Oyster Bay to revote on school budget

Oyster Bay-East Norwich's school board called for a revote Tuesday night on a trimmed $50.18-million budget that would cut $475,000 in staff and student services beyond reductions already planned for next year.

The revised budget would raise spending 2.96 percent and property-tax collections 4.34 percent. That's down from the budget defeated earlier last month by voters that would have hiked spending 3.94 percent and taxes 5.4 percent.

The decision to settle for 2.96 percent in new spending followed comments from several community residents and school board members that voters would not accept a larger increase.

Superintendent Phillis Harrington had initially recommended a 3.22 percent spending increase, contending that any deeper cuts would be difficult to fix in the years ahead -- especially if the state imposes a cap on property taxes.

"I think our community is looking for something under 3 percent," said Maryann Santos, a local attorney who was one of two challengers who won in a hard-fought school board election.

Even if the new proposed budget passes, the district expects modestly larger classes next year along with a cut in Advanced Placement courses and other high-school electives.

In addition, the district expects to cut six or more staff positions, and possibly some BOCES job training for students.

New board members won't be seated until July. But even some current board trustees had questioned in advance of the first vote whether the initial budget might be set too high.

Oyster Bay-East Norwich is among five districts out of 124, where budgets were rejected earlier this month.

Seaford and Westbury already have scheduled June 21 revotes on trimmed budgets. Locust Valley's board will take up the question of a revote Wednesday night. Fishers Island has decided to skip a second vote and adopt a slightly reduced "contingency" budget.

School spending wasn't the only issue raised in Oyster Bay-East Norwich's election.

Another was the district's recent decision not to grant job tenure to a popular guidance counselor, Michael Tweed. Some board members reported being deluged with letters on Tweed's behalf from students and parents.

Nonetheless, trustees went along with Superintendent Phyllis Harrington's recommendation against granting tenure. Reasons for such decisions are legally confidential.

Many residents viewed the tenure issue as an unwelcome distraction.

"Other issues clouded the waters -- I think that affected the budget vote, and I think it's unfortunate," said James Smiros, an architect and former board president.