At its May 16 election, Susan Bergtraum was re-elected to the East Williston School Board, turning back a challenge from Jeffrey Saporta. Ms. Bergtraum received 1,075 votes to Mr. Saporta's total of 791. Another school board incumbent, Richard Horowitz, was re-elected without opposition, gaining 1,028 votes.

In addition, voters in the East Williston district, which includes residents of Roslyn Heights, approved the annual budget by a solid margin, 1,247 voting yes, 509 voting not. Voters also approved two bond issues. Proposition number two passed by a 1,191 to 563 margin, while proposition number three passed with 1,122 voting yes and 601 opposed.

In the weeks leading up to the election, Ms. Bergtraum's supporters praised her years of service to the school district, her handling of such issues as increased enrollment and new building construction and for practicing "fiscal responsibility" in those and other matters. Supporters of Mr. Saporta criticized Ms. Bergtraum's role in initiating and voting for a project that would construct a Bell Atlantic cellular tower and Internet access highway on the Willets Road School campus. Mr. Saporta also received the endorsement of three former East Williston School Board members.

Dr. Carolyn S. Harris, superintendent of the district, praised the "commitment" of the East Williston school district community in passing both the budget and the bond issues. She thanked the voters for "continuing [their] tradition of support for our schools."

The proposition two bond totaled $16 million and is slated for additions, renovations and improvement to all schools in the district. They include additional instructional space for increased student enrollment and state educational mandates; new technology-rich, state of the art library/information centers at each school; infrastructure, safety and handicapped access; and computer networking for each school.

Proposition three was for $953,000 and is earmarked for upgraded athletic fields and recreational facilites improvements.

Both propositions had to be passed for either one to be approved for construction go-ahead. If proposition two had failed and proposition three had passed, then the latter would not have gone forward.

"We will begin immediately to work with the architects, construction manager, and school personnel to develop plans for timelines, state guidelines and staging of projects," Dr. Harris said. "Each principal will convene planning committees of school and community representatives to develop the best, most efficient designs for teaching and learning."

Dr. Harris added that the school district would keep the community abreast of the construction projects through district newsletters, Board of Education meetings, PTO meetings and other outlets. Parents may visit the district website at www.ewsd.k12.ny.us.