By Jeff Lipton
More than 5,000 voters turned out at the Woodmere Education Center on May 21 the only voting site in the district this year because of construction at other district schools to cast their ballots in favor of the budget and to reelect incumbent Howard Weinick to a fourth three-year term and to elect Teena Ditchek Korman to her first term.
We knew the budget would be a difficult issue, said superintendent Dr. Charles Fowler. There were a number of increases we had no control over. We cut quite a lot and were going to continue to cut in order to stay in line with the budget of other communities, but if we did that, we would be putting our own students at a disadvantage.
The will of the people definitely prevailed, he added. We experienced our largest turnout in history. When I saw the size of the turnout, I was confident we would win this [budget vote]. But the real winners are the kids.
The $65.2 million budget carried with it an 11.38 percent increase and a 13 percent hike in the tax levy. The increase represents the first payments on the bond financing the Hewlett High School addition and improvements approved by voters in June 2000, amounting to about 1.74 percent of the total tax increase of 11.38 percent. The most significant increases were seen in undistributed expenses, of about $3 million, and costs of instruction at more than $2 million.
I applaud the residents of District 14 for passing Proposition 1, Korman said of the budget vote. People united in large numbers to support the educational needs of all students. One meaningful result of this vote is that recommended class size can exist in order for teachers to best address each student to reach their potential, an essential goal noted in national State of the Union addresses.
New York State directs our schools without supplying the assistance we need to comply with their mandates. Only a small percentage of state aid comes our way. I am proud to be a member of a community that recognizes the importance of supporting education for our youth and our future.
Korman also was proud that she was elected to her first school board seat. She won 34 percent of the vote in the at-large election in which the top two vote-getters win seats on the board. Weinick won 31.5 percent to retain the seat he has held for the past nine years. Gilda Tesser won 15.8 percent of the vote; Goldberg 9.7 percent and Rosner 8.7 percent.
I am thrilled that Teena and I won and will be able to work together, Weinick said. The turnout was the most amazing part.
Tesser said, I am disappointed that I did not win election to the H-W Board of Education, but I congratulate the winners, Ms. Korman and Mr. Weinick, and hope they dedicate themselves to working for the benefit of the entire community.
When the vote was being counted, Rosner said he was disturbed the way some of the audience members reacted to the results.
The reaction of the audience tonight was very disturbing, said Rosner, who along with Goldberg were the first Jewish parochial school parents to seek election to the Hewlett-Woodmere board. I think it indicates a separation between the people of this community. Also, I am suspicious of the results because I think the PTA had too much influence and led the vote.
Goldberg added, This is not a loss. I will still be involved in community activities. The voters spoke and I respect their decision. I think some of the things that went on here tonight [May 21] were inappropriate but I will address that later with a proper formal complaint.
