By:Karenlyn Barone
East Rockaway's $24,411,425 school budget literally passed by a margin you could count on two hands. Only 10 votes in the affirmative clinched the decision between an approved financial plan for the 2004 - 2005 school year and having to put up the budget for a dreaded second vote. The approved budget reflects an increase of 8.9 percent.
"It was the seniors who got it approved," said Mary Orzano, a 28-year veteran district math teacher. She was referring to the twelfth-graders, many of whom turned 18 this year, and voted in the budget election for the first time on Tuesday.
At 9:13 p.m., the budget outcome was announced by High School Principal William Fortgang, to a stunned audience who had gathered to enjoy the high school's Spring Concert. Not only was voter turn-out low, this is the smallest margin by which a budget has ever been passed in anion's memory. Many residents were surprised by what they took to be voter apathy.
"I cannot believe that more people did not come out and support the budget," said a resident with school-age children who did not wish to be identified. "I was sitting next to a woman who admitted she did not bother to vote, because she was sure the budget would pass, anyway."
Another long-time resident said that his strategy this year was to vote against the budget the first time.
"I decided to vote no for the first vote and pray the budget was defeated," he confided. "Then after it was trimmed down, and went for a second vote, I would vote yes."
Forty-three districts across Long Island voted down their budgets and almost one-third of Nassau County school budgets were defeated and will have to be presented for a second, do-or-die- vote before July 1.
In uncontested races, both incumbents Vicki Alspector (464 votes) and Marie Girace (529 votes) were elected to another three-year term as school board trustees.
"Voters across Long Island sent a message to school districts, but more importantly, they sent it to Albany," said Alspector. "We are not "Affluent Island" We need more state aid to run our schools and to satisfy the new standards. We are working people who want to support our schools, but just cannot afford to endlessly pay higher taxes."
In Lynbrook it-s Herrmann and the budget by huge margins
In an easy victory, incumbent Lynbrook school board member David Herrmann was elected to serve a second term. Residents voted to keep the high school teacher in office by a two to one margin -- 1021 votes to challenger Larry Lombardo's 506 votes. Herrmann also received 12 write-in votes and Lombardo received 14. This was Lombardo's second valiant run for a seat on the school board, that ended in defeat. The other open seat on the school board went to incumbent Ronald Nash who ran unopposed and brought in 976 votes and 196 write-in votes. Nash is an accountant and has proven a valuable resource when budget planning time comes around each year. Both gentlemen will serve in their positions for another three year term.
Another easy win was recorded for Lynbrook-s 2004 - 2005 budget. Brought in as one of the lowest budgets in Nassau County the 4.89 percent increase was approved 1,159 for the budget and 626 against. Proposition N. 1, capital reserve was also approved 1,105 to 500.
"We understand that times are tough right now and we are extremely thankful and pleased by the support of the Lynbrook school district residents and grateful that our children are living in this nurturing community," said Melissa Burak assistant superintendent.
