At the May 25 Oyster Bay-East Norwich school district meeting the board began their new budget deliberations. School Board President Robin Dando announced they would cut the budget 2 percent or $720,000 in response to the negative vote. During the meeting Driver's Education was to be eliminated but in response to parents and students concerns, it will be funded next year.

Brad Goldberg and Matt Haefele, both seniors asked that Driver's Ed. be returned to the budget and asked if the students could pay for the course. Matt said, "That's better than illegal and improper driving."

Brad Goldberg, president of the student council had a different turn to the argument. He said, "The students are all talking about losing Driver's Ed. It is so rare the students express concern. The fact students are coming forward and asking for Driver's Ed. and wanting it, shows the importance of it to them." There was applause from the audience. The board too was pleased with their comments and decided to maintain the program.

Another student spoke to the heart of the budget vote. Stephen Chen, a junior at the high school impressed the board with his comments. He said, "Instead of voters rejecting the budget, one section came out in overwhelming numbers." Those people were voting against taxes, but there was another group of people he questioned. He said parents who are sending their children to the public schools were apathetic after 13 years of the budget passing. He wanted to know how to get those parents out to vote.

Ms. Dando said, "We've been saying it for years. The turnout is so low. There are about 12,000 registered voters and only 1,699 voted this year, and 1,500 last year. The school board is responsible to get the facts out. There is no reason to lie. We furnish facts."

Board President Dando began the budget discussion by saying the board worked from January to May on the budget. "We thought it was a comprehensive document. Then community members attending the meetings said not to take things out of the budget. The only time we heard from the majority was when they defeated the budget for the first time in 13 years. We are not alone in the defeat, 44 budgets were voted down. The big picture is that the cost of living on Long Island is getting crazy. So we are not going to put up the same budget, it will be a revised reduced budget."

She said the plan is to reduce the budget by 2 percent, or $720,000. If the new budget doesn't pass, they will go to a contingency budget which will call for a reduction of $2.7 million. A contingency budget will affect the students most. She said 70 percent of the students participate in athletics and clubs. "We offer a comprehensive program after school. We do what Jericho, Syosset and Cold Spring Harbor do. We have 56 sports in the 7 to 12 group and intra-murals at Vernon," she said, "those things will go on a contingency budget."

Ms. Dando read a list of items the board was considering eliminating to get their 2 percent reduction. The items included, not improving the science labs (which Mr. Robinson said were the same as when he was in the school); eliminating the administrative associate job; eliminating the proposed Wilson reading teacher; a music teacher at the high school; the summer programs; a half reading teacher position; a PT/health teacher at Vernon; and Driver's Ed. (which was returned to the budget later). Together they came to a savings of $720,000. She said the decisions weren't final, that they would be addressed again. She said their aim was not to go back and take out a little here and there, but to make cuts to add up to the total they need to take out.

Ms. Dando offered hope for next year's budget saying there might be retirements, which saves money and hopefully the stock market will improve. This year there was a 168 percent increase in the retirement and health costs. She said the next budget hearing would be on June 9. The new budget vote date will be Tuesday, June 22, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

People can sign up to vote until June 17, (five days before the vote) at the Administration Building on McCoun's Lane during working hours, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The first speaker to address the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Board of Education at the May 25 meeting was parent Kat Colvin, who has been attending all the budget hearings. She asked if the board could look at the budget broadly to find cuts. She also suggested the supervisors should teach more classes and said the athletic fields look like golf courses. Board member Tim Mietus said the supervisors do teach two classes each. "If they teach three classes they are not administrators," he said.

Board President Robin Dando said years ago the district tried to combine departments for the supervisors and created the position of Supervisor of Science, Math and Technology. The result was the person was overwhelmed and the district fell behind in math. Therefore, there is now a math supervisor. She added the district was not top heavy in administration.

Dr. Chesterton answered the comment about the fields. He said previously the fields had deteriorated and children were hurt. "We would be remiss to let them go to rot," he said. [They addressed the safety issues, repaired fields and put in a watering system.]

Sheila De Giambanco of Muttontown said her daughter was in college, 3,000 miles away, and said, "they at the college know of Oyster Bay. She was well prepared for college." Her daughter told her the alumni should raise funds for the science labs. Ms. De Giambanco presented Ms. Dando with a check, "for test tubes and equipment. Call it the Andrea De Giambanco Fund," she said.

Resident Hazel Viser said, "When I moved into the area I looked at Jericho and Syosset and thought 'no.' I wanted the real world, a diverse world like here, where the challenges are. I was a school administrator and dean of the [law] school. It is hard to find a place to cut the budget." She said there are families that can afford to pay for Driver's Ed. and for tutors, "but this is a public school. We have doubled the number of free lunch children. That is enormous. No one in public trust can not know it is right to serve all the kids in the district." [Board members later in the meeting expressed that same view.]

Ms. Viser added, "Everyone wants to make sure everyone who can will and should vote." There was applause after she spoke.

[FYI: Her comment was based on information given from the NYS School Report card. In 2001-2002 OBEN had 6.9 percent of children eligible for free lunch and in 2002-2003 it had 12.6 percent. The figures are always a year behind.]

The next public budget meeting will be on June 9. They have to publish the budget on May 22 so the figures are before the public on June 1. They need two weeks between the public hearing to help the voters understand. Ms. Dando said, "We have to publicize the day of the vote. It's true there were no candidates running [which reduces the turnout]. I was running unopposed and it costs $2,000 to run a campaign. This year it was very quiet. There were no signs up. The day came and went. There are 1,500 students if their parents came out they could carry the yes vote."

Resident Rich Cameron said the budget brochure could have been better. Dr. Chesterton replied, "If there is too much information everyone is confused. In Great Neck the budget information was a small paragraph and the budget passed."

Board member Dolores Grieco said "The fact that people came out tonight for a dialog is very important."

Tammy Ashley told the board she was going to stand with her back to them. She said looking out at the residents, "I'm on my PTA soap box. You may remember me as the PTA Council President. It's a pleasure working with strong parents. That's how we got the votes passed. We pushed. It's important for the parent population to get unified and support the teachers and the programs. The PTA mailed fliers at our own expense. It is important to get the message out. I forgot to vote this year. I don't know how many here didn't vote - but next time - vote."

Ellen Manfredi said her daughter is a freshman at OBHS as a result of an article published in 2002 in Worth magazine and her discussions with Gwyeth Smith, OBEN director of guidance. "They published a list of 100 private schools and 50 public schools who send children to the Ivy League Schools. Many private schools do not. But Oyster Bay High School was on the list. I made a great decision and we have been ecstatic. She is in honors courses, varsity sports, clubs, both an SAT biology review and AP history review. The PSAT for the junior class is in October, to get an idea on how they will do. It's just a great, great place. I wish we came sooner. I would have saved $20,000."

Ms. Manfredi added, "Eliminating things is tragic. Getting into college is so competitive. The student needs clubs and sports and SATs, the whole package. Losing them could make them less competitive in the market place. Why destroy that for a minimal tax dollar amount."

Board member Judy Wasilchuk spoke out about the issues, as the community comments were about to end. She commented on the flier that was not signed. She said the writer came to budget hearings but couldn't get the information right. Ms. Wasilchuk said her family cast six votes for the budget and was critical of parents who didn't get out to vote. She said on a positive note, that there were more votes that might help pass the next vote with, "kids who come home from college and those who will turn 18 in the time before the vote. It's a disgrace when every parent doesn't vote."