Support the Rockville Centre school budget

The Rockville Centre School District always puts forward a fair and reasonable budget, but the Board of Education was faced with a tough challenge this year: When it began budget talks, there was a $1 million gap that needed to be closed. Through some shrewd cuts and working with district officials — and an 11th-hour state aid increase — the gap was closed without any potential effect on students.

There are no large salary increases and no questionable spending measures in next year’s $109 million spending plan. Every dollar is accounted for and used to further village students’ education. The proposal is $2.4 million, or 2.25 percent, larger than this year’s spending plan — a reasonable, measured increase that will help Rockville Centre schools continue to provide the high-quality learning with which they have become synonymous.

The Board of Education, as well as the district administration, should be commended for their work on this budget, and we encourage residents to support it.

Re-elect Trustee O’Shea

One of the reasons the spending plan is so lean this year is Trustee John O’Shea. He is running unopposed, and the fact that no one is challenging him is proof enough that he’s doing an admirable job and deserves to be returned to his seat. O’Shea is what every board needs: a budget hawk. He scrutinizes every dollar that is proposed to be spent and makes sure it’s not being wasted.

He fights for children in the district and the community. It’s because of his advocacy that non-district sports teams can use the field at South Side High School.

O’Shea’s scrutiny and tenacity are crucial to the workings of the Board of Education, and we hope the community will support him.