Incumbents Janet Cox, Shari Dorfman and Wendy Stapen are running for three seats on Syosset's board of education - all unopposed. Each seat has a two-year term.

Janet Cox was first elected to serve on Syosset's school board in 1991. She has been a resident of Syosset for 31 years and is an educator and taught in New York City Public Schools as well as Community Church Nursery School. Cox was also very involved in the PTA and a chairperson for many school activities.

Shari Dorfman has been a resident of Syosset for 16 years and was first elected to the board in 2000. She is a fourth-grade teacher in the Merrick School District and also a curriculum writer. She is a member of many committees, PTA and has also had many articles published in various outlets.

Wendy Stapen was first elected to the board in 1988 and has been a district resident for 24 years. She is a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. and is a member of the board of directors at Syosset's counseling center. Stapen is very involved in the PTSA as well as many other committees and school organizations.

Full bios on all three candidates can be found at www.syossetptsa.org.

The Syosset Schools Board of Education has approved a budget for the 2006-2007 school year that maintains all current academic and co-curricular programs. The increase required is 5.94 percent, exclusive of debt service, which is one of the smallest increases the district has had in the past ten years. President Janet Cox, Vice President Patricia Maschio, and trustees Lana Ajemian, Dr. Michael Cohen, Shari Dorfman, Dr. Marc Herman, Fern Resnick, April Neuendorf, and Dr. Wendy Stapen have made every effort to maintain costs.

"This budget allows the district to continue to provide the excellent education our students receive and to maintain our current class-size policy," the board stated. "We will not be initiating any new programs or purchasing any new equipment that is not essential to school operations or safety concerns."

The Syosset School District encompasses ten schools with a combined enrollment of 6,799 students in grades kindergarten through 12. Enrollment has steadily increased over the past ten years. The schools have many different clubs and activities in which students can develop their skills and talents and enjoy opportunities for socialization, participation in community service, and interscholastic and even national competitions. The district has an interscholastic athletic program with about 100 teams for boys and girls in middle school and high school. Participation in sports is very high.

"This budget will provide an excellent education for the students of Syosset," stated Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carole G. Hankin. "The Board and the district administration have worked together to present a budget for 2006-2007 of $155,615,298." The School District does not determine the tax rate; this will be set by the county.

For the average resident in the Syosset School District, the difference in taxes between a passed and a failed budget is only $170 for the entire year. This budget enables the District to provide the programs and services that are so important to Syosset students and parents. A sample list includes all athletic programs; all extracurricular clubs and organizations such as drama, music, art clubs, student newspapers; early and late bus transportation; elective courses in secondary schools; gifted education; nursing services; continuing education; and any use of school buildings and grounds by community groups and sports organizations.

At the April meeting of the Syosset Council of PTAs, each unit cast its vote in support of this budget, giving it the unanimous endorsement of the PTAs in all ten schools and SEPTA.

Community residents will be voting in all seven elementary schools this year. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Residents are zoned to vote in the school for elementary district in which their house is located. If someone is unsure of their polling place they can go to the district website at www.syosset.k12.ny.us and click on "Where to Vote" or they can telephone 802-1890 and leave a message stating their home address and their call will be returned.

Syosset School District residents will have the opportunity to vote on the public library operating budget at the Tuesday, May 16, district election. The proposed budget is $4,629,374, which includes $722,736 for this year's repayment of the debt service for library construction.

The operating budget increased $446,530 over last year's budget. The average household in Syosset will pay approximately $230 for the 2006-2007 Public Library Tax, approximately $15 more than was paid last year, a 10 percent increase. According to library director Judith Lockman, most of the increase reflects the bond repayment for library construction.

Lockman said that New York State law requires the school district to act as the financial agent for the library. "The school district collects the $722,736 for library construction, and when the library budget is approved by the voters, the school district is fully reimbursed."

Lockman said that the "building project is on schedule with substantial completion expected in November. I apologize for the many inconveniences and thank the community for your patience. I promise that your new library will be worth the wait."

There are two people running for one seat on the library's board of trustees. They are running for a five-year term on the board. Incumbent Reid Goldsmith is seeking re-election and facing challenger Pat Aiken.

Goldsmith is a graduate of Syosset High School and lifelong resident of Syosset. He is a New York State Supreme Court Reporter at Queens Supreme Court and is a member of many court reporter organizations. He also holds membership in many library organizations as well as being a PTA member.

Aitken has been a resident of Syosset for 15 years. She is very involved in many activities in the town of Oyster Bay including Friends of the Bay, Boy Scout troops, PTA and is also the newsletter editor for the Huntington Quilters Guild, and a volunteer for The Nature Conservancy.

Full bios on the candidates can be found at www.syossetptsa.org.