On May 17, residents in 124 school districts across Long Island head to the polls to vote on their districts' 2011-12 budgets.

Long Island

VGHEMPSG

School advocates said Wednesday that 90-percent-plus passing rates in statewide budget elections prove voters want to decide for themselves how education dollars are spent. 
Their main point: Maintaining local control is better than the 2 percent property-tax cap proposed by Gov. Andrew M. <a href="/topics/Andrew_Cuomo">Cuomo</a> to curb school spending. 
"We already have a democratic process for capping property taxes, and it works pretty well," said Richard Iannuzzi, president of the 600,000-member <a href="/topics/New_York_State_United_Teachers">New York State United Teachers</a> union. 
Iannuzzi, who taught in <a href="/topics/Central_Islip%2C_NY">Central Islip</a>, noted that school spending increases have slowed in recent years, both statewide and on Long Island. He called Cuomo's tax-cap plan "ill-conceived." 
Not surprisingly, the governor drew a different conclusion from Tuesday's vote. Island residents approved all but five of 124 district budgets -- a 96 percent passage rate. 
"I think the message is getting out," Cuomo said Wednesday. "We've reined in state spending. We now have to rein in local government and school spending. I think you saw that in a lot of these school district budgets." 
On the Island, the average budget will rise less than the 2.3 percent inflation rate next year, as districts trim staffs and unions agree to salary concessions. But taxes will increase nearly 4 percent to make up for cuts in state school aid. 
In the <a href="/topics/William_Floyd">William Floyd</a> district -- to cite the most dramatic example -- voters on Tuesday narrowly agreed to a 12.47 percent hike in next year's taxes. That's on top of an 8.53 percent increase this year. 
School advocates cite voters' action as evidence that they will accept higher taxes to save music classes, sports and other popular programs. Residents would resent any state attempt to dictate how much they can spend, advocates add. 
"Do they want to pay higher taxes? No, they don't," said Wendell Chu, superintendent of <a href="/topics/East_Islip%2C_NY">East Islip</a> schools. "But when they're given a choice of higher taxes or cuts in programs, they're voting against cuts in programs." 
Relatively few people actually voted, however. The 288,590 who participated on the Island on Tuesday represented less than 16 percent of voters in <a href="/topics/Nassau_County%2C_NY">Nassau</a> and <a href="/topics/Suffolk_County%2C_NY">Suffolk</a> counties, according to April 1 figures on registered voters from the state Board of Elections. 
Tax activists contend voters are discouraged by state rules that sharply limit the amount of money saved when school budgets are rejected. 
"Most people don't even want to bother anymore," said Fred Gorman of <a href="/topics/Nesconset%2C_NY">Nesconset</a>, organizer of a regional tax group, Long Islanders for Educational Reform. "You've got to listen to the governor -- he's absolutely right." 
Cuomo's proposed 2-percent limit would kick in during the 2012-13 school year. The only costs exempted from the cap would be for construction and legal settlements. The cap could be overridden by vote of the local governing board and a 60 percent majority in a local referendum. 
The <a href="/topics/U.S._Republican_Party">Republican</a>-led Senate has passed the governor's bill. The Assembly, controlled by <a href="/topics/U.S._Democratic_Party">Democrats</a>, has not taken it up, but has promised to introduce its own version soon. 
Some school officials such as Joseph Laria, who is <a href="/topics/Glen_Cove%2C_NY">Glen Cove</a>'s superintendent, think a cap might work, if exemptions are added for such costs as state-mandated pensions and health care. Laria notes that his colleagues managed to find savings when state fiscal pressures demanded it. 
"Isn't it interesting," he said, "that when our backs were to the wall, we all tightened our belts and made do with less, and people supported our budgets."

Education

LISKUL19

School advocates: Results rebut guv plan

School District Budget voting

Long Island's school districts are saddled with $3.7 billion in long-term debt, the price of years of borrowing for construction and improvements ranging from solar panels and upgraded ventilation systems to science labs, refurbished auditoriums and updated athletic fields. 
While the state picks up part of the tab -- in some cases, the majority of it -- property owners, too, are on the hook for this fixed cost, which is plugged into district budgets already straining under dramatic cuts in state aid and the expense of government mandates. 
School budgets that residents in most of the Island's 124 districts will be asked to approve Tuesday include principal and interest due annually on bonds -- indebtedness that over the past decade was encouraged by state policies. 
Debt service on the Island's school district bonds last year totaled $468.9 million, up from $146.1 million in 1990, according to the state Department of Education. 
&nbsp; 
Footing the bill 
As with any IOU, the piper must be paid. 
"The thing you have to consider is, what is the alternative?" said Wendell Chu, superintendent of the <a href="/topics/East_Islip%2C_NY">East Islip</a> school district. "This type of debt that's being picked up is generally for capital projects that are not easy to include in regular budgets." 
The annual debt service is a small piece of a school district's overall spending, which also includes state aid. Last year, debt service ate up 4.5 percent of total expenditures in the Island's districts -- up from 3.1 percent in 2000 and 3.8 percent in 1990. 
In the 1990 fiscal year, <a href="/topics/Nassau_County%2C_NY">Nassau</a> and <a href="/topics/Suffolk_County%2C_NY">Suffolk</a> school districts had a combined $542.6 million in outstanding bonds, according to data provided by the state comptroller's office. By 2010, those bonded debt obligations had grown to $3.7 billion. Adjusted for inflation, that's a 309 percent increase. 
Consider <a href="/topics/Syosset%2C_NY">Syosset</a> as one example. When children were dismissed from <a href="/topics/Syosset%2C_NY">Syosset</a>'s schools in the summer of 1990, paying off the district's long-term debt bonds would have taken about $7 from the pocket of every man, woman and child in the district. In 2010, the payoff was $1,389 per person. The district's bonded indebtedness grew in that time from $225,000 to $47.5 million. 
Increased debt by itself doesn't necessarily mean that school districts are borrowing too much -- indeed, as Long Island became wealthier, it could afford more. Overall school spending grew from $3.89 billion in 1990 to $10.37 billion last year, a 60 percent increase after adjusting for inflation. 
"Just to focus on increases in the amount of debt is just a partial view," said Kate Hackett, an analyst at Standard &amp; Poor's. "You have to look at the growth in the economy. It's a very strong economy out in Long Island." 
&nbsp; 
Outpacing inflation rate 
Still, borrowing by many districts has outpaced inflation. The state's growing obligation to fund a portion of school construction and renovation over the past decade prompted changes in law this year that will bring to the fore the trade-off between construction and other costs, such as hiring teachers. 
"New York State has done a number of things over the years to encourage school construction, and some projects were sorely needed and others may have been done because the state's reimbursement was so generous that it was hard to say no," said Morris Peters, spokesman for the state Division of Budget. "The problem with that is it drives up state expenses for school construction." 
In the 1990-91 school year, New York paid school districts throughout the state $380 million for building aid. Twenty years later, that figure had risen to $2.49 billion, an increase of 295 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars. The amount of aid available for eligible projects is largely determined by a district's wealth, with the state paying a greater portion of poorer districts' costs. 
&nbsp; 
The borrowing boom 
Borrowing really took off in the new millennium, fueled by a confluence of factors that created fertile ground for debt. Part of it was simply cyclical need. Many Long Island schools were built in the 1950s and required renovation, or more classrooms were needed in growing districts. Enrollment increased during the 1990s and through 2005, driven by a number of factors, including offering full-day kindergarten in more districts and expanded curriculums. Falling interest rates in the 1990s and 2000s made borrowing cheaper, and rising wealth and property values made more money available. 
Observers point to state policy changes that encouraged borrowing: a temporary state increase in building aid, imposition of a payment schedule that spread reimbursement over fixed time periods, and a grant program that prompted sale of more bonds. 
Starting in 1998, the state temporarily increased building aid available to all school districts, prompting many to go out with bond referendums. 
Chu said that state incentives spurred districts to make needed investments in their facilities. 
"That incentive caused a lot of school districts to do those projects -- projects that they may have decided to put off for a later point in time or might have even enhanced projects to allow them to do better things," he said. 
Then, in 2002 the state changed the way it reimbursed school districts so that it paid them over 15, 20 or 30 years, depending upon the type of project, which discouraged pay-as-you-go spending. 
"Governor Pataki, when times were tougher, turned around immediately and stretched out the repayments over the life of the project," said John Bierwirth, superintendent of the <a href="/topics/Herricks%2C_NY">Herricks</a> school district. "In a relatively short period of time, the state was one moment encouraging construction and in the next moment encouraging people to go into debt." 
Finally, a program called EXCEL encouraged districts sell more bonds, though that cost generally fell more on state taxpayers than individual districts. The borrowing bonanza prompted state lawmakers to change the system this year. The 2011-12 budget capped growth in school aid, including building aid. That means as more funds are approved for districts' capital projects, less money will be available for other things. 
"This dynamic has existed for a long time -- of expense-based aid growing as a percentage of the total," Peters said. "Going forward, as we're constraining school-aid growth, that problem is going to essentially be compounded, and this will focus a little more attention on the issue."

LIBOND13

School debt soars on Long Island

lirally

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Baldwin%2C_NY">BALDWIN</a> 
Vote Approved, 1,481-776 
Budget $119,977,586, a 2.97% increase 
Tax levy $84,560,456, a 2.79% increase 
Average home Increase 2.33% to $7,281 
Propositions Approved, 1,526-657, to establish a $5-million capital reserve fund to repair and replace doors, athletic fields, fencing, playgrounds, plumbing and technology infrastructure over five years; approved, 1,524-642, to spend $1.2 million from capital reserve fund. 
School board Laura Williams (1,099) defeated two-term incumbent Anne Hannon (653) and Gregory McGlynn (440) for a three-year term.

News

VGBALD15

Baldwin School District

BELLMORE 
Vote Approved, 879-551 
Budget $31,503,146, a 2.27% increase 
Tax levy $22,131,593, a 3.89% increase 
Average home Assessed at $1,086 will increase 3.7% to $4,204 
School board Incumbent Jay L.T. Breakstone ran unopposed for a three-year term.

VGBELL15

Bellmore School District

<a href="/topics/Bellmore%2C_NY">BELLMORE</a>-<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">MERRICK</a> 
Vote Approved, 3,922-2,675 
Budget $131,355,672, a 3.35% increase 
Tax levy $100,684,449, a 5.2% increase 
Average home District spokeswoman Michelle Gagnon said district could not provide the dollar amount of the school tax paid on the average single-family home because the tax levy is based on the assessed valuation of its four elementary school districts, which varies according to the district. 
School board Trustees are not elected. Two trustees are appointed to the school board from each of four elementary school districts: Bellmore, <a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">Merrick</a>, <a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/North_Bellmore%2C_NY">North Bellmore</a> and <a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/North_Merrick%2C_NY">North Merrick</a>.

VGBMER15

Bellmore-Merrick School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/East_Meadow%2C_NY">EAST MEADOW</a> 
Vote Approved, 2,117-1,055 
Budget $181,275,239, a 1.73% increase 
Tax levy $125,357,170, a 1.62% increase 
Average home District said it could not provide taxes on an average single-family house because Nassau County has not provided the average assessed value of homes in the district. 
School board Incumbents Joseph Danenza and Corey Fanelli ran unopposed for three-year terms.

VGEMEA15

East Meadow School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/East_Rockaway%2C_NY">EAST ROCKAWAY</a> 
Vote Approved, 714-540 
Budget $34,317,959, a 2.94% increase 
Tax levy $26,731,137, a 3.77% increase 
Propositions Approved, 726-354, to spend $192,800 from the capital reserve fund for building improvements and repairs, including boiler repair at the high school and replacement of exterior doors at Rhame Avenue Elementary School; approved, 661-384, to spend $177,471 from district's Technology Replacement Fund for "smart classroom" upgrades, including interactive whiteboards and LCD projectors. 
School board Incumbents Neil Schloth and Linda Schmidt ran unopposed for three-year terms.

VGEROC15

East Rockaway School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Elmont%2C_NY">ELMONT</a> 
Vote Approved, 1,124-737 
Budget $76,448,247, a 4.7% increase 
Tax levy $49,528,158, a 7.6% increase 
Average home Assessed at $811 will increase an estimated 4.5% to $2,553 
School board Incumbent Anthony Maffea Sr. (863) defeated Gina Burnett (556) for a three-year term. Incumbent Deniece Walker ran unopposed for a three-year term.

VGELMO15

Elmont School District

<a href="/topics/Floral_Park%2C_NY">FLORAL PARK</a>-BELLEROSE 
Vote Approved, 1,602-879 
Budget $26,385,163, a 2% decrease 
Tax levy $20,769,311, a 8.79% increase 
Average home Assessed at $1,041 will increase 8.77% to $2,841 
Propositions Approved, 1,607-712, to spend $402,379.62 from capital reserve fund for projects including boiler replacement at Floral Park-Bellerose School; approved, 1,399-941, to change the district's transportation mileage limitation of 1 mile for students in grades 5 and 6 to 1/2-mile. 
School board Incumbent Jennell Y. Horan (1,260) defeated Glen Rettinger (1,140) and Denise DellaCorte (1,307) defeated Marc Mullen (1,170).

Floral Park-Bellerose

Floral Park-Bellerose School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Franklin_Square%2C_NY">FRANKLIN SQUARE</a> 
Vote Approved, 1,134-773 
Budget $33,926,720 budget, a 2.9% increase 
Tax levy $24,968,292, a 6.9% increase 
Average home Assessed at $382,137 will increase 9.6% to $2,790 
School board Jean Fichtl ran unopposed for three-year term.

VGFRAN15

Franklin Square Union Free School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Freeport%2C_NY">FREEPORT</a> 
Vote Approved, 1,432-839 
Budget $149,477,547, a 2.18% increase 
Tax levy $81,949,497, a 3.88% increase 
Average home With a market value of $312,000 will increase about $200, from $5,147 this year 
Proposition Approved, 1,466-602, to spend $1.5 million from the capital reserve fund for capital improvement projects. 
School board Vilma Lancaster (1,426) and incumbent Ronald J. Ellerbe (1,803) defeated Shushanna Roper (602) for three-year terms.

VGFREE15

Freeport School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">GARDEN CITY</a> 
Vote Approved, 1,820-1,081 
Budget $101,117,058, a 3.19% increase 
Tax levy $90,654,014, a 2.58% increase 
Average home Assessed at $1,959 will increase 2.1% 
School board Angela Heineman and Tom Pinou ran unopposed for three-year and one-year terms, respectively.

VGGARD15

Garden City School District

HEMPSTEAD 
Vote Approved, 567-309 
Budget $167,087,335, a 3.98% increase 
Tax levy $69,902,903, a 5.46% increase 
Average home Increase 3.27% to $5,899 
School board Incumbent Betty Cross (649) defeated Tammi Mitchell (534) for a three-year term.

VGHEMP15

Hempstead School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Hewlett%2C_NY">HEWLETT</a>-<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Woodmere%2C_NY">WOODMERE</a> 
Vote Approved, 1,809-1,351 
Budget $103,238,325, a 2.37% increase 
Tax levy $92,128,608, a 3.11% increase 
Average home Assessed at $1,349 will increase 3.16% to $9,128 
School board Challengers Cheryl May (2,222) and <a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Frank_Scott">Scott</a> McInnes (1,965) defeated incumbent Teena Ditchek Korman (1,293) for two at-large seats with three-year terms.

VGHEWL15

Hewlett-Woodmere School District

ISLAND PARK 
Vote Approved, 425-260 
Budget $33,495,632, a 2.99% increase 
Tax levy $29,428,988, a 1.72% increase 
Average home The district declined to estimate tax paid on the average single-family home because Nassau County's assessment office has not provided the final assessment rate for the district. 
School board Nina Hargrove ran unopposed for five-year term.

VGIPAR15

Island Park School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Lawrence%2C_NY">LAWRENCE</a> 
Vote Approved, 3,187-792 
Budget $93,150,155 budget, a .98% decrease 
Tax levy $78,937,250, the same amount as the current year 
Average home Decrease $96 to $6,217 
School board Incumbent Murray Forman (3,319) defeated Nicole Di Iorio (2,199) and incumbent Asher Mansdorf (3,656) defeated Gwynette Campbell (1,903) for three-year terms.

VGLAWR15

Lawrence School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Levittown%2C_NY">LEVITTOWN</a> 
Vote Approved, 2,967-2,414 
Budget $197,907,475, a 2.63% increase 
Tax levy $125,052,875, a 3.43% increase 
Average home Increase $215 
School board Frank Ward and incumbents Michael Pappas and Peter Porrazzo ran unopposed.

VGLEVI15

Levittown School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Lynbrook%2C_NY">LYNBROOK</a> 
Vote Approved, 1,384-947 
Budget $72,896,885, a 2.81% increase 
Tax levy $62,950,943, a 4.24% increase 
Average home Assessed at $1,031 will increase 1.9% to $8,199 
Propositions Approved, 1,416-895, to use $457,400 from the Technology Replacement Fund to upgrade computers; rejected, 1,390-939, to take $1.9 million from the district's capital reserve fund and $2.7 million from the facilities fund for renovating the South Middle School athletic complex. 
School board Ellen Marcus (973) defeated Christine Basile (843) for a three-year term.

VGLYNB15

Lynbrook School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Malverne%2C_NY">MALVERNE</a> 
Vote Approved, 747-615 
Budget $47,512,111, a 3.26% increase 
Tax levy $37,662,130, a 4.96% increase 
Average home Assessed at $343,258 will increase 1.72% to $6,990 
Proposition Approved, 733-500, to spend $400,000 from the capital reserve account to upgrade science laboratory facilities at <a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Malverne%2C_NY">Malverne</a> High School and Howard T. Herber Middle School. 
School board Incumbent Patrick R. Coonan (630) defeated write-in candidate Donald Pupke (385) for a four-year term.

LI Life

VGMALV15

Malverne School District

MERRICK 
Vote Approved, 949-663 
Budget $42,341,991, a 3.31% increase 
Tax levy $35,083,708, a 4.89% increase 
Average home Assessed at $1,205 will increase 2.25% to $4,999 
School board Incumbents Sheri Iskenderian and Butch Yamali ran unopposed for three-year terms.

VGMERR15

Merrick School District

N. HYDE PARK-G. CITY PARK 
Vote Approved, 1,163-796 
Budget $33,527,125, a 2.97% increase 
Tax levy $27,361,847, a 5.29% increase 
Average home School tax paid would rise from $2,706.49 to $2,846.04, a 5.16% increase 
School board Incumbents Alan Cooper and Patricia Rudd ran unopposed for three-year terms; Frank Miranda ran unopposed for a two-year term to complete the unexpired term of Annette Giarratani.

VGNEWH15

New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/North_Bellmore%2C_NY">NORTH BELLMORE</a> 
Vote Approved, 1,611-936 
Budget $48,029,117, a 2.18% increase 
Tax levy $33,762,591, a 4.46% increase 
Average home Assessed at $366,400 will pay $3,916.82, a 4.46% increase 
School board John V. Ferrara (1,078) defeated incumbent Nina Lanci (1,061) for a three-year term.

VGNBEL15

North Bellmore School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Oceanside%2C_NY">OCEANSIDE</a> 
Vote Approved, 1,783-1,000 
Budget $131,126,733, a 1.98% increase 
Tax levy $108,524,187, a 3.77% increase 
Average home The district did not respond to calls seeking information on the proposed budget's effect on property taxes. The assessed value of an average home in the district is about $1,000. 
School board Donald Maresca (1,943) Mary Jane McGrath-Mulhern (1,841) and Sandie Schoell (1,750) ran unopposed for three-year terms.

VGOCEA15

Oceanside School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">ROCKVILLE CENTRE</a> 
Vote Approved, 1,956-1,369 
Budget $95,665,184, a 2.41% increase 
Tax levy $82,564,854, a 5.49% increase 
Average home Will increase 4.79% to $9,225 
School board Mayda Kramer and incumbent Gregg Spaulding ran unopposed for three-year terms.

VGROCK15

Rockville Centre School District

<a href="/topics/Roosevelt%2C_NY">ROOSEVELT</a> 
Vote Approved, 293-148 
Budget $84,384,818, a 0.43% increase 
Tax levy $21,973,191. a 4.96% increase 
Average home Assessed at $735 will increase 4.7% to $4,757.55 
School board <a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Frank_Scott">Frank Scott</a> (295) defeated Angelique McCullers-June (44) and incumbent Kimberley McLean (207) for a seat with a three-year term; Alfred T. Taylor (242) defeated Darleyne E. Mayers (216) for <a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Frank_Scott">Scott</a>'s old seat, with a three-year term.

VGROOS15

Roosevelt School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Seaford%2C_NY">SEAFORD</a> 
Vote Rejected, 1,881-1,448 
Budget $55,181,680, a 2.92% increase 
Tax levy $45,040,824, an 8.99% increase 
Average home Assessed at $923 would have increased 8.82% to $7,280 
Proposition Rejected, 1,604-1,366, to use $596,719 from a bond issue to construct a driveway at <a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Seaford%2C_NY">Seaford</a> Harbor Elementary School; rejected, 1,810-1,098, modifying mileage limits for students eligible for busing. 
School board Incumbents Richard G. DiBlasio (2,278) and Brian Fagan (2,157) defeated Laura Phillips (957) for two seats with three-year terms.

VGSEAF15

Seaford School District

SEWANHAKA 
Vote Approved, 4,628-3,028 
Budget $162,257,334, a 3.81% increase 
Tax levy $126,769,528, a 5.18% increase 
Average home Not available 
School board Trustees are not elected. Two trustees are appointed to the school board from each of four elementary school districts.

VGSEWA15

Sewanhaka Central High School District

UNIONDALE 
Vote Approved, 572-299 
Budget $159,081,672, a 1.98% increase 
Tax levy $116,346,901, up 3.99% Average home The district did not provide the school tax bill paid on an average single-family home in the district for either the 2010-11 or 2011-12 school years. 
School board Incumbent Neville Georges (494) defeated Janet Weekes (429) for three-year term.

VGUNIO15

Uniondale School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Valley_Stream%2C_NY">VALLEY STREAM</a> 13 
Vote Approved, 1,112-763 
Budget $42,538,261, a 2.89% increase 
Tax levy $30,909,586, a 2.48% increase 
Average home Assessed at $890 will increase 2.49% to $3,265.85 
School board Incumbent Sean T. Douglas (1,072) defeated challenger Bernadin Fleurima (400). Incumbents Frank Chiachiere and Debra Evans ran unopposed for three-year terms.

VGVS1315

Valley Stream School District 13

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Valley_Stream%2C_NY">VALLEY STREAM</a> 24 
Vote Approved, 501-254 
Budget $27,218,846, a 2.26% increase 
Tax levy $18,825,175, a 0.77% increase 
Average home Assessed at $845 will increase 0.3% to $2,757 
School board In a four-way race for three seats, incumbents Paul DePace (512) and Carole A. Meaney (536) and challenger Lisa Pellicane (511) won three-year terms. Incumbent Ian Wraith (315) lost.

VGVS2415

Valley Stream School District 24

VALLEY STREAM 30 
Vote Approved, 465-308 
Budget $32,409,760, a 3.23% increase 
Tax levy $25,550,760, a 6.11% increase 
Average home The district did not provide an estimate of the tax impact on the average home, saying the tax rate has not been set for different property classes. 
Propositions Approved, 495-256, to spend $799,136 to repair heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. Approved, 468-257, to spend $631,496 to replace floors and improve sidewalks, ramps and playgrounds. 
School board Incumbent Kenneth Cummings (388) defeated Margo V. McKenzie (223) for a five-year term.

VGVS3015

Valley Stream 30 School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Wantagh%2C_NY">WANTAGH</a> 
Vote Approved, 2,353-1,121 
Budget $70,194,507, a 1.46% increase 
Tax levy $53,280,124, a 3.99% increase 
Average home Assessed at $1,029 will increase 3.93% to $8,234. 
School board Incumbent Michael Cucci (2,161) and Michael Soethout (2,111) defeated Mitchell Zerner (1,590) for two seats with three-year terms.

VGWANT15

Wantagh School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/West_Hempstead%2C_NY">WEST HEMPSTEAD</a> 
Vote Approved, 1,071-893 
Budget $54,397,183, a 2.85% increase 
Tax levy $39,843,764, a 2.99% increase 
Average home Assessed at $898 will increase 4.72% to $6,479 
School board Incumbents Walter Ejnes and Pamela Lotito ran unopposed for three-year terms.

VGWHEM15

West Hempstead School District

<a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Westbury%2C_NY">WESTBURY</a> 
Vote Rejected, 683-642 
Budget $109,707,104, a 4.19% increase 
Tax levy $73,414,826, a 5.51% increase 
Average home $8,924, a 7.2% increase 
School board Incumbent Karin B. Campbell (727) and Laura Pierce (765) defeated Stan Ercolano (643) for two seats with three-year terms.

VGWBRY15

Westbury School District

Hempstead school districts

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NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano tries a Hyrox fitness class at Black Bear Athletics in West Babylon.

Why Hyrox is trending on Long Island

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed takes us out to East Hampton, where an old farm turned arts center hosts community events.

Out East: Duck Creek Arts Center

Matthew Smith sentenced to up to 22 years in prison for drunken-driving crash that killed Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie has more.

Man who drove drunk and killed Nassau police officer gets up to 22 years in prison

From pizza to clams, Newsday food writer Andi Berlin visits two restaurants that are on the way to Northwell at Jones Beach Theater.

Eats en route to Jones Beach

Former Holy Trinity lineman Lance Swift spoke with Newsday high school sports reporter Jared Valluzzi after the Titans suspended their football program.

Former Holy Trinity lineman reflects on football program suspension

NewsdayTV's Marie Elena Martinez got a sneak peek at the new Babylon Whiskey Down Diner location, which is currently under construction with plans to open in the fall.

Take a peek inside Whiskey Down Diner's new location

Three Newsday photographers talk to NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland about covering the tragic crash of TWA Flight 800 in 1996.

Picture This: That time the sky exploded off the South Shore

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa visited Garcia's Taco Bar in Brentwood to try their birria ramen.

Trendy Bites: Birria ramen

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Wednesday commemmorated the 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth catching a baseball dropped from a plane at Mitchel Field in Uniondale. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa has more.

'I wish I was around here to see it'

Bay Shore residents voice concern over plan to turn former Monfort Missionaries seminary into an Islamic boarding school. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'You're in the middle of a residential area'

'Nothing is going to bring my wife back'

There is a new push to look into the effect of screen time in classrooms. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn spoke to Newsday state reporter Keshia Clukey and other experts on the topic.

'I don't advocate for one blanket policy'

Two months into the state's "bell-to-bell" ban on electronic devices in schools, some districts are reporting positive changes in the classroom. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

'Students are much more talkative to one another'

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Massapequa manager Joe Sollitto said, "We are a true all-star team. To say that I'm proud of these girls is an understatement."

Massapequa softball falls to Toms River, eliminated from Little League tournament

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The funding is part of a $5 billion nationwide initiative between government, industry and universities to push AI research and experimentation.

Stony Brook University researchers awarded $1.6 million in DOE grants to advance AI and science capabilities

A lawsuit alleging the superintendent, Fia Davis, spent $100,000 in district funds to renovate her office will also be withdrawn, according to her attorney.

Freeport schools superintendent reinstated after being placed on leave

Remembering a unique historical moment, 100 years later.

When Babe Ruth caught a baseball dropped from an airplane on LI

Critics say the same issue apply to concerns over an East Hampton toxic plume and a planned high-voltage cable project in Nassau.

Hochul touts data center pause, cites local control, resource protection

Authorities said the fire was sparked at about 5 p.m. Tuesday caused by an electrical fire involving failed equipment.

Hempstead Town Hall expected to reopen Thursday, but court could again be closed

Prosecutors said the companies billed for trips that never happened, including rides for people who were dead, hospitalized or in prison.

Long Island taxi operator gets 8 years for $19M Medicaid fraud that funded Ferrari, homes

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NewsdayTV's Jasmine Anderson and Newsday education reporter Dandan Zou talk to Long Island school administrators about how the school cellphone ban is going so far.

'Kids are outside. They're playing. They're laughing together.'

Homeowners say their taxes make it almost unaffordable to live on Long Island. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa sat down with Newsday towns reporter Sam Kmack to learn more about residents who are taking action.

'Homeowners are under real financial pressure'

Following two days of hazy skies from the Canadian wildfire smoke, NewsdayTV meteorologist Geoff Bansen has a look at what the weekend weather will look like.

Long Island weather: Expect bluer skies this afternoon

An arbitrator detailed ex-officer George Trimigliozzi's poor job performance before his high-profile criminal case. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie and Newsday investigative reporter Jim Baumbach has more.

'He really wasn't being a police officer'

NewsdayTV goes behind the scenes of the day Rex Heuermann was sentenced for the Gilgo killings.

'A million years isn't enough'

The hazy skies are hanging around Long Island Thursday as smoke from the Canadian wildfires continues to fill the air.

Long Island weather: When will smoke, heat go away?

'Honestly, I was hurt'

A heat advisory remains in effect on Long Island through late Thursday. NewsdayTV's meteorologist Geoff Bansen has the forecast.

Canadian wildfire smoke could impact Long Island

Vincent Puleo, who's worked in public office for nearly two decades, terminated the spa's lease following Newsday's reporting. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie talks with Newsday reporters Sandra Peddie and Bahar Ostadan about the story.

'They dabble in other stuff behind the covers'

Police are only addressing the supply, but demand is what fuels the illicit sex trade, experts say. Newsday political reporter Bahar Ostadan has the story.

'If you don't address demand, you don't address the problem'

Suffolk County officials Monday warned of scammers, preying primarily on the elderly, who direct people to liquidate their life savings to buy gold bars. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'Very thankful that we saved that money for her'

There have been 23 closures due to shark sightings at Queens' Rockaway Beach and that has other South Shore beaches on alert. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn has more.

'They're coming to visit more often'

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