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Mostly Cloudy Passed budgets please school officials
Elementary school district officials across the Bellmores expressed gratitude to residents for passing their 2015-16 budget plans. School trustee candidates also said they were thrilled to win terms on their respective boards of education.
Voters overwhelmingly approved the 2015-16 school budgets in the May 19 election. The results are:
- Bellmore: Approved, 583 “yes” votes (77.7 percent) to 167 “no” votes (22.3 percent)
- North Bellmore: Approved, 1,214 “yes” votes (69 percent) to 543 “no” votes (31 percent)
In Bellmore
In Bellmore, voters passed a $33.6 million spending plan that includes an increase in the district’s tax levy –– the total amount the district needs to raise in property taxes to meet expenses ––of 2.27 percent.
Superintendent Dr. Joseph Famularo said he was grateful that the spending plan passed. “On behalf of the Board of Education, students and staff, I wish to extend my appreciation to our community for their ongoing support of our school district,” he said. “Through their approval of the 2015-16 budget, we will be able to continue to provide our students with the tools and support needed to develop into well-rounded, capable and confident citizens.”
Deirdre Gambino, assistant superintendent for business and technology services, said the budget maintains all instructional programs while increasing the overall instructional budget by 1 percent. Meanwhile, spending on staff development increased by 50 percent.
Other budget increases included library services (3.34 percent) and computers (9.27 percent). Gambino added that district is spending $55,000 more for Board of Cooperative Educational Services support.
In the Bellmore Board of Education election, incumbents Marion Blane and Brian Desmond faced no opposition and were elected.
In North Bellmore
North Bellmore Board of Education Trustee Nina Lanci, who has served the district for more than a decade, said she looked forward to continuing to improve educational programs and opportunities for all district children.
Newcomer Melissa Cmar-Grote, a former PTA president, will join Lanci and other trustees on the board. Cmar-Grote has lived in North Bellmore for 14 years. She and her husband, Chris, have two daughters.
