Herald Editorial

Support Lynbrook, East Rockaway school budgets

Posted

At a time when district administrators are striving to enhance school safety and increase the quality of programs — while holding the line on taxes — it is as important as ever to support school budgets.

Thus, the Herald enthusiastically endorses the Lynbrook and East Rockaway school district spending plans, and encourages voters to show their support by voting “yes” on Tuesday.

Lynbrook officials were diligent in developing an $88 million budget proposal for the 2019-20 school year — an increase of $2.8 million from 2018-19 — all while maintaining all programs and making key additions.

The budget includes the addition of new personnel to meet the growing number of students in the district. It would also fund the conversion of rooms at Marion Street to accommodate the large student body at the school, and a new internet pipe at North Middle School to increase its speed.

In addition to approving the budget, voters should also vote to enable the district to use money from its reserve funds to pay for technological upgrades and renovations to many of its buildings, which would include the installation of a new elevator at Marion Street Elementary School.

East Rockaway officials should be commended for once again keeping their budget below the tax cap. Officials adopted a $40.2 million spending plan, which will see an increased emphasis on security, the creation of new courses and the continuation of its 1:1 tablet program.

We also encourage residents to vote for a proposition to permit officials to use reserves to pay for computer hardware, network and smart classroom upgrades.