Five Towns Letters to the Editor

Wants trustees to answer questions

To the Editor:  
Thank you for publishing the article “Budgeting under the tax cap” (May 5-11).
I am the parent of two students in the Lawrence Schools. When attending the board meetings, I have found that many of the parents’ questions go unanswered.

The response from the school board to most of the residents’ questions has been: “That subject is not part of the agenda.” Members of the community deserve answers.

Board of Education President Murray Forman said: “We have a totally transparent system. We have meetings and an open door for every stakeholder.” That contradicts what I have witnessed at these meetings.

If questions need to be listed on the meeting agenda for discussion, then please tell us how to go about adding them. Otherwise, the issues will continue to go unaddressed, in turn failing the students who the Board of Education is suppose to serve and protect.

Jose Serrano
Lawrence

Clarity needed on political contributions

To the Editor:
In response to the letter to the editor “Kaminsky should be investigated” (May 5-11) that was quick to discredit a donation from the Communications Workers of America (CWA), to the Nassau County Democratic Committee allegedly for the recent state senatorial race, 18 states impose no restrictions on state party committees contributing money to a campaigns. Among them is New York state, which allows the state party committee to donate unlimited sums if the candidate meets certain qualifications, such as running uncontested.    

The CWA is apparently in sync with Democratic Party goals on Social Security, gun control and global warming, and supports the administration of the county committee. The Republican Party needs a better idea than obstructing the work of government when they don’t get their way.

Focus is needed on U.S. Supreme Court rulings that: (1) a corporation has the same First Amendment rights as a person to support or oppose political candidates; and (2) it is unconstitutional to limit the total amount an individual can contribute, thereby giving a handful of billionaires the power to write a single check for millions of dollars to candidates and political committees.

Eleanor Wolff
Hewlett

Thanks for approving the budget

To the Editor:
Thank you to everyone in the Hewlett-Woodmere communities who voted on May 17!

The school district budget process was the result of many months of hard work by our Board of Education, administration, staff, parents and community. As always, our goal was to propose a budget for the 2016-17 school year that would allow us to continue to provide the children of District 14 with a comprehensive and quality education, while remaining fiscally responsible to the community.

The passage of the budget will allow us to maintain all of the programs and services that the community has come to expect from Hewlett-Woodmere, with no increase in the tax levy.

In addition, the passage of Proposition II will allow us to make the very necessary heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades at the Franklin Early Childhood Center and Hewlett Elementary School.

I would like to invite all of our community members to share their opinions with us at the many superintendent’s roundtables and informational budget sessions that will take place next year. Please check the District calendar (available late summer) and the district’s website, www.hewlett-woodmere.net, and Facebook page (Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools) throughout the year for dates to join us.

Thank you for your continued support of Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools! We will continue to work hard to provide our community, students and staff with the level of excellence synonymous with the district, while maximizing efficiency and fiscal responsibility.

Hewlett-Woodmere students inspire me each and every day! Once again, thank you to all who voted on May 17.

Ralph Marino Jr., Ed.D.
Superintendent
Hewlett-WoodmerePublic Schools