The campaign has revealed that each has constructive contributions to make and would serve the community well.
Incumbent Gina Genti has used her financial experience to help the district remain fiscally responsible. She understands the economic challenges school districts face, and has a host of ideas about how to address them. In her next term, Genti says, she wants to increase oversight by helping to enforce the district’s residency policy and getting tuition reimbursement from non-residents who send their children to schools in District 12 illegally.
Her challenger, Ronica Ebron, is a school and community advocate. She values education and encouraging students to pursue a college education and the career of their dreams. Her experience with the PTAs in the district, we believe, has helped her to build a good rapport with district students, teachers and residents, which would improve the relationship between the public and school board.
While we like Ebron and think she would do well on the board, the Herald believes that Genti has the edge in experience and financial knowledge, and we endorse her.
Incumbent Danielle Hopkins also exhibits the characteristics that a trustee should have. She is passionate about making sure students come first and that they have a high-quality, well-rounded education. Hopkins helped to establish the district’s fourth-grade instrumental music program, and if re-elected, she plans to push for implementing a foreign-language program at the elementary level. We endorse her as well.
Her opponent, Lynn Singleton, is intelligent and creative, and we think she would be a team player. She also values the importance of communication, and we believe she, too, has the skills and confidence needed to improve the relationship between the school board and the public.
Many residents have said they want change on the board, and when it comes to new voices and new perspectives, Ebron and Singleton make fine alternatives. But our view is that Genti and Hopkins have done a solid job, are dedicated to their duties, have the best interests of the district in mind, and have earned re-election.
Rilling and Mariano for trustee
West Hempsteaders have no fewer than three intelligent and experienced candidates running for the district’s Board of Education. Incumbent Carole Rilling has served on the board for 15 years and has helped to push the district forward in many ways. As a longtime educator, she believes in putting students first and encouraging them to excel.
Her challenger, Rudolf Schindler, also shows many of the qualities of an effective school board trustee. Schindler, who has lived in West Hempstead for 17 years, is a smart, community-minded man with a passion for making sure students know from an early age about the importance of pursuing a college education. His experience as a businessman would also be an asset to the school board as it searches for ways to enhance instruction without greatly increasing expenditures.
There is no wrong choice in this election. However, we believe that Rilling has done a great job and deserves another chance to serve the district with distinction. She has many ideas — including establishing a financial literacy course at West Hempstead High School and a mentoring program in the district — that we believe will continue to help students become successful and productive citizens. We urge residents to re-elect her to a sixth term.
Incumbent James Mariano is running unopposed for his sixth three-year term. The 31-year West Hempstead resident has made efforts each term to improve the district on many fronts. He is passionate about enhancing safety and technology for students, and we urge voters to show him their support.
Vote yes on your district’s budget
With the economy struggling and local school districts getting about the same amount of state aid next year, we believe that Malverne and West Hempstead administrators have done an enlightened job with their proposed 2009-10 spending plans.
The Malverne School District is offering a $44.7 million budget, roughly $1.28 million more than this year’s. Although the average homeowner will pay an estimated $257 more in taxes next year, the proposed $1.18 million tax levy increase is still the lowest District 12 has seen in 12 years. Moreover, the budget will provide funding for more electives at Malverne High and additional club activities for elementary students, and equip classrooms and libraries district-wide with computers and more SmartBoards. The money will also cover needed building and grounds improvements.
The district is also proposing to create a $5 million Capital Reserve Fund this year, which will be listed as Proposition 2 on the ballot. School officials have repeatedly said that this fund is needed to pay for future projects, but creating it will not cost the taxpayers any additional money. What could be an easier “yes” vote?
The West Hempstead School District is proposing a $52.6 million spending plan for next year, no more expensive than the current budget. It includes a $1.4 million tax levy hike, which means the average homeowner will have to pitch in about $220 more in school taxes next year.
The budget allots money for the expansion of the district’s Foreign Language in the Elementary School, or FLES, program to the third-grade, and the advancement of its Character Education program, which teaches students about tolerance, compassion and conflict resolution, among other lessons. Part of the budget will also cover needed refurbishments and maintenance of district facilities. The Herald encourages residents of both districts to vote “yes” on their budgets on Tuesday.
Dist. 13 plan is good for students, taxpayers
District 13 has proposed its lowest budget increase in more than a decade and has done so while maintaining programs, class sizes and facilities. The proposed spending plan, just under $41 million, includes a reasonable $29 tax hike for the average homeowner.
It also addresses the need to bring more technology into the classroom, a necessity in this new century’s fast-paced learning environment.
While it is difficult to pay any more in this economy, educating our children is a priority in good times and bad. We encourage voters to support the budget on Tuesday.
A second proposition, to increase transportation eligibility for children, is a tougher sell. Busing is currently available to students in grades K through 3 living at least a half-mile from school, and students in grades 4 through 6 at least a mile away. The proposition, if approved, would make the requirement a half-mile for everyone.
We agree that it seems foolish that some parents can put one child on the bus while an older brother or sister may have to walk or be driven in. We also recognize that when parents drive kids to school, it increases congestion and makes for a less safe situation in the immediate vicinity of the school.
However, at a cost of $36 for an average household per year — more than the budget increase — residents must decide if this is something that is truly needed in these tough economic times. Yes, a standard distance for transportation makes sense, but it is something that we believe could wait a few years, until taxpayers’ wallets aren’t stretched quite as thin.
