Lynbrook budget passes easily, Hanson elected to BOE

Lynbrook residents approved their school district's $76.19 million budget on Tuesday by a comfortable margin – 901 to 431 – and elected Heather Hanson to the Board of Education as she defeated incumbent William Kayen, 719 to 521. William Belmont, who ran unopposed, was re-elected to his third term on the board and garnered 706 votes.

Two additional propositions were also passed on the night, including Proposition 3, which will use $1.39 million from the district's reserves to fund facilities improvements and renovations at North and South middle schools. The track, tennis courts, gym bleachers, in addition to two interior and one exterior door, will be replaced at South, and the gym bleachers will be replaced at North. The proposition passed by a margin of 864 to 380.

Proposition 2 passed 951 to 342 and will use $600,000 from the district's Technology Replacement Fund and includes the expansion of switch infrastructure in all buildings as well as an increase in the wireless infrastructure density.

“I am very grateful that the community supported the budget so that we can continue to provide the programs that we have for the student even under these difficult tax-cap times,” Superintendent Dr. Melissa Burak said. “It’s very reassuring that the community feels strongly about the education that we provide and we look forward to working together to make Lynbrook a strong district on Long Island.”

Lynbrook's approved budget had the third lowest tax levy increase in the county at 1.52 percent and a budget-to-budget increase of 2.3 percent from the current spending plan

“I’m really excited and I hope the whole community sees this as a win,” Hanson said of her election to the board, “because I’m going to be really reaching out to all the different areas of the community and really get a sense of what’s important to them.”

Belmont said he looks forward to another three years on the board. “I appreciate the community’s support and entrust in me to represent them on the board,” he said, “and to continue to assist our young men and women in going through this process in dealing with what is a continuing overwhelming intrusion by state and federal government into the educational process.”