Roslyn school district

VOTING

7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Roslyn High School.

THE BUDGET

The district proposes a $103,851,841 budget for 2015-16, a 1.09 percent increase from the current $102,731,007. The local tax levy would increase 0.93 percent, from $91,631,155 to $92,481,169.

The increase falls within the state's tax-cap limit of 1.75 percent, so a simple majority vote will be required to approve the budget. School taxes on the average single-family home would rise 0.7 percent, from $13,794 to $13,890.

The proposed budget would add 2.8 full-time secondary classroom teachers, a psychologist for elementary students, a teaching assistant in special education, an assistant facilities director and an information technology specialist.

Residents also will vote on three propositions. Proposition 3 seeks authorization for the lease purchase of three vans and two large school buses. Proposition 4 seeks to establish a new capital reserve fund of $10 million over a probable term of 10 years to use for renovations, construction and technology upgrades. Proposition 5 seeks authorization to spend up to $1.3 million from the district's current capital reserve fund to complete renovations at East Hills Elementary School. The propositions would not affect the tax cap.

District website:

roslynschools.org

THE CANDIDATES

Mindy Kim and incumbents David P. Dubner, Adam Haber and David Seinfeld are running for three at-large seats. Terms are three years.

David P. DubnerBACKGROUND: Dubner, 39, is a lawyer and investment banker who has served as a school board trustee for three years. Dubner received his bachelor of science degree in accounting from American University in 1997 and graduated from Fordham University School of Law in 2002. He also is a member of the Roslyn School Citizens Audit Advisory Committee. Dubner has two daughters who attend Harbor Hill Elementary School and a son in preschool.

ISSUES: Oversight of the district's $46 million renovation program and managing the transition of the district's retiring superintendent are among the issues most important to Dubner. If elected to a second term, he said, he "will draw on my legal and financial background to oversee our district modernization and balance community priorities against cost escalations." Dubner said as a trustee he will continue to "advocate for educational, athletic and extracurricular innovation."

Adam HaberBACKGROUND: Haber, 50, is a restaurant owner and real estate investor who has served as a school board trustee for six years. Haber previously ran unsuccessfully for the State Senate last year and Nassau County executive in 2013. He graduated in 1987 from the University at Albany with a bachelor of science and from LIU Post in 2012 with a master's in political science. He is a board member of the nonprofit All Hands Volunteers and a Uniondale-based anti-gang initiative, as well as a board member of the Lloyd Magothy Water Trust, a Southampton nonprofit that promotes clean drinking water initiatives. Haber has two children, one attending Roslyn High School and another in the first year of college.

ISSUES: Navigating the state's budget cap "on a yearly basis to help provide quality education" for students is a top priority, Haber said. "I've used my business experience to work with the board to deliver one of the lowest average budgets in Nassau over the last six years." Haber said he would use his business experience to continue monitoring progress on the district's $40 million capital improvement project. "We're helping bring our schools back to the position they deserve and we want to make sure we do it quickly and efficiently," Haber said.

Mindy KimBACKGROUND: Kim, 44, is a parent volunteer who is running for the first time. Kim works part time as children's director for the Living Hope Church in River Edge, New Jersey. She also is co-chairwoman of the district's Parent Faculty Association's multicultural committee, and is the co-president of the Korean-American Parents Society of Roslyn. Kim graduated from University at Buffalo in 1994 with dual bachelor of arts degrees in psychology and early childhood education and community mental health. She has a daughter who attends fourth grade at Harbor Hill Elementary, a son in the seventh grade at Roslyn Middle School and a son in the ninth grade at Roslyn High School.

ISSUES: After 10 years of attending school trustee meetings, Kim said she decided to run because she wants to show her commitment to the district. Kim said she is supportive of programs the district has implemented in recent years, such as a humanities class for high school students and an engineering program. She said she would continue to push for additional enrichment programs. "I want every child to feel they have a place in the school and to encourage them to embrace their gifts and talents," Kim said.

David SeinfeldBACKGROUND: Seinfeld, 54, is assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for the Bellmore school district and has served as a Roslyn school board trustee for the past nine years. Seinfeld graduated with a bachelor of science in mathematics from the University at Albany in 1983 and received his master's in mathematics education from Queens College in 1989. He also received a specialist diploma in school administration and supervision from Queens College in 1992. Seinfeld has also served on the board of the Roslyn Little League for seven years. He has two sons who graduated from Roslyn High School, one who graduated from Molloy College in 2011 and the other a senior at Penn State University.

ISSUES: Negotiating a teachers union contract that is set to expire in June is one of the priorities facing the district, Seinfeld said. "With almost 80 percent of our district's budget going to salaries and benefits, it is imperative that we settle employee contracts that allow us to meet the financial expectations of our taxpayers and the programmatic needs of our students," he said. Seinfeld also said "as is the case with almost every school district in the state, we are facing extraordinary economic challenges," but he touted "responsible" tax levy increases that averaged 1.25 percent during the past eight years.