Bellmore-Merrick residents should support their elementary-district spending plans

There is no doubt that the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District would not be the quality district that it is if it did not have excellent feeder elementary schools.

There are four elementary districts –– Bellmore, Merrick, North Bellmore and North Merrick –– that send students to the Central District. Each district consistently scores high on state-mandated English Language Arts and mathematics exams, while providing the type of rich educational experiences in computers, music, art and physical education that parents expect. Three of the four districts –– Bellmore, Merrick and North Bellmore –– also offer foreign language –– Spanish, that is. The program offers students an early experience with learning a new language and gives them a leg up in middle school foreign-language classes, while expanding their cultural horizons.

Each of the four districts is also looking at ways to upgrade security in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn., in December. Security upgrades will cost tens of thousands of dollars, but who can put a price on student safety? Protecting our children should be our top priority.

In short, Bellmore-Merrick residents should not only support the 2013-14 Central District budget, but also their local elementary district’s spending plan.