By:Andrew Coen
Part of Fitzsimons- outreach plan included meeting with 12 religious leaders at Lawrence Middle School on Tuesday, May 4. The session involved rabbis from every denomination as well as Baptist and Lutheran ministers from local churches.
In addition to urging the importance of passing the budget on May 18, Fitzsimons also discussed with the clergy his three goals for the district, which are to regain community confidence in the Lawrence Public Schools, improve student performance and to enhance community harmony. I tried to reinforce that what happens in the school district affects what happens in the community as a whole, said Fitzsimons.
Fitzsimons and the clergy also had a dialogue about the relationship that the district has with non-public schools.
Temple Israel of Lawrence Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum praised Fitzsimons for holding the meeting. I applaud Dr. Fitzsimons for reaching out to religious leaders of all faiths in the Five Towns community, said Rabbi Rosenbaum. He showed his candor, concern and commitment to provide an education of excellence to all students of the Lawrence school system. He showed a sincerity to the hundreds of youngsters who attend either private or parochial schools and a commitment to provide them with services.
Rabbi Sholom Stern of Temple Beth El of Cedarhurst also felt the meeting was productive. There was a real cooperative spirit to try and work together and be inclusive, said Rabbi Stern. The high polarization that has been evident in the community was absent in that room. From over communication you can-t have illness. You only have illness from lack of communication.
I think all the people that were in that room do not want divisiveness, said Rabbi Hershel Billet of Young Israel of Woodmere. The atmosphere was very cordial and respectful.
The Rev. Elisabeth Aurand of the Lutheran Church of Incarnation in Cedarhurst, said, It was an opportunity to search ourselves to ensure that we are facilitating people in our community, to think of common citizenship and to respect the rights of every person in the district.
The board-s proposed budget of $87,326,933 represents a 4.7 percent increase over the current austerity budget of $83,419,384 and is the fourth lowest budget-to-budget increase of Nassau County-s 56 school districts. The tax levy increase is 9.35 percent, which according to district officials, is due in large part to the district currently operating with a contingency budget, since both proposed budgets were voted down last June. Assistant superintendent for business Deirdre Gambino could not be reached for comment on the proposed tax rate.
If the proposed $87 million budget were to be rejected, the district would be forced into a contingency budget for the second straight year. Some of the repercussions for the district in the event of another austerity budget: The district would be forced to immediately reduce the proposed budget by $1.9 million and be allowed only a 2.4 percent budget increase as well as having to cut 30 staff positions on top of the proposed cut of 34.7 staffers in the current proposed budget. A contingency budget would also result in an increase in class size, deep program cuts and reductions of psychology, social work and nursing services, according to district officials.
District officials also said that textbooks, library books and computer software would be cut, as well as health and welfare services for all public and private school pupils in the district.
The Lawrence Central Council PTA has been working hard to let residents know how crucial it is for the budget to pass.
It is extremely important that the community approve the budget this year, said Central Council PTA President Nancy Piccirillo. A 4.7 percent increase is fiscally responsible given the many mandated increases that the district must address. We urge everyone to pass the budget on the first ballot so that none of the children in the community lose programs that can adversely affect their education.
