By a vote of 867 to 695, residents rejected a $53,671,567 budget, which would have been 12.97 percent higher than last year's. Passage of the budget would have resulted in a 13.4 percent tax increase.

School Superintendent Dr. Constance Clark attributed the budget increase to a five percent increase in enrollment -- a projected 3,900 students, compared to the 3,700 currently attending schools in the district. She broke the enrollment growth expenditures down into four components, with 3.3 percent of the budget going toward health benefits and other contractual agreements, 3.2 percent for program enhancements, including portable science labs in the classrooms, and foreign language programs at the elementary school, 1.7 percent accounting for additional enhancements in science and math, and 4.95 percent going to enhancing programs for special needs children.

"Unfortunately, the community did not support the budget," said Dr. Clark, "so unless community encouragement is forthcoming, the board will not consider going out for a second vote, and then we move to a contingency budget, which could result in increased class sizes, a reduction in staff levels, and cuts equaling anywhere from $1.6 to 2.5 million."

For opinions regarding the failure of the school budget, please visit the Letters to the Editor page in this week's edition of The Westbury Times.

Incumbent school board members Adelaide Brinson and Connie LoCascio defeated challengers Albert Handy and Ann Sweat.

By a vote of 580 to 373, residents passed a $25,095,480 budget that increases spending by 9.48 percent over the current year. "I am absolutely delighted that the budget passed, and I really must thank the Carle Place community for all their support," said Superintendent Dr. Mary Ellen Freeley. "They have truly rallied behind the budget and I think that sends a message to all of us that they are truly committed to education."

About 3.6 percent of the budget increase includes first debt service payment on $9.5 million bond issue previously passed by voters. Contractual teacher salary increases account for another 3.6 percent. The budget includes $64,248 to increase academic intervention services to students in all three of the district's schools, and to expand summer school offerings at the high school.

Additionally, kindergarten will be expanded from half-a-day to a full day program, and an additional guidance counselor position is being added. Academic intervention services will be increased for those students who need extra support in meeting the new state mandates.

Responding to rumors that her contract had not been renewed due to a battle over compensation, Freeley said, "That is absolutely false. I am a finalist in another school district, but I have a contract at Carle Place Schools for another two years."

In school board races, incumbent Joan Manley and Thomas F. Kane were elected.

"I want to thank the community for their continued faith and support of me, and I promise over the next three years to do my best to remain the true voice of the people," Manley said.

"I want to thank everyone who supported me and the people who helped me in my campaign," said Kane. "I am going to work very hard and commit all my time and energy to working for the betterment of this school district."

The proposed $109,868,969 budget, a 6.36 percent spending increase, was approved 3,495 votes to 1,451, resulting in a tax rate that will increase by 4.61 percent.

The adopted budget provides for a 5 percent salary increase for teachers, new computers, funding for seven to 10 new teachers, and the implementation of early intervention programs.

Voters also passed the $49.55 million school bond improvement proposition. Through additional building aid that is guaranteed until July 1, 2000, the state will pay for nearly $30 million of the entire cost of the bond issue. This will result in a projected daily cost of 18 cents per day to the average district homeowner with a house assessed at $6,000.

Passage of the bond issue will help the district improve older facilities, which is a priority. The bond will also provide space for the growing number of students in the district.

The bond issue will add 44 new classrooms throughout the district, and will replace basic building systems such as roofs, boilers, exterior doors, and windows. The cost of these projects will be spread out over the course of the 20-year repayment period of the bond, yet school officials say that these projects will be completed within the next couple of years.

Passage of the bond issue also enabled the district to incorporate $2.8 million in necessary health and safety-related projects into the bond issue, rather than including them in the school budget. This reduced the budget and saved the average homeowner a projected $150 tax increase for next year.

"The East Meadow community has been overwhelmingly supportive of our school bond improvement plan," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert R. Dillon. "This project will benefit the kids and the taxpayers for many years to come."

In the school board races, incumbent Ronnie Fauci beat challenger Wendeline Lao for a three year term. Challenger Barry Rubenstein beat Charles Goldberg and challenger Joseph Spinola.