Congratulations to the voters of Long Island. Approximately 94 percent of the Island's school budgets were approved this year, tied for the second best percentage in a dozen years.

There are several reasons for this vote that offered full support to Long Island's schools. Regionally, we received a record amount of State aid in this year's budget, due, in no small part, to local lobbying efforts and signaling a slight shift in funding from local property taxes to state income taxes. Additionally, many districts are still reeling from the results of austerity budgets -larger classes, fewer programs, eliminated sports teams, and missing extracurricular activities. Most importantly, voters are, once again, willing to spend their hard-earned dollars to support schools and children.

Here, in the Farmingdale Public Schools, our students show how well these dollars are spent. The State report card shows solid graduation rates and Regents scores in all areas. We send our graduates to schools around the state and across the country, many with previously earned college credits and/or academic scholarships. Our honors students have a wide range of courses from which to choose, and our students with special needs have full access to the services they require. Our award-winning artists and musicians and actors enrich the community, and our athletes consistently give residents teams they can proudly support.

These young people and their teachers have always done their best, even in times of limited resources. Their rewards came from within themselves, knowing that they were doing the best they could with what they were given. Now, the community has told them that their efforts were valued by others as well. This year, you went to the polls and you told them "yes:"---yes, you have worked hard; yes, you and your schools are important to us; yes, you deserve the best we can possibly give.

On behalf of the Farmingdale Federation of Teachers and the children we are proud to serve, thank you.