Hampton Bays School Voters Guide 2010

VOTING

6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Hampton Bays Middle School.

THE BUDGET

The district is proposing a budget of $43,814,560 for the 2010-11 school year, an increase of 2.8 percent over the current budget of $42,620,684.

The local tax levy would rise from $36,621,233 to $38,961,489, an increase of 6.39 percent.

The average house assessed at $450,000 would pay school taxes of $4,812.54 - an estimated increase of 4.55 percent over the current figure of $4,603.02.

District officials said both of the district's unions took reductions in salary increases and agreed to greater health contributions next year.

There is a referendum on the budget to repair, reconstruct and upgrade the district's buildings, facilities and grounds at a maximum cost of $300,000. The amount would be transferred from an unreserved fund balance from the 2009-10 school year to the general fund to pay the costs.

District website:

hbschools.us

THE CANDIDATES

Incumbents Marie Mulcahy and Doug Oakland and challengers Anthony Guarino and Richard Joslin are running for two seats with three-year terms.

Anthony Guarino

BACKGROUND: Guarino, 50, has lived in the district for 19 years. A pest control technician, he is divorced and has two children who have attended district schools.

ISSUES: Guarino said that the most important issue facing the school is a perceived lack of transparency. A huge portion of the community sees the school board as almost a "secret society," he said, adding that voters feel disenfranchised and alienated. He said as a member of the board, he would actively engage the community and inform them of issues. "I would do so by implementing a 'user friendly' website, newsletter, e-mails and informal public forums. This would encourage a broad variety of ideas and help rebuild what has been a diminishing interest among voters, teachers and students," he said.

Richard Joslin

BACKGROUND: Joslin, 57, is a lifelong resident of the district. A retired teacher, he received a bachelor's degree from SUNY Oneonta and a master's degree from Long Island University's former Southampton campus. He and his wife, Debbi, have three children in the district.

ISSUES: Joslin said that as a 1970 graduate of Hampton Bays High School who has taught in the district for 32 years, he is proud of the accomplishments the district has made and he wants to see those current programs maintained. He said he will strive to be fiscally responsible to taxpayers by providing the most for their dollar. "I would like to implement more courses for programs for enrichment and gifted and talented," he said. While noting the graduation rate has improved, Joslin said the district needs to see more increases in its Regents diploma percentage. He said he will look for ways to reallocate money from obsolete programs in order to expand or create new programs to further enhance students' educational needs.

Marie Mulcahy

BACKGROUND: Mulcahy, 79, has lived in the district for 38 years. A retired teacher, she has a bachelor's degree from St. John's University and a master's from St. Bonaventure University. She said she has a granddaughter and a great-grandson in the local schools. She has served on the board since 2000.

ISSUES: Mulcahy said she is running to continue to participate in meeting the challenges that the district faces. She said the economic climate that challenges Hampton Bays is not new. She said the district began a re-examination of its financial structure and developed safeguards that "today allow us to maintain educational programs without layoffs or the elimination of programs that many of our neighbors are facing." She said she is very proud of the district's administrative team and that the incoming superintendent, Lars Clemensen, will need the support of the board. "His determination and that of the board . . . is to continue the goal of improving student achievement while respecting the financial challenges that taxpayers face," she said. "I am running for the Board of Education to provide that support."

Doug Oakland

BACKGROUND: Oakland, 46, has lived in the district for 21 years. He is the owner of a restaurant and marina. He and his wife, Stephanie, have four children, one a graduate of the district and three of whom are still in district schools. He is completing his first term, and has been board president for two years.

ISSUES: Oakland said the most important issue facing the community is to provide a high quality and diverse educational program for children in a fiscally responsible manner. "To do this requires continuity and experience," he said. These are difficult times, he said, citing an old saying in declaring "it is not time to change horses midstream." With a proposed budget increase of 2.8 percent, he said, "We feel we have to keep our belts tightened." He said the district has controlled the things it can control. The things it cannot control, he said, such as reductions in state aid, PILOT revenues, property values, town wealth and economic stimulus grants, are the things that lead to possible tax increases.