A Board of Education meeting on Sept. 12 brought unwelcome, but not unexpected, news: Baldwin schools are facing a budget deficit again. In the 2012-13 budget — the one approved in May — a gap of around $4.7 million was part of the impetus for closing the Shubert and Milburn schools, among other cost-cutting measures. The shortfall projected for the next budget, 2013-14, is even more substantial. more

Eric Harrison, was elected to a seat on the Baldwin Board of Education in last week’s election, is a Brooklyn native who moved to the area in 1994. He and his wife, Melanie, have been married for 18 years and their two children attend Baldwin Senior High School and the middle school. more

News of police activity in Baldwin resulted in a precautionary lockout of district schools this morning. The lockout was lifted after approximately one hour and although no one was allowed in or out of any school building while the procedure was in effect, students still attended classes as usual. more

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. more

There are five candidates for two seats on the Baldwin school board. The election will be held on May 15 from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. at Baldwin Senior High School. The last day to register to vote is May 10. The incumbent candidates for school board are Mary Jo O’Hagan, the current board president, and Robert “B.A.” Schoen. The challengers are Tracy Mahler, Eric Harrison and Michael Grannum. Below are profiles of each candidate. more

At a PTA-sponsored candidates forum May 2 at the school district office, each of five candidates for two trustee seats on the Baldwin Board of Education attempted to persuade voters that he or she was the best choice. more

Although the State Senate and Assembly passed the remaining portions of the 2012-13 state budget on March 30, and although that budget restored more than a half-million dollars to the Baldwin School District, district officials say that the money will not appreciably affect the budget proposal Baldwin’s Board of Education approved weeks ago. more

The Baldwin Board of Education voted unanimously last week to adopt a draft of the 2012-13 budget, which totals just under $119.5 million. The budget represents a reduction of $494,000 from the current spending plan. more

One week after the Baldwin Board of Education’s Facilities Review Task Force recommended the closure of two of the district’s elementary schools, Superintendent Dr. James Mapes weighed in with his recommendations to the board. They included closing the Shubert and Milburn schools and halving Baldwin’s kindergarten program, among other belt-tightening measures. more

It was standing room only at the School-to-Careers breakfast at the Baldwin Senior High School library last month. Staff and faculty of the Baldwin’s Union Free School District networked with local business leaders and Baldwin students over coffee at a breakfast marking the official program kickoff for the 2011-2012 academic year. BHS assistant principal Rich Miskiewicz opened the event, introducing the School-to-Careers program as one that “ensures our economic future by providing career training in order to retain Long Island talent and provide a valuable service for our students here in Baldwin.” more