Wantagh School District voters guide 2010

8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Wantagh Elementary, Mandalay Elementary and Forest Lake Elementary schools.

THE BUDGET

The district is proposing a budget of $69,182,285 for the 2010-2011 school year, an increase of 3.48 percent over the current budget of $66,855,511. The local tax levy would increase from $49,275,921 to $51,234,193, an increase of 3.97 percent.

The projected school tax on the average home assessed at $1,070 is $7,968, up 4.37 percent from the average $7,634 paid this year.

The district is in negotiations on a new teachers contract. The proposed budget calls for a reduction of five teachers and 10 staff positions.

District website:

wantaghschools.org

THE CANDIDATES

Incumbents Jean Quinn and William Russack and challenger Michael Soethout are running for two seats with three-year terms.

Jean Quinn

BACKGROUND: Quinn, 55, has studied business and finance at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University and has worked in the banking industry for 13 years. She and her husband, Patrick, have two children who graduated from district schools. She has lived in Wantagh for 50 years. She was elected to the school board in 2007.

ISSUES: Quinn said her biggest concern is maintaining "excellent" education standards while battling to retain funding. "The needs of our children must never be compromised as we all struggle to contain costs in an increasingly expensive education climate," she said. As a board trustee, she said, she hoped to continue to promote a good relationship among the faculty, families and the board, and "to be responsive to the continually changing needs of our population."

William Russack

BACKGROUND: Russack, 54, is a Nassau County police detective assigned to the computer crimes unit. He is a graduate of SUNY Oswego and has a master's degree in business administration from the University at Albany. He and his wife, Angela, have two children who graduated from district schools. He has lived in the district 31 years and was elected to the school board in 2007.

ISSUES: "This year our district lost $1.2 million in state aid," Russack said. And it will have to cope with the possibility that funding will never return to its historic heights, he said. "Despite these challenges, I want to see the same opportunity provided for every child," he said. He said he is seeking re-election "as now more than ever we need experienced knowledgeable leadership to navigate these challenging economic times."

Michael Soethout

BACKGROUND: Soethout, 42, is an insurance claims professional who has lived in the district for 15 years. He and his wife, Lisa Ann, have three children in district schools. He has a bachelor of arts degree from Boston University.

ISSUES: Soethout says the biggest issue is maintaining a challenging educational environment for students, providing excellent opportunities for instruction, particularly in athletics, music and arts. He wants the district to maintain discipline in budgeting and expenses, and to target spending to have the greatest impact on students. He also wants to engage other elements in the community through school board meetings, community advisory groups and town-hall-type meetings to inform residents about their schools and the district.