The May 20 Board of Education elections in Massapequa saw one BOE member get re-elected, while a challenger, Jane Ryan, was elected to fill the other open seat.

The district's 2008-09 budget was approved by a 2,930 to 2,395 margin, the vote on the BOE races was quite close. Christine Lupetine Perrino was re-elected to a third term with a 1,765 vote total. However, Ms. Ryan's victory was by the slimmest of margins. She defeated Gary Bennett by exactly one vote, 1,691 to 1,690.

"I am gratified by the support of the community," said Ms. Ryan, who is president of J.E. Ryan & Associates in Wantagh. "I enjoyed reaching out to them and speaking to them about all the important issues within the district. I look forward to working hard to lower our taxes, improving our safety and making Massapequa the best school experience for all children."

As with other candidates, Ms. Ryan acknowledges the paramount importance of the tax issue.

"This [taxes] has to be a priority," she said. "We must continue to look at our budget, to do business differently and to cut costs where we can without affecting education. We also have to secure more state aid and funding from Albany."

Ms. Ryan also mentioned the coming report of a task force set up by County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, one that includes such issues as school taxes and consolidation.

"We should be working with County Executive Suozzi on the recommendations from the task force, namely on how to operate school district more efficiently. We have to cut taxes in order for people to keep living here," she said.

Commenting on her re-election to the BOE, Christine Lupetine Perrino, said: "I'm very happy that the budget passed and I thank the community for their continued support. I appreciate the vote of confidence.

"The board I've been part of has proven results in the programs they have put together," she added when asked why she was re-elected.

Ms. Perrino noted the challenges facing the district. She agreed with the voters that taxes remain a persistent problem, but she added that it is not necessarily a Massapequa problem, but a Long Island one and that there "has to be change at the state legislative level" to fully remedy the situation.

Ms. Perrino also said that the BOE should revisit some of the programs they have instituted over the years.

"Within the district, we built up programs," she noted. "They need to be restructured. Some programs perhaps are no longer needed."

However, Ms. Perrino said that the district's Special Education needed to be further fortified.

After serving on the board for two different terms, one starting in 1994 and the other in 2002, Richard Krebs was defeated in his re-election bid.

"I'm disappointed. We've done a lot of good things over the years," he said.

Looking at testing results for the districts and the number of programs added, Krebs said that the district "is in a much better place than they were in 1994."

Krebs added that he had no regrets from his time on the BOE.

"Looking back, there is nothing I would have done differently," he said.

The 2008-09 budget called for a 6.26 percent increase and a tax levy increase of 5.44 percent.

Total spending for the proposed budget was $166,369,911. The total tax levy is $135,925,774.

Under the approved budget, personnel at the district's Central Office Administration will receive pay increases totaling 3 percent. The superintendent's salary would be $240,000 per annum.