Syosset residents voted Tuesday and passed both the school and library budgets. Although the school district would not release the numbers at the time of production, the following information was obtained on News 12's website. The school budget passed with 62 percent of the vote - 2,980 voted for and 1,818 voted against the budget. 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 10 years.

Three incumbent school board members, Janet Cox, Shari Dorfman and Wendy Stapen were all running unopposed this year and thus were all re-elected. Cox received 3,403 votes, Dorfman 3,273 and Stapen 3,266.

"We are very pleased that the children's education has the support of the Syosset community," said Superintendent Carole Hankin. "The approval of this budget will ensure that Syosset students will continue to have all of the excellent programs and services that enable us to prepare them for success now and in the future."

The Syosset library budget which was $4,629,374 and includes $722,736 for this year's repayment of the debt service for library construction, also passed. Reid Goldsmith was re-elected to the board of trustees.

Syosset Schools has been named a High Performing/Gap Closing District by the New York State Education Department. Syosset is one of only 33 school districts in New York State to qualify for this distinction, according to Commissioner of Education Richard P. Mills. For two consecutive years Syosset has met all applicable State standards for English language arts and math, and has also made laudable progress in English language arts, mathematics, science, and graduation rate during the past three school years.

In addition to demonstrating outstanding student achievement, districts given this honor had to have a minimum of 30 students in at least two of the following groups: a racial ethnic group, low-income, limited English proficiency, or students with disabilities. Syosset met these criteria for three consecutive years.

Said Commissioner Mills, "You and your entire community are to be commended for leading New York forward to accomplish our dual goals of increasing student achievement while closing the gap in student performance."

"It is an honor for Syosset Schools to receive this recognition from the State Education Department," said Dr. Hankin. "We can all be very proud to be a part of this group of leading school districts."