The Manhasset School District and the Board of Education (BOE) held a meeting on March 29 that focused predominately on budget cuts in the foreign language and drama departments. Each scheduled board of education meeting includes a discussion of specific areas and specific programs being cut and the turnout at many meetings has been large and passionate. A general occurrence at the meetings has been individuals addressing the board to plead for programs targeted for cuts while not many hard questions about the overall budget are asked.

At the onset the board announced its decision not to have the kindergarten go to full days nor to change the distance qualifications for bus transportation.

The cuts in middle school drama drew the largest percentage of students to date and students outnumbered adults. Most parent and student comments throughout the evening were met with applause, understandably, as they were united in purpose. Drama students attended to ensure that their voices be heard, and their dramatic training provided some entertaining moments.

Linnet DiCerbo, a parent, was the first to mention a recurring theme-- there are benefits to drama not visible from the stage. She said the children learn accountability, that drama is very structured, each student has a part, each must show up and there are consequences if one does not. She mentioned, too, how dedicated the teachers in the department are. Chris Tibaldi said he learned time management and responsibility with expensive equipment and what he learned about lighting and sound in middle school drama will be helpful in college. Several students including Joe Eletto, Alex Signorile and Ben Geisen said that they were shocked middle school drama was being cut. It fosters a team spirit, responsibility, is a forum for making new friends and working and socializing as a group. They overcame stage fright, and built self-esteem. For students not in sports it is something to do. They compiled 200 student and adult signatures to save middle school drama and presented the petition to the board.

Jamie, a student, said, that drama is his life. "I'm young," he said, "and don't think in terms of budgets, just in terms of what's fair and unfair." Jamie added, "You never would have seen me up here at the mike for anything if it wasn't for drama. I'd have nowhere to turn without the drama program."

Anne Di Pietro, parent, moved here many years ago because of the quality of the schools. "Art is a reflection of the climate of the times," she said. She added that in the visual and performing arts the teachers are extraordinary. "All these children tonight who are speaking with such facility."

Dave Sherman was a physical education teacher and all his "life growing up it was sports, sports, sports. We moved to Manhasset seven years ago because I have a son and Manhasset has a rich history in sports. My son is not interested in scoring goals or hitting home runs; my son's passion is drama. I've grown myself listening to him. The key thing not mentioned here is self-esteem. The grand slam for my son was landing a role in the play."

Another student said it is important to be a success in the future, and "we have to face the future-not the people cutting the budget." Without the benefits of theater he said he wouldn't be standing here today. Middle school participants stay in drama in high school. We should be expanding, not losing opportunities, he said.

The board has made a decision to cut middle school dramatic instruction but will not cut the productions. A program will be offered after school.

Students spoke in favor of the strings program and one student said she was introduced to strings in the third grade and it opened a big door for her and now she is in a band that plays for weddings. Third grade strings will be cut but will be available in the fourth grade.

Liz Bass, a parent working as a journalist in the city, said some programs being cut are important to a certain slice of the population, but foreign language benefits everyone. It is a false belief, she said, that English is the universal language and in the future Americans will need to speak other languages. In many jobs, if you are in the field, you must be a real superstar if you don't speak Spanish, Chinese, Russian etc. The language program is not as strong as it should be, she was hoping it would be expanded, not cut. Years went into formulating the program and she believed it should be continued.

Arlette Siffer also spoke to save the elementary foreign language program, to combine levels if necessary, which might not be great but necessary to save the program. Blaise Heid, a parent, said his family has lived overseas where, by the age of 10, students are learning their third language. He felt there are other cuts to be made to spare important, attractive foreign language programs and suggested looking at employee benefits.

Elaine Payson is an ardent supporter of the foreign language program and is disheartened by the cuts. She said seven of 12 comparator schools have these programs and after all the time, energy and money put into Manhasset's elementary program in order to save it the difference between the higher and lower budget is only a couple of hundred dollars per household. "We need to pass the budget but I understand the seniors want to stay in their homes so we should scrutinize the budget and keep the programs."

Gary Finer said, "Did I understand what I am listening to, that it will only cost $300 a year more for the higher budget?" What makes a school system great is the programs offered to the children. Alex, a student, said $300 doesn't really balance the cut because it is $300 for the year and they enjoy drama every day.

The community was referring to the numbers presented by Stan Germain, interim assistant superintendent for business. In 2004 a million dollar home with a budget increase of 7.42 percent pays an increase in their school tax of $940 and with a budget increase of 5.08 percent pays an increase of $649. The difference in the two amounts is $291.

Molly Robinson, a parent, said "don't pull foreign language out from under our children now. Consider starting it in third grade instead of kindergarten instead of completely annihilating the program. Tighten the belt and reduce the budget but make it more equitable; everyone needs to hurt a little." She also mentioned a difference of just $300 per family to support the higher budget and retain the academic programs.

Ruben Cohen, board of education vice-president, said that last year 25 percent of parents voted against the budget. The school board needs the community's trust but does not want to dismantle what has been built. He said we need to find the right balance.

In general, the audience's focus at these budget meetings has been lobbying for programs targeted for cuts, and the hard, factual questions relating to broader, more costly items in the proposed budget only sometimes emerge.

A resident said to step back and consider a wage freeze and merit based pay. He said the city of New York identifies its reserve and over the years the state and city have instituted zero based wage increases. There should be more discussions like these, factual discussions now so as not to have to protest with your vote in May, he said.

Walt Siegel has a child in Shelter Rock and wanted to know, with the two different budgets being considered, what amount is to be spent on educational consultants in each budget. It was said some "consultants train the staff members and it comes out of grant money."

The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) for Finance worked tirelessly and were concerned that in the past two years the budget has spiraled higher and they do not want that to occur three years in a row. One area studied was a five year fiscal projection and they discovered that if all remains the same there will be a 9 to 9.5 percent increase in the budget year over year for five years. In the past Manhasset has not usually subtracted from the budget, but no one wants the budget to be defeated and many residents are not willing to support three years of budget increases, especially with other financial obligations waiting in the wings.

It was said the CAC on finance gave a number where they thought the budget should be. Mr. Edelstein, a parent, asked if along with the number did they also provide a road map? Is there a perception that there is a black hole containing extra money? He is confused by the relatively small saving gained with the more ambitious budget cuts, about a $1.5 million difference. "You can't do much with the amount of money being saved," he said.

Bill D'Antonio said the black hole could be the reserve for teachers' salaries. Commenting on that statement another said that if there is a reserve for collective bargaining that number is not broken out anywhere in the budget.

Close to 11:30 p.m., the crowd had thinned and the meeting was adjourned.