By Jonann Brady
The $77,831,065 school budget passed decisively, with 1217 voting yes and 769 casting no votes. The $71,805,214 library budget passed by a more than two to one margin -- 1314 votes to 577.
In uncontested races, incumbents Bill Edelman will serve another three years as a school board trustee, and Joan Zeitlin will serve another five on the library board.
In a piece of good news for voters, the Baldwin School District learned last week that it will receive an additional $800,000 in state aid, as part of a $500 million bump for schools in the New York State budget, approved on May 15.
The extra money will be used to reduce the property tax levy by $1.11, from $80.34 per $100 in assessed value to $79.23.
Though voter turnout was lower than last year, perhaps because of uncontested board seats, administrators were pleased by what they saw as the voters' mandate.
"I am thrilled that the budget passed by such a large number of votes," said Superintendent Dr. Kathy Weiss. "Thanks to our community support, we are able to provide our students with great educational opportunities."
Parents, too, said that students would benefit from this year's budget.
"As a parent and from a PTA standpoint, we're very pleased about it passing," said Anne Hannon, PTA vice-president. "We're especially happy about the implementation of AIS [Academic Intervention Services] in the Middle School."
Hannon added that this budget, which allowed for lowered class sizes, additional staff and more security at the high school, would make Baldwin stronger educationally as well.
Increases to the library's budget were small this year, mainly because of service cut backs during the expansion project.
"It was a wonderful mandate from the Baldwin community for us to continue to provide quality library services," said Kevin Kamen, president of the library board of trustees. "The Board and administration are most grateful to the voters of Baldwin for their support year in and year out. We will continue to monitor all expenses and listen to and update the community in regard to the expansion project."
The next and final Board of Education meeting of the year will be held on Wednesday, June 12 at 8 p.m. at the high school.
