It's time for the school board budget vote once again on May 20. Several years ago to get more people involved in the voting process, the state instituted one day for every school district to vote. One day and it's all over!

The cost of education is daunting. So is the cost of medical care. Still we need both and if we are overburdened in those areas, at least we can, as a society, be proud of what both items do for the people of the country.

There are problems of course. There always are.

We are spending a great deal on Special Education but it is something we have to do. They are willing to improve and the system says it will help them - which in the long run helps us all.

We are all "joined at the hip" and the sooner we accept that and "go with the flow," the better off we will be.

There are problems in many areas of taxation.

We are very appreciative of the work of Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman who has been doing a great job looking at the abuses of special districts. They are little items, small favors granted years ago when things were cheap, but it is time those entities became businesses, not a board of pals being good to each other.

Actually that is the case of boards of industry across the nation who give their top executives humongous salaries and benefits out of proportion to the wages of the people who make the money - the workers. What can be done about that abuse of power?

That's where we can be thankful for a board of education that serves for no pay and no benefits. They serve because of a sense of community spirit. Maybe they can be an example to business.

Where are we going with this?

Vote yes on the budget. It hurts to say: "tax me" but it is the right thing to do. As others have said, voting "no" will result in a higher percentage of taxation as a result of the contingency budget formula.

At the April 1 Oyster Bay-East Norwich school board meeting we learned about how the district is looking for the very best way to teach their students. They are offering extra help and using all the tools of modern technology to reach students. It's a lovely place for children to learn and grow. Let's keep supporting the work of the district.

As we said before, vote "yes," it's the right thing to do. - DFK