In the recent past, the Roslyn school district has taken many hits towards its reputation. The frustration that is rampant among all of us is apparent, regardless of the particular view, which we hold. Sadly, the honorable distinction that the Roslyn school district had held in maintaining a high level of academic excellence for its students has slowly deteriorated in lieu of scandal. A persisting lack of confidence still exists in how expenditures are made and in the surrounding quality of control system. Political brouhahas still continue to encompass board of education matters.

In the meantime, it is inarguable that property taxes have reached astounding proportions, as has other cost-of-living expenditures. Belt-tightening has taken on new meaning for many of us and perhaps, the one thing voters can control, the school budget, has taken on the anger and aggression of things even external to the district. Yet if this is true, it is a very shortsighted view.

Like so many others, I am a concerned parent of the Roslyn school district. In the past, I have gone to many board of education meetings, including work sessions, "scandal" sessions, and general information meetings. I've gone to meetings sponsored by the PTA to hear Superintendent Helme speak. I've gone to the session when the assistant district attorney came to tell us about the status of the indicted. Despite having two young kids, I realize how important it is to try to stay informed and, just as importantly, try to provide citizen input to the board of education on alternative opinions.

At one of the most recent board of education work sessions (May 25), a number of cuts were recommended by Superintendent Helme. Mr. Helme identified 10 areas that he deemed most effective and least "disruptive" to cut, including the elimination of the foreign language program (FLES) for K-fifth graders, elimination of the summer program, and the removal of a guidance counseling position.

Afterwards, Walter Reed, a member of the budget advisory committee (BAC) spoke with his committee's recommendations. These 28 Roslyn citizens are non-elected officials who appear to be lended some credibility by the board of education as representatives of many Roslyn residents. Their recommendations included some "obvious" areas to cut, including the contingency teaching positions, summer recreation program and the guidance counselor position. In addition, the BAC recommended additional cuts, including elimination of a dean position, as well as elimination of seventh and eighth-grade teams, elimination of sixth, seventh, eighth-grade team supplies, elimination to pay cafeteria help, and elimination of an assistant principal in middle school and kindergarten.

As Middle School Principal Jack Palmadesso stated, the cuts by the BAC were irresponsible, particularly the sports cuts. In addition, as a supporter of the FLES program, I personally was disappointed in the board of education's consensus decision to cut FLES. Not incidentally, I was also annoyed at one audience member's loud comment of "Cut it, bye-bye FLES." I find it sadly ignorant that people do not understand the importance of instilling a foreign language early into our kids, particularly Spanish, which is so prevalent in the tri-state area. Our academic education is supposed to provide the best basis for which our kids can succeed in life. Can communication with a significant portion of our local population be so stubbornly inconsequential?

The striving for academic excellence is apparently giving way in lieu of economic dissatisfaction. Some individuals desire that school taxes don't go up at any cost, but to keep it at the level (4 percent) it has been for the past two years. This is an exercise in serious self-denial. As partial proof, let it be noted that the first hour of the budget meeting was spent talking about making funds available for cost overruns from this year's budget. In other words, they could not make ends meet on what they had to work with this year. Could this have happened through ineptitude? Possibly, but unlikely, given the severe scrutiny all expenditures have undergone this year. In addition, it is painful to hear individuals talk about the Roslyn schools and about those esteemed and honorable folk who still work there as though they were Caligula-esque in nature. There is serious efforts being made by the Roslyn school district to thwart waste. With consumer frustration now reaching almost irrational proportion, I now wonder that if it came to be found that burning books were cost-effective, would that now be seriously pondered?

Decreasing quality of academics in our school district will drive down the property values of our homes affecting those with and without children. New families will not be lured to this area because an area with high property taxes but a lousy school district is a very poor magnet. This is counter-productive to all residents.

It is time for this community to work together as a unit again. Naysayers to any increase in school taxes must learn to find common ground with proponents of a budget supporting spending for student programs. Some tax increases are inevitable. The financial burden will not dissipate in the future as inflation, now estimated to be on the rise at 3 - 4 percent, and other expenses simultaneously rise (i.e. from state-mandated increases in teacher insurance costs, higher costs from increasing student enrollment, etc.). Equally evident from the strong sentiment in the community are that some cuts from the previously proposed budget are inevitable as well. However, our students need a budget that will support their academic endeavors. Parents need a budget that will help their children achieve at all levels.

Alternatively, it is up to school administrators to find accountability within their own departments, as well as in collaboration with each other, to smooth out ineffective spending overruns, not just in obvious areas but in less obvious quality control spending. Are we really getting the best value for things being purchased? Are there more creative ways we can achieve similar goals? For example, can we encourage high school students adept in typing to work in our school offices to assist as part of their community service hours? Can we have student-teacher affiliation programs alleviate some of the cost a FLES program might accrue?

Lastly, the big question is: Can Roslyn residents come together again to maintain the level of academic excellence Roslyn has been so proud and lucky to have had all these years? Can members of the PTA, retirees, or other willing Roslyn residents be recruited for assistance in areas lacking? Can comprehensive fundraising goals be set at the beginning of the school year (with assistance from the parents) aimed to fund very specific needs? The bottom line is that while living in Nassau County has become incredibly expensive for many, the education of our children must not be subjected to the expendable aspect of budgeting. Informed patrons of the budget will know that most of this budget has already been indelibly committed towards teacher salary and pensions. Therefore what is left to cut must be carefully measured, and meted out, and not at the expense of the children.

I urge all Roslyn residents to vote at the next election, June 20, and consider strongly supporting the next proposed budget which will definitely be much more advantageous for our students than a budget constrained by contingency. Following this vote, all Roslyn residents would also do well to consider adopting a more positive and constructive stance for this school district and be willing to provide, if possible, tangible assistance to those willing to adopt a positive outlook for ourselves, our children and our community as a whole.

J. Kume-Kick