By Nick Buglione
More than 100 local residents turned out at the hearing to voice concerns about saving teachers' jobs, keeping class sizes down and cutting back on administration expenses rather than instruction. The majority of those who spoke pleaded for the district to leave East Meadow's renowned music program untouched.
"You cannot cut this program," said Robert Farley, a resident whose son graduated from East Meadow High School and now plays in the University of Michigan marching band. "You cut this program, you might as well cut the heart out of the district."
The East Meadow School District's music education is among the best in the state, cultivating over the years some of the finest student musicians. "In 2002, we received the New York State School Music Association's presidential citation award," said Abby Behr, the district's supervisor of music, "which is to honor the most exemplary music program in the state. It's quite an honor."
Meanwhile, every year children from districts all over the county race to sign up for East Meadow's popular summer music program.
"I have to tell you, the music program has been a godsend," said Linda Bronsky, whose son is a junior at East Meadow High School. "These teachers care about their kids."
Still, cutbacks in the 2002-03 budget hit music departments in all of East Meadow's nine schools hard. Having lost teachers, the departments have had to make due with what they have, using vocal instructors to teach string classes and the like.
"I wish I had a bunch of money to give you," said Faun Guarino, a member of the Clarke Music Parents Association. "This is a plea. Please do not hurt music any more than it's been hurt."
The six-member panel presiding over the hearing -- three Board of Education trustees and three members of the district's lay Financial Advisory Committee -- spoke little but took copious notes as those in attendance spoke their minds. Superintendent Robert Dillon and Leon Campo, assistant superintendent for finance and administration, were also present, but sat in the crowd.
"To me, it seems more beneficial having a music teacher than a secretary for the chair of the department," said Fred Debellis, who has two children enrolled in local schools.
Civic activist and parent Charles Carter, who last year ran for the Board of Education and was one of the more vocal critics of the district's 2002-03 budget, also implored school officials to pare down administration costs before they consider laying off more teachers.
To make up for shortfalls in revenue and rising expenses, last year the East Meadow School District laid off 8 percent of its instructional and support staff.
"Before you consider cutting a single teacher position or a single program," Carter said, "I ask you to take an in-depth look at all administrative areas of the district and trim it to the bone."
Regarding it as a step in the right direction, Carter applauded the board for organizing community-input hearings early in this year's budget-drafting process.
"During last year's budget process," said David Kaplan, Board of Education trustee and chairman of the Business Committee, "some community residents expressed concern that the district did not notify them early enough of our impending revenue problems. We recognize that there may have been a better way to inform the community."
The 2002-03 budget came under heavy fire, with many residents charging that the administration's financial mismanagement of the district was to blame for its fiscal woes. In a community-wide vote, the budget barely passed.
"Some residents questioned the validity of our expense budget and our proposed remedies to close the gap between our anticipated revenues and those budgeted expenses," Kaplan said.
Criticism of that budget moved the state comptroller to conduct a comprehensive audit of East Meadow's books at the beginning of the school year. The audit's findings will soon be released to the public.
Looking ahead to the 2003-04 budget, school officials are again predicting tough times. Under Gov. George Pataki's proposed state budget, East Meadow schools will lose about $4 million in funding. That, coupled with rising expenses, will most likely lead to another property-tax increase and program cutbacks. Once again, East Meadow taxpayers can expect to pay more and get less.
Concrete figures on just how much more and how much less, though, were not available at the input meeting and won't be available for some time, Kaplan said. He also stressed that the East Meadow School District has not proposed any cuts for the 2003-04 year yet.
"Until the evening of April 10, when the Board of Education anticipates adopting the budget that the community will vote on in May, only a budget proposal exists," he said. "Adjustments can be made."
The next community-input meeting will be on Wednesday, March 12 at the Salisbury Center, 718 The Plain Rd.
