By JOSEPH KELLARD
Island Park voters also elected Jo-Ellen Risolo-Sarnelli to the Board of Education and passed a transportation proposition in the May 16 vote, while Oceanside school board incumbents Al Lyson and Kim Garrity were re-elected in uncontested races.
Voters in Oceanside passed the district's $111.4 million budget by a vote of 1,898 to 1,747, while Island Parkers passed their $28.1 million budget 605 to 481.
"I like to think the people of Island Park have always been very supportive because we're presenting a solid program," said Steve Foster, president of Island Park's school board. But Foster noted that the margin between the yes and no votes had narrowed compared to recent years, "and the board is very concerned about any no vote," he added.
In Oceanside, Superintendent Dr. Herb Brown said that the 1,900 voters who approved the budget "reaffirmed that what we're doing is something they approve of in terms of our educational process and keeping the tax levy below 5 percent. However," Brown continued, "1,750 people said no, and I'm sure it was because of high taxes and other areas of concern."
Both districts said they may conduct community-wide surveys to get a better grasp on what those concerns are, so that they may better address them in future budgets. "We would like to hear from the community any areas of concern, because they're not coming to budget meetings," Foster said.
Since Oceanside's budget was voted down two years ago, Al Lyson, president of the school board, believes such a survey is "absolutely essential,² he said. ³I think too big a portion of the population doesn't trust us, for whatever reason." Lyson speculated that some voters believe teachers make too much money, or that the district has too many administrators.
This year, Sen. Dean Skelos and Assemblymen Harvey Weisenberg and Bob Barra secured additional state aid for both districts, with Oceanside receiving $1.4 million and Island Park $539,552, which both districts put toward reducing their tax levy, the amount of money raised by property taxes. Oceanside's tax levy increase was 4.8 percent, and Island Park's was 6.3, both near the Nassau County average.
Lyson believes the budget passed, in part, because he, fellow board members and administrators "talked to quite a few people" in the community, and Lyson himself spearheaded a letter-writing campaign that generated a thousand letters sent to representatives asking that they secure more state aid.
"I think we have to continue fighting for our fair share in the county," Brown said, thinking ahead to future budgets.
While the Oceanside budget won't fund any new programs, in Island Park the budget will provide for kindergarten readiness, a program initiated last year to prepare the youngest students for life outside their homes and in the classroom. Thankful for the community's support, Superintendent Dr. Ed Price said, "We're trying very had to make sure no child is left behind, and not just in academics, but in all areas."
New I.P. board member elected; O'side no-contests
In Island Park, Sarnelli defeated Elen Levitt by a vote of 644 to 426. Sarnelli was a first-time candidate, while Levitt was seeking a return to the board after losing as a one-term incumbent to challenger Ellen Speight in 2005. Sarnelli will replace retiring Trustee Ann Goldman, whose seat holds a five-year term.
"I am excited to have been elected, and I intend to pursue certain issues I have put forth in my platform," Sarnelli said.
Sarnelli said during her campaign that her primary focus would be to ensure a better transition for middle school students to West Hempstead High School, particularly when it comes to tracking their data on state assessment requirements. A financial analyst and consultant with three children who attend Island Park schools, Sarnelli has been on the district's PTA for 10 years, serving as both vice president and treasurer, and she has been involved in various educational programs, addressing issues ranging from curriculum modifications to child- and substance abuse.
"I will investigate various opportunities to obtain revenue for the school district and cut unnecessary costs," Sarnelli said. "As a community we need to direct our focus on LIPA and the impact it is having on our school tax."
Levitt, too, ran on a promise to forge closer ties between the Island Park schools and the high school. She stressed that she had the time, devotion and experience to serve on the board, and that she would continue to focus on maintaining and improving the district's special education program.
Thanking her supporters, Levitt said, "I'm still going to stay involved with the schools, mainly through the committee on special education." Levitt said she has no plans to run for the board again.
"It's a pleasure to see people who are willing to run and serve in a time when, in many places, they have trouble getting people," Price said, adding that he was pleased with both candidates.
In Oceanside, Lyson and Kim Garrity were re-elected to the board in uncontested elections. Lyson, who was first elected in 1993, received 2,130 votes, while Garrity, who was first elected in 1997, had 2,455. Their seats each have three-year terms. Lyson said that in this, his last term on the board, he would focus on trying to bring more state aid to Oceanside, while Garrity vows to continue working on the district's buildings and grounds, technology, and special education and foreign language programs.
Voters give thumbs up
to bus proposition
Island Park residents voted 621 to 518 to reduce the district's maximum transportation limit from 25 miles to 15. New York state requires that school districts transport children to public or private schools up to 15 miles from their homes, but in decades past, Island Park voters increased that limit in their district to 25 miles.
On reviewing this requirement, the board found that it bused students farther than 15 miles to three schools: Solomon Schecter High School in Glen Cove, St. Mary's Elementary School in Manhassat and Long Island Lutheran Middle & High School in Brookville.
"The board, I think wisely in these economic times, said we're giving more than anyone else in this area and more than we have to, and we ought to at least let the voters determine if they want to continue that or not," Price said, adding that the district would save some $75,000 a year by eliminating busing to the three schools.
Asked why the district waited until 2006 to put this proposition on the ballot, Foster said that the district has only recently seen a spike in the number of schools the district services beyond 15 miles. "And that started to hurt," he said. "And also, money is getting tight."
Library budgets pass
Oceanside and Island Park voters also supported their library budgets. In Oceanside, the $3.7 million budget was approved by a vote of 1,917 to 1,425, and Island Park voters passed their library's $1.08 million budget by a vote of 634 to 436.
Oceanside's budget includes a 7.8 percent increase in the tax levy. In part, the Oceanside budget will fund the construction of a house-like storage facility behind the library building.
The Island Park budget includes an 11.9 percent increase in the tax levy, and will help fund additional children's programs.
Incumbent library board Trustee Tom McCreight ran unopposed for his five-year seat, and received 694 votes.
