The general memberships of the Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) of both the John Lewis Childs (JLCS) and Floral Park-Bellerose (FPBS) elementary schools unanimously approved motions at their April meetings to support the proposed 2007-2008 Floral Park-Bellerose Elementary School District Budget. The JLCS PTA and the FPBS PTA urge all residents to choose to vote "yes" May 15.

The purpose of the PTA is to advocate for and to promote the welfare of children and youth in the home, school and community. The PTA recognizes that every child deserves excellence in education and in quality of life. The JLCS PTA and FPBS PTA believe that the Board of Education has prepared a very fiscally responsible budget designed to achieve the goal of providing a continued quality educational experience for all of our children.

In 2004, the proposed school budget was defeated and, as a result, programs and services which we came to rely on and which benefited our children such as the Saturday Cultural Arts program were eliminated. In addition, the use of fields and facilities were restricted, student fees were increased, capital projects were cancelled and computer and equipment purchases were eliminated. For the last two years our budget passed and these programs were reinstated.

It is our responsibility as parents and neighbors to be advocates for the children of the Floral Park-Bellerose communities and to secure for them excellence in education. It is challenging as taxpayers to maintain such a high quality of life in our wonderful communities but a defeated budget will not afford our children the education and services we have come to expect and that they deserve.

On behalf of the JLCS PTA and the FPBS PTA, thank you for your support of our children and please choose to vote "yes" May 15.

Deborah Sawicki, President, JLCS PTA

Kelly Pipa, Co-president, FPBS PTA

Jennell Horan, Co-president, FPBS PTA