Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District’s budget passes by large margin

Voters overwhelmingly said yes to the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District’s budget of roughly $66 million for the 2024-2025 school year. Five hundred and seventeen voted “yes,” with only 215 voting “no.” 

Although Francesco Ianni, the district’s superintendent said the budget does not promise anything flashy, it does ensure that all programs and initiatives will remain in place.

When he heard the budget passed, he couldn’t have been happier.

“It’s excellent news. I’m very, very satisfied,” he said. “This was a difficult budget with state and foundation aid not coming in until the last minute. The students will now continue to benefit from the great programs we have here.”

Both propositions also passed. The district is now permitted to take $415,000 from its technology capital reserve fund for technology projects and no more than $440,000 from the capital reserve fund for board approved projects. Both come at no cost to taxpayers.

Two seats were open on Oyster Bay’s Board of Education, one for a year, due to the early departure of board member Norah Windhausen, and the other, for four years, for Darren Gerbosi’s seat, who has declined to run again. John Paul Kopacz secured the four year term garnering 521 votes and Joseph Laurita, Jr., with  366 votes, will serve one year.

Kopacz, 43, of East Norwich, has been an educator and administrator for the past 17 years at the Great Neck School District. Laurita, 47, a realtor, lives in Oyster Bay. He’s a former police officer for the New York Police Department who went on to be a Garden City police officer for 20 years retiring in 2002.

On Tuesday night, while waiting for the results the two candidates sat together amiably chatting.