SCHOOL BUDGET VOTE AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTION ON TUESDAY MAY 19

PictureVotes are tallied during last year's budget vote
On Tuesday May 19, residents of the North Shore School District will have the opportunity to vote on a $97,575,530 spending plan for the 2015-16 school year, representing a 1.8% increase over the current year's budget, and a tax levy of $89,580,349 - a 1.93% rise over this year, and $139,898 below the state imposed tax levy limit.  A second proposition asks residents to consider granting permission to the School Board to utilize existing funds not to exceed $3,146,154 from the capital reserve for the following projects - boiler replacement at the Sea Cliff Elementary School;  heating and ventilation work at the Glen Head Elementary School, North Shore Middle School, and North Shore High School; and, duct work at the North Shore High School including all labor, materials, equipment, apparatus, and incidental costs. The reserve which was established by a vote of the community several years ago, already contains those funds, and as a result, the capital projects will not result in a tax increase for residents. Under state law, funds can only be withdrawn from capital reserves with approval from the community in a referendum

This year's School Board Trustees election is uncontested with incumbents Herman Berliner, on the Board since 2009 and currently its President, and Toni Labbate the board's Vice President since last July and  now seeking a second three year term as trustee, seeking re-election.  

The vote will take place from 7 am to 10 pm at the North Shore High School Gymnasium.  See below for information on the candidates and the budget, as well as letters from supporters.  See below for past Northwordnews articles on the budget and Meet the Candidates forum, as well as candidates' statements.

BUDGET ARTICLES

SUPERINTENDENT REDUCES BUDGET PROPOSAL BY $275,000 WHILE RECOMMENDING CREATION OF SCIENCE RESEARCH TEACHING POSITION

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February 1, 2015 -- At Thursday evening's Board of Education meeting, North Shore Schools Superintendent Dr. Edward Melnick recommended shaving approximately $275,000 from the initial 2015-16 budget draft that had been presented two weeks ago, while proposing that the district spend an additional $105,000 to create a new science research teaching position.   The $97,575,530 spending plan now represents an increase of 1.8% over the current year - down from the 2.09% increase in the initial draft.  READ MORE

COMPROMISING, SCHOOL BOARD AGREES TO PUT BEFORE VOTERS A TAX LEVY $139,900 BELOW CAP

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March 2, 2015 -- After completing its page by page review of the proposed 2015-16 budget at its meeting this past Thursday evening, the North Shore Board of Education decided on a tax levy for 2015-16 that is $139,900 below the limit established by New York State. READ MORE

BOARD COMPLETES BUDGET REVIEW - THIRD LOWEST INCREASE IN 60 YEARS

March 20, 2015 -- Although on the agenda, there was little discussion of the 2015-16 budget at last Thursday's meeting, with the Board having completed its page by page review of the spending plan at its previous meeting on February 26.  On Thursday, Dr. Melnick offered a general overview of the budget, saying that the decline in the District's required contributions to the Teachers Retirement system enabled the district to maintain all of the programs it currently has.  The highlights of the budget, he said, are - that the  high school tennis courts will be replaced and that plans have been submitted to the State Education Department; the tax levy for next year will be $139,000 below the limit; and that the 1.8% budget to budget increase is the third lowest in the 60 year history of the district.  Trustee Maryanne Russo asked how much of the funds that were received from the State to offset the potential tax shift from the demolition of the LIPA power plant had been used so far.  Dr. Melnick said that the State Legislature has agreed to $5.4 in grant money for that particular purpose.  To date the district has actually gotten $3 million, with the remaining $2.4 million promised from the Senate last spring not having been received yet. $160,000 of the total is being used in the current budget (2014-15) and $600,000 will be used for the 2015-16 budget.  

TRUSTEES ELECTION - TWO INCUMBENTS SEEK RE-ELECTION UNCONTESTED

WHY I AM RUNNING FOR THE NORTH SHORE SCHOOL BOARD

Received from Herman Berliner, Glen Head   April 13, 2015

To the Editor;

I very much appreciate the support of the North Shore community in electing me twice to the school board.  I also very much appreciate the opportunity to serve, first as vice president and now as president of our school board.  We are fortunate to have a dedicated hard working school board and a dedicated supportive community looking for the best possible education for our children while being fiscally responsible.
Today, schools face serious issues. . .READ MORE

LABBATE ANNOUNCES NORTH SHORE BOE RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN 

Received from Toni Labbate, Glen Head   April 14, 2015

To the Editor,

It is with great enthusiasm, that I announce my candidacy for re-election to the North Shore Board of Education.  With many difficult issues facing public education, I am committed to continuing our locally focused work in pursuing a fair resolution to the loss of tax revenue from the demolition of the LIPA Power Plant while keeping our schools strong and effective for our students and all residents.  Strong schools equals strong communities, and the North Shore School community deserves nothing less than maintaining our high-performing district. READ MORE

TESTING, TEACHER EVALUATIONS, DOMINATE DISCUSSION AT BOE MEET THE CANDIDATES FORUM

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May 7, 2015 -- School Board trustee candidates Herman Berliner and Toni Labbate spoke about their respective philosophies regarding school governance and education at a Meet the Candidates forum at North Shore High School last Tuesday evening.  Dr. Berliner who has been the board’s President for the past two years is seeking re-election to a third three year term.  Ms. Labbate, who was chosen by her colleagues to serve as the Board’s Vice President last July, was first elected in May 2012. The two are running unopposed.  The forum,  conducted by the Nassau County League of Women Voters, was lightly attended, with only administrators, candidate spouses, current and former board members, and a few board meeting regulars there for the 45 minute duration. READ MORE

AN UNCONTESTED ELECTION FOR NORTH SHORE BOARD OF EDUCATION

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April 20, 2015 -- Only two candidates will be on the ballot for the two seats that are up for grabs in the North Shore Board Education Trustees election that will take place on Tuesday, May 19.   While four candidate petitions had been pulled over the past six weeks, only incumbents Herman Berliner and Toni Labbate submitted theirs by Monday's 5 pm deadline.  Dr. Berliner, who was first elected in 2009, has served as the Board's President for the past two years. Ms. Labbate, who was elected by her colleagues to serve as the Board's Vice-President this past July, is seeking her second three-year term.  This is the first uncontested North Shore Board of Education election since 2009.
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