Voters approve $129M school budget in Rockville Centre, Downing unseats O'Shea on school board

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Voters hit the polls on Tuesday in Rockville Centre and approved the district's $129 million budget for 2022-23 and also elected Donna Downing over incumbent President John O'Shea.

The voter turnout was the largest since 2010, according to school officials.

The 2022-23 budget is roughly $5 million more than the 2021-22 spending plan. It marks a tax increase of about $278 for the average taxpayer, and includes $1,800,000 in capital projects for maintenance, renovations and improvements throughout district buildings.

The spending plan will expand art, athletic and extracurricular clubs and programs and includes carefully-designed curriculums for all grade levels, which features an emphasis on the needs of special education students.

Downing, an English teacher at Molloy College, has been active in the commuity for many years, including serving on several district PTAs.

O'Shea had been a board member for 12 years.

Downing earned 2,169 votes, while O'Shea received 1,943.

Voters also approved the Rockville Centre Library budget and elected challengers Michael Lucchesi and Meryl Sussman over incument Michael Ludwig. Lucchesi netted 2,274 votes, while Sussman garnered 1,760 and Ludwig earned 1,455.