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A Few Clouds Hewlett-Woodmere and Lawrence school budgets approved
Abel Feldhamer and Heshy Blachorsky win Lawrence BOE
On Tuesday night, for the fourth consecutive year, the Hewlett-Woodmere and Lawrence school district budgets were overwhelmingly approved.
Hewlett-Woodmere’s $113.6 million fiscal plan for the 2015-16 school year was approved by a vote of 1,169 to 488. Its 1.4 percent tax levy increase is the lowest in district history, and the $1.67 million, 1.49 percent budget increase is the smallest in 12 years.
“We are grateful to the Hewlett-Woodmere community for its support for maintaining programs, innovating, and continuously improving the education of its children,” said Superintendent Dr. Joyce Bisso.
The budget includes money for additional special-education staff. A proposal to establish a capital reserve fund for long-range building improvements was also approved, 1,072 to 425.Lawrence district voters supported the planned $98.5 million budget for next year by a count of 1.139 to 373. The fiscal plan is $3.1 million larger than the current budget. It includes a tax levy increase of 1.5 percent, and expands student offerings, including technology programs at the high school such as 3-D printing and computer coding.
"It's clear that the voters have confidence in our school board," said Lawrence Superintendent Gary Schall. "I'm grateful the community supports the board and the budget."
Trustees elected
Lawrence Board of Education incumbent Trustee Abel Feldhamer defeated first-time candidate Matthew Russo, 1.299 to 641. Another first-timer, Heshy Blachorsky, won over Asher Matathias, 1,281 to 407, taking Uri Kaufman’s seat. Kaufman is stepping down from the board when his term expires at the end of June. He served nine years.
Hewlett-Woodmere incumbents Melissa Gates, Dr. Jonathan Altus and Stephen Witt all ran unopposed, and garnered 1,317, 1,229 and 1,224 votes, respectively. Terms for both district’s trustees are three years.
Library budgets approved
The Hewlett-Woodmere and Peninsula library budgets were both approved, by counts of 1,223-400 and 1,187 to 299. respectively.
The Hewlett-Woodmere budget totals $6.246 million, an increase of $52,574 over current spending. Peninsula’s new fiscal plan of $3.157 million is less than $40,000 larger than the current budget.
Library trustees also ran unopped. Hewlett resident Leslie Eisenberg was elected to the Hewlett-Woodmere library board, collecting 1,228 votes. Audrain Gray, of Inwood, also ran unchallenged for a seat on Peninsula’s board, and received 494 votes. Both terms are five years.
