At a packed school board meeting, held last Monday night, almost all the residents, far too many to mention by name, who spoke at the microphone, expressed a desire to put the failed budget, just as it is, back up for a vote. They begged the board to re-submit the budget for a final vote on June 20, which is the date mandated by the state, at its original rate of 8.5 percent, with a tax levy of 8.7 percent.

However, at the end of the night, the board voted to cut a total of $137,412 from the $28, 478,955 failed budget and voted to submit a revised budget of $28,341,543 to the public. This results in a budget-to-budget increase from 8.5 percent to 7.98 percent, with a tax levy from 8.7 percent to 8.05 percent.

At the outset of the meeting New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School Board Superintendent Dr. Regina Cohn announced, "Since the development and presentation of the initial budget we have had a teacher retire and four teachers resign. That provides the district with salary adjustments amounting to $86,912.34. That change in the budget reflects a .33 percent total budget reduction and a reduction of a .4l percent on the tax levy."

Dr. Cohn then read off a list of 21 possible cuts the board could make, all of them either instructional or safety related. The cuts included:

1. New truck-$23,000

2. Kindergarten Aides-$154,386

3. Cultural Arts-$30,000

4. Field Trips- $20,000

5. Co-Curricular (year book, chaperones)-$16,000

6. Clinics-Read/Math-$70,000

7. Capital transfer-50 percent reduction-$27,500

8. Computers-K-12-$18,990

9. Math teacher-$65,295

10. Raise Class size by 2 students-eliminate 6 teachers-$415,131

11. Science Program-2 teachers-$138,377

12. Enrichment teacher-$69,188

13. Return to 1/2 day Kindergarten-eliminate 5 teachers-$345,942

14. Risers-$8,500

15. Smart Board-$2,145

16. Other equipment-new vacuums, sanders, etc.-$11,880

17. Padding-Hillside Gym Walls-$10,850

18. Technology consultant-$75,652

19. Science text books-$32,000

20. Public text (for private school students-reduction per pupil-$50,000

21. Instrument teachers (music)-$330,862.

None of the suggested cuts were made by the board.

When it came time for the board to vote each board member, prefaced by a short speech, said they would not like to see anything cut from the budget.

Newly sworn in trustee, Martin Cernese, who had been on the board for 15 years prior to his reappointment, wanted to do some research to see if it might be cheaper to lease a truck and that would save the district a portion of the proposed $23,000. However, under the advice of attorney Richard Nicolello, because of time constraints, there was no time to research his proposal. The board was required to vote on the revised budget Monday night (May 22) in order to present it to the public in advance of the budget hearing set for June 12 and the June 20 revote date. Therefore, Cernese rescinded his suggestion and voted on the $23,000 truck expenditure.

Just prior to the board vote, however, Dr. Cohn made a passionate plea to the board not to eliminate the technology consultant at a cost of $75,652 because she said that position was necessary to deal with the test information that was required by the state. Cohn said, "Up until now Hillside Principal Karen Olynk and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dian Zirilli have been providing that information to the state, from their homes, after school hours, but it has become too overwhelming and a technology specialist is needed."

During the open portion of the meeting, some residents blamed the senior citizens for voting the budget down, however, former school board trustee Peg Fumante commented that the increase in taxes wouldn't necessarily affect the seniors that much because they have "options." She said she has her Social Security, a house worth a lot of money; no mortgage and she said she could always apply for a reverse mortgage. She said, "It's not just the senior citizens that are suffering, it's the young people, too, who have high mortgages and on top of that high taxes, that are suffering." She received a resounding applause for her comments.

Edward Powers, a community activist, came to the podium and suggested that the board of education freeze the administrative budget at the 2005-06 level. That would, he said, result in a savings of up to $246,491. He said it would be a "good faith" move, but that suggestion was not acted on. He also commented that the hiring of a Technology Consultant/Specialist at $75,652 was a very high expenditure. He suggested it was something that could be eliminated or at least reduced. Further, he suggested that the board use the un-allocated fund balance of $115,000 toward a tax levy reduction. That cut along with the cuts of $137,412 by the board would cut $574,555 from the failed budget. He said, "These cuts would result in no educational program cuts for any children in this district." He also said that his suggested cuts would lower the tax levy increase of 8.70 percent to 5.99 percent, but all of his suggestions were ignored.

Another community activist, James McHugh, came forward and pointed out that this is the fourth year, in a row, that the New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School Board budget has failed on the first try. He suggested that the board use the fund balance to help reduce the budget. His suggestions were listened to, but also ignored.

The meeting was finally adjourned close to 11 p.m. The next board meeting will be held on June 12 and will be a budget hearing, but no action will be taken, since the budget has already been voted on by the board. The June 12 meeting will also be a regular school board meeting to be held at 8 p.m. at the Manor Oaks School.

The New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School Board Budget revote will be held on June 20 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Manor Oaks School, 1950 Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park.