10. The Glen Cove School District aggressively contains costs: spending less per student than neighboring districts, $2,855 (17 percent) less per student than North Shore, $2,163 (13.5 percent) less per student than Locust Valley, (Newsday 4/14/00).

9. The Glen Cove School tax rates have been sensitive to taxpayers: 1997-98 tax increase 3.7 percent, 1998-99 tax increase 2.7 percent, 1999-00 tax increase 2.9 percent. The 2000-01 tax increase of 6 percent is the result of significant increases in busing and health insurance, the burden of tax certioraris and unfunded state mandates, and general staff and operating cost increases. A recent public board of education meeting discussed a plan to study an alternative to contracting out busing.

8. STAR saves our taxes. The Basic STAR (NY School Tax Relief Plan) tax savings for residential property owners (regardless of age and income level) increases by $326 this year to $631. If you paid $5,250 or less in school tax this year, you will have 0 percent tax increase or a reduction in your school tax next year. (www.orps.state.ny.us). (Seniors who qualify for enhanced STAR will see a credit of $1,580 against their 2000-01 school tax).

7. The Board of Education to lobby for additional state aid. The State Aid formula considers Glen Cove to be a "high-wealth" district limiting our state aid. Yet when Glen Cove's income level was measured by the percentage of children who do not qualify for free lunch based on federal income guidelines, our income percentage was 70 percent based on this criteria. Of the 55 school districts in Nassau, Glen Cove is 50th, (in the bottom 10 percent), in income level (NY Times 5/30/99). Our tax levy is 80 percent of our school budget. One fourth of Nassau school districts have a tax levy that is less than 70 percent of their budgets, due to greater state aid. An increase of 10 percent of our school budget in aid would be $4.7 million, giving all of our children greater opportunities and easing the taxpayer burden to do so.

6. The Board of Education supports tax relief. The Glen Cove School Board sued Nassau County, Oct. 28, 1999, to petition for a reduced Nassau County tax rate for Glen Cove taxpayers, based upon the facts that Nassau County provides payment of tax certiorari refunds for every other school district in the county except Glen Cove. The case is still pending.

5. Maintenance of our schools' infrastructure. Maintenance and improvements on our school buildings (especially the older buildings) is imperative to ensure a safe environment for our students. An austerity budget cuts these expenditures, and homeowners know from experience that deferring maintenance creates bigger problems and greater costs in the future.

4. New Glen Cove Superintendent Dr. Mary Ellen Freeley will revitalize our school district. Her expertise in curriculum will benefit student performance, and her experience as an effective superintendent will provide leadership and solid relations with faculty, parents, students and community.

3. The Glen Cove School District collaborates with many social services agencies: among them are La Fuerza Unida de Glen Cove's before and after school child care programs for low to moderate income families, Glen Cove Citizens Committee Against Substance Abuse educational programs for children, interlinking computers between the schools and Youth Board Community Center, the Glen Cove Boys and Girls Club and La Fuerza Unida.

2. Glen Cove teachers are dedicated to all of our students, including our gifted students, our Engish as a Second Language students, our Special Education students, our students with social needs. The teachers also expose our children to wonderful life experiences through award-winning music programs, drama productions, mock trial competitions, sports, and exposure to community service. Glen Cove is raising fine young citizens, who appreciate the diverse community that they and the world share, and our teachers can share in that triumph.

1. Our children deserve the best education we can give them.

Vote Yes June 20!

Janet Bates-Wilkins, CPA

Vice president, Coalition for Glen Cove