Lynbrook Residents approve school budget, facilities upgrade

Lynbrook residents voted in favor of the district’s $74.47 million spending plan by a wide margin – 1,063 ‘yes’ votes to 605 ‘no’ votes— on Tuesday. The district also passed three separate propositions including Proposition 4, in which voters decided to approve the use money from the capital reserve fund and the improvement of facilities fund for renovations of district fields and buildings.

Proposition 4 will use $5.6 million of the $6.9 million in the capital reserve fund to resod the athletic field at North Middle School, install a multi-sport, artificial-turf field at Marion Street School and relocate the baseball field to South Middle School, among other work. Out of the four propositions on the ballot, Proposition 4 passed by the slightest margin, 887 ‘yes’ votes to 721’no’ votes.

“We’re all thrilled that the community came out to support what we believe is going to provide the best educational opportunities for our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Santo Barbarino. “The proposition that is always the most important is the budget, and all of the other propositions – the technology propositions as well as the facilities propositions – all speak to better opportunities for our students.”

Proposition 2, which will allow the district to use $98,000 from its technology replacement fund to undertake infrastructure and peripheral upgrades and improvements to the high school art technology lab, was approved by a margin of 1,107 ‘yes’ votes to 535 ‘no’ votes.

Proposition 3, extends the technology replacement fund for an additional five years and voters responded by voting 1,019 to 594 in favor of it.

The three school board candidates who ran unopposed for re-election, Board President Cathy Papandrew, Trustee Sean Strife and Trustee Rob Paskoff will all retain their spots on the board for the next three years. Papandrew garnered 1,145 votes, Strife accumulated 990 votes, and Paskoff tallied 989 votes.

“We’re very happy that the budget passed and the propositions passed,” Paskoff said. “I’m very happy that I’ll be able to give my daughter her high school graduation diploma next year.”

Although there wasn’t much drama for the school board elections, Strife was glad to hear that everything was approved. “I’m thrilled that the capital plan passed, as well as the budget, because the capital plan is for both sides of town and there’s something in it for everyone,” Strife said.

Papandrew said the board is looking forward to implementing the new propositions in the future and is grateful to retain her seat on the board. “We have a lot of work ahead of us and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” Papandrew said. “I am deeply appreciative of the community’s support. I’m honored that they’ve placed their faith in me to be on the board for the next three years, and I’m looking forward to continuing to serve the community.”