Last June, with the second defeat of the proposed school budget, our district was forced into operating under a contingency budget, with all its associated limitations and restrictions. These budget restrictions have been painful. But more painful, for myself and for the board, was the realization that North Shore taxpayers were clearly feeling overburdened, frustrated, angry and ignored.

It is urgent for us to develop a budget for 2005-06 that has the backing of the entire community. Another year of contingency would force us to cut up to15 teaching positions, to drastically scale back athletics and arts programs, and drastically cut back on community service programs in our schools. We would also be forced to increase class size and scale back on the scope of courses and electives.

Contingency restrictions have already begun to erode our school's role as a hub for community activities. Another year of contingency can further hurt our district's credit rating, increase borrowing costs, diminish property values and make it harder for us to hire quality candidates to fill vacancies.

To prepare the budget for this year, and to plot the future course of our district in the years to come, it will be vital for us to come to a community consensus about class size, range of curriculum and course offerings, our investment in our facilities, the quality of education in our schools and other important budget decisions. Everyone must take a stand-tell us what's important to you. Your input is vital to us as we plan the 2005-06 budget.

I invite every North Shore resident to join us for the board of education town meeting on Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. at the high school Alumni Room, for a presentation of the preliminary budget proposal. Continue to attend budget review meetings on Feb. 10, March 5, March 10 and March 31. Attend community roundtable meetings. Call me at 705-0355. E-mail me at Superintendent_Melnick@northshore.k12.ny.us, and visit www.northshore.k12.ny.us for the latest budget information and meeting schedules. Together we can build a budget that will define the values and direction of North Shore Schools now and into the future.