By: Mary Malloy and Anthony Bottan
With a collective sigh of relief, the East Rockaway and Lynbrook school districts passed their budgets and propositions in Tuesday's election.
The East Rockaway district's unofficial tally for the budget was 545 in favor and 474 opposed. Its two accompanying propositions, which will create capital reserve funds for technology replacement and building improvements and repairs, passed by similar margins.
Even though the districts expressed their satisfaction with this year's financial aid from the state, officials said they were worried about the economy and what effect it might have on the budget vote. "We are grateful to the community, and I have to commend the staff for crafting a fine budget," said East Rockaway Superintendent of Schools Roseanne Melucci. "We can now continue providing our children with the education that they deserve."
Linda Schmidt, who was appointed to a school board seat in February when Trustee Bill Barton vacated it prematurely, ran unopposed for an at-large seat and received 605 votes. Schmidt, who works at Chase Bank in Bellmore and is co-president of the Centre Avenue School PTA, said she wants to implement programs other than athletics for the middle-school grades.
Neil Schloth, who also ran without opposition, received 620 votes. Schloth, a newcomer to the board, is a senior state court clerk, has been a PTA member for 11 years and is a member of the East Rockaway Fire Department. "I think there is a good mix of people on the board now," he said, "and I also want to help make the kids' transitions from one school to the next an easier one."
"I want to thank everyone who came out to vote," said School Board President Mary Boccuzzi, "and I want to congratulate and welcome Neil and Linda to the board. They will make a wonderful addition."
Lynbrook
Lynbrook residents came out in droves to support the district's budget and three propositions, all of which passed with more than 60 percent of the votes. Incumbent Alicemarie Bresnihan retained her school board seat, collecting 63 percent of the votes cast and defeating challenger Lawrence Lombardo. The seat left vacant by former Trustee David Penso will now be filled by Ellen Marcus, who beat Mimi Rosen with 60 percent of the votes.
"I'm very excited, and I'm happy my hard work paid off," Marcus said. "We were both great candidates, but I think my experience working with a school board and background in education law played a part in my lead [in votes]."
Bresnihan, who has the second-longest tenure of any Board of Edution trustee in the county, will begin her 34th year on the board in September. Bresnihan said that because she has lived in the village for so long, people are familiar with her and her resume. "I'm known by a lot of people," she said. "Lynbrook is a place where people don't move away, and they know I'm here for education and for the students."
Early vote tallies indicated that the budget vote would be close, but the $66.4 million spending plan was eventually approved by 64 percent of voters. "I think it is comforting to see a strong turnout in support of the budget, to confirm that the district is moving in the right direction," said school board Trustee William Belmont.
Proposition 2, which calls for the use of about $1.3 million of the district's capital reserve fund to upgrade South Middle School's curtain wall and the high school's roof and air-conditioning system, passed with 70 percent of the vote. Proposition 3, which will use $500,000 of the technology replacement fund for infrastructure and multimedia upgrades to middle school classrooms, also had 70 percent approval. And Proposition 4, establishing a renovation and improvement of facilities fund that will hold as much as $16 million plus interest, was supported by 66 percent of voters.
Comments about this story? MMalloy@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.
