Lawrence school budget was approved

Voters approved the 2011-12 $93.1 million Lawrence school budget on Tuesday. This fiscal plan is nearly 1 percent less than the current budget, yields no change in the tax levy and includes an annual decrease of $96 in school property taxes for the average homeowner.

Incumbent trustee Murray Forman defeated challenger Nicole Di Iorio by a vote of 3,319 to 2,199, for his third term on the board. Asher Mansdorf, also an incumbent, beat Gwynn Campbell, 3,256 to 1,903. Both terms are three years.

Pleased that the budget was passed, Mansdorf said that he was humbled by his election for a fourth term and thinks that the residents value what the board is doing.

"We've started on a path to improve academic outcomes for the students who are educated in our district," Mansdorf said. "For too long we have concentrated on personalities and why people are on the board instead of how are the kids doing and what we are doing to help them do well."

Noting the philosophy of Deputy Superintendent Gary Schall, who is set to become the district's superintendent on July 1, Mansdorf said Lawrence is focusing on education.

"Our approach is very straight forward," said Mansdorf, who noted the board views the school district as something that constantly changes. "We will create strike teams for things that have to be looked at. If we find a problem we will look at it diligently and act and correct it."

The Peninsula Public Library

budget of $2,912,490 was also approved.

Challenger Jeffrey Leb defeated incumbent Stanley Nussbaum for the five-year trustee term by a count of, 3,240 to 1,415. Sarah Yastrab, another challenger, beat appointed incumbent Patricia Pope for the unexpired one-year term by a vote of 3,255 to 1,343.