Thursday, October 1, 2026
Malverne and Lakeview taxpayers narrowly passed the Malverne school district's $47.5 million budget Tuesday with a vote of 747-615.
They also passed Proposition 2, which allows the district to use $400,000 form its capital reserves fund to improve the science labs at the Howard T. Herber Middle School and at Malverne High School, with a vote of 733-500.
"On behalf of the board, administration and our students," said schools Superintendent Dr. James Hunderfund, "we would like to thank the Malverne community for voting in support of the 2011-12 budget."
Taxpayers also re-elected Board of Education President Dr. Patrick Coonan with 630 votes. Malverne resident Don Pupke, who launched a last-minute write-in campaign last week, received 385 votes — but support for his cause filled the walls of a number of Facebook pages dedicated to Malverne and school-related issues.
"Congrats to Don on a race (albeit short) well run," wrote Mike Alexander, president of the Lakeview Public Library Board of Trustees, "but most for [bringing] together people concerned about our schools, our homes and our community (singular!)."
In his own post, Pupke thanked his supporters and claimed the fight is not over.
"Thanks to all who supported our cause and my candidacy," he wrote. "We fought a good principled fight and there's no shame in losing when you're fighting for a cause that you believe in. We're just at the begining of the fight to improve the schools and to make sure that every tax dollar we give is spent wisely."
