Vote 'yes' for the East Meadow School District budget

East Meadow School District residents will have a chance to make their voices heard when they cast ballots for the school budget and elect school board trustees on Tuesday at elementary schools across the district.

The district’s proposed $199.6 million budget falls just under the allowable tax cap, with a 1.98 percent tax-levy increase. Administrators and Board of Education trustees have put together a budget that maintains all current instructional and co-curricular programs, including secondary summer school and elementary summer learning programs.

We applaud those officials for crafting a spending plan that not only keeps its current science research initiatives, but also enhances its college and Advanced Placement programs at East Meadow and W.T. Clarke high schools. If approved by voters, the budget would allow the district to adopt a capital program for health and safety concerns, while continuing to implement technology initiatives. At the same time, the district was recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants as one of the 2017 Best Communities for Music Education.

We encourage East Meadow residents to cast “yes” votes for the budget.

Vote for Danenza, Eckers

Joseph Danenza, who now serves as the Board of Education’s vice president, is a seasoned school trustee, having served for seven years. His experience chairing several of the board’s major committees, including education, business and transportation, continues to make him an outstanding candidate.

We believe that Danenza is best equipped to help implement the $44.2 million bond that voters passed in March based on his extensive financial background. His demeanor is welcoming and calm, and we believe that he would be able to help incoming Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Card Jr. become better acquainted with the community, since Danenza belongs to all 10 PTA committees in the district. Danenza has integrated himself in all schools throughout the district and is aware of each of the schools’ needs.

His opponent, Alisa Baroukh, is an excellent candidate whose experience in the Barnum Woods PTA is impressive. She has taken a stance against the Common Core State Standards and supported the opt-out movement, which she is tied into.

Clearly, she has what it takes to serve on the board, and we believe she would make a great candidate in the future.

Scott Eckers is running unopposed, and we encourage the community to vote for him. He has been on the board for three years, and in that time, he helped the district write its widely acclaimed “Where We Stand and Why” Common Core position paper. Eckers is a strong supporter of the arts and has helped with several theatrical productions, working alongside students and educators.

Re-elect Turner to library board

Michael Turner is no stranger to the East Meadow Public Library. He has served on its board for 25 years, after initially intending to only stay for a “short stint.” He and his wife, Anne, both are longtime East Meadow residents whose children attended district schools. He taught English for 39 years, and later served on the East Meadow Board of Education for 12 years.

Turner’s experience includes two five-year terms as a trustee on the Nassau Library System Board, during which time he became familiar with library protocols for purchasing materials and maintaining technological and data systems. We believe that his experience and passion for libraries are a perfect fit for the East Meadow Library Board.

His opponent, Andrew DeMathers, is a bright young man whose track record is impressive. He could make an excellent candidate in the future.