget Development Process 2023-2024

Click here to see if you are registered for the Annual School District Election and Budget Vote that will be held on May 16, 2023 in the HS Gymnasium.

The Deer Park School District budget development process for the next school year 2023-2024 begins in October and culminates with a public referendum held the third Tuesday in May.

October:
The budget development process begins when the department supervisors and building principals receive their budget packets. Each principal and supervisor is responsible for determining his/her respective school or departments’ needs.

December:
Central office administrators (the Superintendent, Asst. Superintendents, etc.) meet with principals to discuss their budget requests. Additionally, all new staffing needs and programmatic needs in relation to the curriculum are also discussed.

February-April:
Proposed budgets for every area are analyzed line by line by the Board of Education. Draft budgets are developed. Discussions take place at public meetings and public budget workshops. These meetings are advertised and the public is invited to participate and ask questions (see schedule of budget workshops below). After thorough discussion, the proposed budget is adopted by the Board of Education in April. Additional public meetings are held where budget questions raised by the public will be addressed.

May:
A budget hearing is held. This is a forum that once again provides residents with an opportunity to ask questions regarding the proposed budget. This is typically the last public meeting held specifically for the purpose of educating the community on the proposed budget. A line-by-line printout of the proposed budget is available at the hearing, as well as an informative newsletter for residents to use as a guide for learning about the proposed budget. This newsletter is also mailed to every Deer Park School District resident. Also, as per State law, no later than 6 days prior to the election, a postcard is mailed after the public hearing providing budget and tax impact information, in addition to basic voting information.

The proposed budget printout is available for viewing at the Deer Park Public library, on-line via the district website, at each of the main offices of the school district and can be obtained by contacting the Deer Park Schools District Clerk, located at 1881 Deer Park Road (next to JFK Intermediate School) or call (631) 274-4013.

A budget for the next school year is not official until approved by the community in a public vote. If the community does not pass the budget in May, the Board of Education and District can conduct a second vote (re-vote) the third Tuesday in June. The District is not obligated to conduct a second vote. If a second vote is held, the District has the option to put forth the same budget or can opt to reduce the proposed budget. Should the district opt not to hold a re-vote, or if a budget is defeated in a re-vote scenario, the district must operate on a contingency (austerity) budget.

Voter Information

Click here to see if you are registered for the Annual School District Election and Budget Vote
that will be held on May 16, 2023

This year, the vote for the proposed 2023-2024 school year budget and trustee election will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at Deer Park High School. 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. in the HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM (enter by pool/track). Due to safety concerns, all other doors will be locked during the school day.

*The budget will be discussed at the following work session/open meetings:

• February 28, 2023 – 8:00 p.m. Administration Office (Intro to budget)
• March 7, 2023 - 7:30 p.m. Administration Office
• March 21, 2023 – 8:00 p.m. Administration Office
• April 11, 2023 – 7:30 p.m. Administration Office – Adopt Budget
• May 9, 2023 – 7:30 p.m. Administration Office – Public Hearing
  

Voter Eligibility & Registration

Deer Park residents are urged to vote in all school district elections. To cast your ballot in the May 16, 2023 Budget Vote and Board Trustee Election you must be:

• a citizen of the United States
  
• eighteen (18) years of age or older (eligible students are encouraged to vote)
• a resident of the Deer Park School District for 30 days prior to the vote
• registered to vote with the Suffolk County Board of Elections or registered with the school district

Registration is required if you have not voted within four years in a general election or school election. For more information, please contact the District Clerk at (631) 274-4013 or check the Board of Elections website to see if you are registered.

Registration dates for the May 16, 2023 Budget Vote will take place in person on the following dates/times:

• Wednesday, April 19 – Administration Office, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Thursday, May 4 - Administration Office, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
• Monday, May 8 - Administration Office, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
  
  The last day to register with the school district is Monday, May 8, 2023
  

Absentee Ballot Application

Applications for absentee ballots for the school district election are to be completed on a form prescribed by the state board of elections and may be obtained by visiting the New York State Education Department’s Website at:

www.counsel.nysed.gov/english
www.counsel.nysed.gov/spanish

or by contacting the District Clerk by email at Brennan.l@deerparkschools.org or phone at 631-274-4013. Completed applications must be received at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the applicant, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the applicant or to his or her designated agent. Absentee ballot applications will not be accepted by the District Clerk before Monday, April 17, 2023. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk’s office no later than 5:00 p.m. on the date of the election.

Military Application

Pursuant to Education Law §2018-d, any person serving in the military, including spouses and dependents, may register to vote in the upcoming school district election. A military voter who is a qualified voter of the school district may obtain a registration form by contacting the District Clerk by telephone (631-274-4013), facsimile (631-242-6762), email (brennan.l@deerparkschools.org), mail (1881 Deer Park Avenue, Deer Park, NY 11729), or in person (during regular office hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.). A military voter who is duly registered may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application form from the District Clerk. Completed applications must be personally delivered or mailed to the District Clerk and received no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 20, 2023. Military ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on May 16, 2023 if signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto with a date which is not later than the day before the election, or not later than the close of the polls on May 16, 2023 if postmarked or endorsed by an agency of the United States government. A military voter may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration form, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile or electronic mail in the request for such registration, ballot application, or ballot.

Election & Term Information

Click here to see if you are registered for the Annual School District Election and Budget Vote
that will be held on May 16, 2023

The Board of Education has seven members, each elected for a term of three years. Candidates for the Board must be qualified voters of the School District and are nominated by petition. Such petitions shall be directed to the clerk of the School District and include the greater of at least two percent of the number of voters who voted in the 2022 annual election, or 25 people.

Board Member Qualifications

To qualify for membership on a school board, an individual:

• must be able to read and write
  
• must be a "qualified voter" of the district
• must be and have been a resident of the district for a least one year prior to the election.
• may not have been removed from any school district office within the preceding one year
• may not reside with a member of the family who is also a member of the same school board
• may not be a current employee of the school board
• may not simultaneously hold another incompatible public office
  

Nominating Petitions

Available by appointment on/after March 1, 2023 in the District Clerk’s Office, 1881 Deer Park Avenue. Before coming in to pick up a petition, please call 631-274-4013 or email Brennan.l@deerparkschools.org to set up an appointment.

Nominating positions must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters, or 2 percent of the number of voters who voted in the 2022 annual election of the members of the Board of Education, whichever is greater. This year, a minimum of 25 signatures are needed.

Nominating petitions for specific seats on the school board must include the candidate’s name and residence, the residences of the people who sign the petition, the vacancy to be filled, including the name of the incumbent, and the length of the term of office to be filled. For the May 16, 2023 trustee election, petitions are available for two seats with a term of three years, commencing on July 1, 2023. The terms of Mr. Al Centamore and Ms. Donna Gulli Grunseich will expire on June 30, 2023.

Candidates may be nominated for only one vacancy. Nominating petitions must be filed for specific seats on the board. Petitions must be delivered to the District Clerk no later than 5:00 PM on Monday, April 17, 2023. The first campaign contributions affidavit is also due at this time. Campaign contribution statements are due April 17, 2023, May 11, 2023 and June 5, 2023.

Voter Qualifications