South Country School Voters Guide 2010

VOTING

7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Bellport Middle School.

THE BUDGET

The district is proposing a budget of $109,624,262 for the 2010-11 school year, an increase of 3.32 percent over the current budget of $106,102,996. The tax levy would rise 2.66 percent to $51,729,145 from $50,387,495.

The average home assessed at $3,000 would pay $5,762.55 in school taxes, an estimated increase of 2.66 percent over the current figure of $5,613.09.

The proposed budget calls for a reduction of eight teaching positions, adds a ninth period to the school day for high school students and combines the alternative high school with the suspension school to be housed in South Haven.

The district is also proposing to outsource its transportation services.

The district is negotiating a contract with the teachers union.

In addition to the budget, there is one proposition on the ballot. The district is proposing to provide bus services to all students regardless of how far they live from their schools at an additional estimated cost of $263,000 a year.

District website:

southcountry.org

THE CANDIDATES

Incumbents Marian McKenna and Lee Snead are running against Michelle Cavaleri, Owen Durney, Antoinette Huffine and Julio Morales for four seats. The three highest vote-getters receive three-year terms. The fourth-highest vote-getter receives a one-year term. James Jankowski and Gregory Miglino are not seeking re-election.

Michelle Cavaleri

BACKGROUND: Cavaleri, 60, has lived in the district for a decade. She is a psychotherapist and a licensed clinical social worker. Cavaleri is also a certified mediator. Cavaleri received a bachelor's degree in psychology from New York Institute of Technology and a master's degree in social work from Stony Brook University. She and her husband, Vincent, have a son who did not attend district schools.

ISSUES: Cavaleri said the district's top three jobs - superintendent, assistant superintendent of business and assistant superintendent of human resources - are currently filled by temporary employees. "It will be my priority to intensify the search to identify invested professionals to fill these slots," Cavaleri said. While the focus of a school district is to educate children, she said there is a business component as well, such as labor negotiations. "Therefore, it is my agenda to place in position the leadership necessary to begin the forward momentum needed to restore collaboration within the district," Cavaleri said.

Owen Durney

BACKGROUND:Durney, 37, has lived in the district for 13 years. He is a program examiner with the Suffolk County Department of Health Services. Durney received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University at Albany and a master's of public administration from the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. He and his wife, Anita, have three sons, two of whom attend schools in the district. The couple's third son is enrolled in an autism program outside of the district.

ISSUES: Durney said the school district must cut spending and stabilize taxes. The district also needs to recruit staff to work for the central office as well as settle the teacher's contract, he said. Although Durney said the district is financially stable due to careful fiscal planning, the upcoming school year will be more challenging as the federal and state governments are anticipated to cut school funding. "I will bring a responsible fiscal approach through careful evaluation of district services, contracts and programs while putting the needs of the students and taxpayers first," Durney said.

Antoinette Huffine

BACKGROUND: Huffine, 69, has lived in the district for six years. She is a retired school administrator and is now an adjunct professor at St. Joseph's College. She received a bachelor's degree from Stony Brook University, a master's degree in science education from Southampton College of Long Island University and holds a professional diploma from the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. Huffine, a widow, has four adult children. Huffine served on the school board from 2005-2009.

ISSUES: Huffine said the temporary employees serving in the top posts of superintendent, assistant superintendent of business and assistant superintendent of human resources are not "invested" in the district's affairs. Huffine wants to start a search to find permanent replacements right away. "The district suffers from noninvested central office staff," Huffine said. She also said she would work to keep school board members from "overextending their boundaries and purpose as policy makers."

Marian McKenna

BACKGROUND: McKenna, 55, has lived in the district for 34 years. She is a Realtor. McKenna holds a bachelor's degree from Cornell University and received her real estate license in 2004. McKenna and her husband, Mike, have three children, all of whom graduated from South Country schools. She served on the school board from 1994-1997 and is currently on the board. She is seeking election to a third term.

ISSUES: McKenna said providing a quality education without "strangling" the community with taxes is one of the most important issues facing the district. As a board member, she said she helped eliminate a multimillion dollar debt and added honors classes, electives, AP classes and college credit courses. While she was on the board, she said the district increased the graduation rate and improved Regents exams results. "We cannot fall backwards," McKenna said. "I have been a significant part of this and would like to continue by seeking changes that save money," she said. McKenna also pledged to lobby state lawmakers in Albany to increase funding to the district and stop unfunded mandates.

Julio Morales

BACKGROUND: Morales, 49, has lived in the district for 13 years. He is an architect. Morales received a bachelor's degree in architecture at The City College of New York. He and his wife, Alexandra, have three children: two attend schools in the district and one graduated from district schools.

ISSUES: Morales said the school district does not have a "very good track" of administering construction projects. He said the district plans to fix or improve facilities, and his background would be useful. He said he would "like to lend my 20 years of experience and expertise in the construction business to make sure that the funds to be used in those construction projects are put to good use with very little waste." The money the district would save, Morales said, should be used to pay for additional programs, hire new teachers or keep "good" ones in the district.

Lee Snead

BACKGROUND: Snead, 49, has lived in the district for four decades. He is an attorney. Snead received a bachelor's degree and a law degree from the University of Richmond. Snead and his wife, Kathryn Eisman, do not have children. Snead, who has served on the school board since July 2009, is seeking re-election. He also served as chairman of the budget advisory committee in 2007 and 2008.

ISSUES: Snead said teachers' salaries and benefits represent a huge financial burden to taxpayers. While some residents in the district are losing their jobs and in some cases losing their homes in foreclosures, Snead said teachers have been receiving pay raises every year. The teachers union, Snead said, is asking for pay raises and additional benefits this year and through 2013. "I will not vote to raise teacher salaries unless the union's entitlement attitude ends and reasonable measures to increase the learning of our students are agreed to," Snead said.