Both politically active education groups in the Oyster Bay-East Norwich school district could proudly say "We won, we won." The voters split the tickets and chose one candidate from each power group. The new board will be composed of Bev Zembko, John Specce, Robin Dando, Dr. Jack Lin, Dr. John Palladino and Thomas Capozzoli

Beverly Zembko retained her seat on the board with a resounding 973 votes.

For a while, as the count was being made, Lou Kaplan followed her as the top vote-getter with 851 votes over Dr. John Palladino with 849 votes. When the 36 absentee ballots were counted the vote swung in favor of Dr. Palladino 872 to 861. The fourth candidate, Matthew Meng had 783 and then 801 votes. Ms. Zembko's votes went then from 955 to 973.

There were also six paper ballots to be counted. Dr. Frank Banta, superintendent of schools said the Nassau County Board of Elections will look at those votes and report to the school. "They will be getting 53 calls from other districts in the county. They are not flooded with calls. There are maybe no more than 20 in even the largest districts."

They will not change the election because of the spread. The absentee ballots are picked up and returned or mailed to the district. The application has to give a legitimate reason why the person is not voting in person. The most common excuse is being out-of-town on business.

Four of the six envelopes were approved by the Nassau County Board of Elections as legitimate voters. The new totals are:

Budget yes: 1,006; no 642. Computer proposition yes, 1,076 and no 510. The library operating expenses yes - 1,172, no 425. The final tally for the candidates was: Beverly Zembko - 974; Dr. John Palladino - 875; Louis Kaplan - 862 and Matthew Meng - 804.

Dr. Richard Ashley received 858 votes. He will serve for a five-year-term.

In a district that has faced failed budgets more times than residents would like to remember, the budget passed handily. Dr. Banta said he was disappointed by the low voter turnout, but given the low turnout, "I was very pleased with the margin on which the budget was approved.

The approved budget in the amount of $24,675,296, in addition to maintaining programs and responding to the demands of the new standards, incorporates increases in special education costs, school construction-related expenses, and employee contractual obligations. It will add $.75 to the tax rate (2.34 percent).

Trustee Bev Zembko and John Palladino will serve four year terms.

A separate proposition for a computerization plan completes the last stage of a three-year plan for providing computers, based on a needs assessment, in each of the three schools. Dr. Elizabeth Scott, OBHS principal said after a seminar on computers, she plans to refocus the program to having more computers in classrooms as opposed to having separate rooms for them. The suggestion was made by computer professionals. At that meeting, she said she can work within the existing budget to achieve those goals.

The computer needs of $199,805 will add 30 cents to the tax rate.

The final proposition, the library operating budget is for $1,301,075. The proposed tax rate is $33 per $100 of assessed valuation.