Vote ‘yes’ on the budget; re-elect Schoen and O’Hagan

Next year’s budget for Baldwin schools makes the best of a bad situation. The choices district officials had to make on spending were grim, but they were realistic, and based on many hours of careful consideration. While there may be regret about the plan’s cost-cutting measures, there should not be anger, and voting “no” on the budget as an expression of vitriol would be a mistake. Voters who do so would actually be disadvantaging the students they hope to protect. The outcome would not be a restoration of programs, schools or jobs, but rather an even more savage slashing of funds that would gut district activities and significantly reduce the quality of life for students and non-students alike.

We urge voters to approve the spending plan next Tuesday.

The school district has been buffeted by the economy over the past few years, and it will continue to absorb body blows until things turn around. The Board of Education is not to blame. School districts are, by and large, fund-spending bodies, not fund-raising ones, so to charge that the trustees should have seen this financial storm coming is unrealistic. In fact, the board has performed admirably despite the economic malaise.

We deeply understand and sympathize with the community’s feelings of loss as school closures have become necessary, but we believe they are necessary. We also think that painful choices like these are the ones school board trustees are elected to make. No one wants to close a school or lay off a teacher. But as things stand, it would be wasteful to maintain every building in a school system that was erected when there was more money and greater demand.

B.A. Schoen and Mary Jo O’Hagan have devoted their time and energy for 16 and 18 years, respectively, to one of Nassau County’s most successful districts. They should not be blamed for the difficult circumstances Baldwin faces. Rather, they should be thanked for ensuring that the situation is not worse.