By: Stephen J. Bronner
The Hewlett-Woodmere Board of Education will remain a cohesive unit for at least another three years, after its three incumbents were re-elected on Tuesday.
Jill Stern led the way with 1,888 votes, according to unofficial results released early Wednesday morning, followed by Marcy Goldberg, with 1,843, and Stephen B. Witt, with 1,837. Challenger Mitchell A. Greebel came up just over 300 votes short in this at-large election, with 1,529 votes. while Fred Usherson received 613.
"Hopefully we'll continue the good work we've done in the past," Goldberg said. "It's a great group; it's very cohesive. We're here for all the kids and try to do the right thing. We care about the students and the community. Parents seem to be happy. Everybody seems to be happy."
Residents of Hewlett and Woodmere approved the school board's $98 million budget with a vote of 1,928 to 1,234. Next year's budget is 3.77 percent larger than the current spending plan, but trustees trimmed a total of $1.2 million from its final version by modifying programs, increasing efficiency and cutting $417,000 in administrative costs. The estimated tax levy of 3.48 percent is the lowest in a decade.
Proposition 2, which establishes a Long Range Building Improvement Fund III and allows the district to establish a capital reserve fund for classroom renovations, heating, plumbing, electrical and ventilation systems, window replacement and other repairs, passed by a vote of 1,970 to 1,098.
"I feel the vote of confidence of the board and staff of the district that we are best equipped to face the challenges over the next year, especially the economic challenges all schools are facing," said Witt. "I feel this is a victory for the students in the district, who I'm indebted to for their support."
In Lawrence, a long wait for results
As of Wednesday morning, the Lawrence School District was still unable to report any voting results, hours after all other Nassau and Suffolk districts filed their unofficial tabulations.
