Lawrence district trustees unopposed

Along with voting on the proposed $93.1 million budget for the 2012-13 school year, Lawrence district residents could cast ballots for two incumbent Board of Education trustees on May 15.

Board members Abel Feldhamer and Uri Kaufman are running unopposed for their second and third three-year terms, respectively.

Feldhamer, 34, is a lawyer who lives in Cedarhurst. Kaufman, 48, is a real estate developer who lives in Lawrence.

Cost cutting measures such as the restructuring within the district’s administration, where positions have been cut and administrators are doubling up on responsibilities, laying off teachers and the outsourcing of the Universal Pre-K program are changes both trustees support due to the fiscal challenges Lawrence faces.

“I am most proud of the administrative changes,” Feldhamer said. “The new restructuring within the administration seemed like a daunting task, but it was a major accomplishment. We have looked for ways to improve across the board.”

“I think they have helped the school district in every respect,” Kaufman said. “We have to find efficiencies every way so we can help the community. We have to keep the increases around 2 percent; that is an incredible challenge.”

Due to the state’s mandated 2 percent tax –levy cap there is threshold of approximately 2 percent, which varies from district to district according to a formula provided by the state. Lawrence met the cap limit in the proposed budget.

Lawrence board meetings are conducted in a very business-like manner and not all the trustees speak during those gatherings. However, Feldhamer said he does maintain contact with district residents by phone or email. “I always encourage people to reach out to me on a professional level,” he said. “I like to hear from people and want to know what people are thinking.”

Though running unchallenged, Feldhamer and Kaufman both said it is important that residents should vote due to the importance of the budget. “It is a vote of confidence of the things you are doing and to vote on the budget is critical,” said Kaufman, who noted that should the budget fail the impact of an austerity budget on the district could have a “damaging effect.”

Lawrence school district residents also vote on Peninsula Public Library’s proposed $2.99 million budget and a trustee position also on May 15.

The library’s planned fiscal plan for 2012-13 includes an overall $82,645 increase compared to the current $2.912 million budget. Salaries and benefits for employees are up a total of $88,745.

Having completed the installation of the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) program has cut the supplies budget in nearly in half to $33,050. The RFID has every book tagged with a computer chip for improved security. The cost for printing, publicity and postage was pared by $2,000.

“We looked to cut costs not materials which is important,” said Library Director Arleen Reo. “We want the public to understand that we took measures not to decrease the materials that are available to them, while maintain our high standards of service.” The library also subscribes to Museum Pass where patrons can receive free passes to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

Running unopposed for her first five-year term is incumbent library trustee Sarah Yastrab, 41, a Woodmere resident who is an occupational therapist. Yastrab defeated Patricia Pope last year to complete the last year of Eva Marie Doran’s unexpired term.

Yastrab, who said she supports the proposed budget, thinks Peninsula is moving forward in adapting technology for the patron use and winning the Monster Truck visit (for the most young readers during a county-wide contest) was a feather in the library’s cap.

“There are still things to done,” Yastrab said, explaining why she is running for re-election. “I would like to see a new building. And we are working on more joint programs with the school district.”