In what was shaping up to be a critical time for school districts, boards of education and administrators can now breathe a sigh of relief. In Elmont, Franklin Square and West Hempstead, proposed operating budgets for the 2002-2003 school year were approved by voters on Tuesday. In addition, in a contested race for a seat on the Elmont Union Free School District Board of Education, board president Deanna Doreson was successful in her re-election bid, defeating challenger Dale Black-Pennington easily by 996 votes.

Elmont Union Free School District

In the Elmont Union Free School District, residents approved a $46,829,585 budget that reflects a 9.1 percent increase over the current year's budget by a 1,066 to 744 margin.

In addition, voters approved the Elmont Memorial Library budget by a 1,132 to 463 margin.

For the school board, Doreson, a member of the Elmont School Board for 15 years and the Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education, was returned to her three-year seat. Fellow board member Aubrey Phillips was also returned to the Elmont Board of Education as he gathered 1,224 votes, running unopposed.

For the Elmont Library Board, Cheryl Lee and David Osbourne both were returned to the board after running unopposed.

Franklin Square Union Free School District

In the Franklin Square Union Free School District, residents passed a $22,472,765 budget for the 2002-2003 school year, a 4.83 percent increase over the current year's budget, by a 1,013 to 620 margin. Also, Jean Fichtl, who ran unopposed, was returned to the board of education as she gathered 1,017 votes.

Sewanhaka Central High School District

In the Sewanhaka Central High School District, which encompasses Elmont Memorial High School, Sewanahaka High School, H. Frank Carey High School in Franklin Square, New Hyde Park Memorial High School and Floral Park Memorial High School, residents passed a $101,427,655 operating budget for the 2002-2003 school year, a 4.18 percent increase over the current year's budget by a 2,960 to 2,188 margin.

West Hempstead School District

In the West Hempstead Union Free School District, residents passed $38,013,036 budget for the 2002-2003 school year, a 6.56 percent increase over the current year's budget, by a 854 to 553 margin. In addition, Pamela Lotito and Vincent Trocchia both ran unopposed for the school board and were returned to their seats, gathering 892 and 887 votes respectively.

For the West Hempstead Public Library, voters approved the budget by an 836 to 525 margin and in the race for library board trustee, Andrea Dee Giordano, the current board vice president, defeated challenger Madeleine Schwartz by an 886 to 330 margin.

Valley Stream Central High School District

In the Valley Stream Central High School District, residents approved a $64,970,740 for the 2002-2003 school year, a 5.36 percent increase over the current year's budget, by a 2,061 to 1,088 margin.