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Post by bnjasper on May 20, 2013 15:45:18 GMT -5
I read the brief bio in Newsday of each of the seven candidates. In my mind I found three not to be considered. Mr. Lang and Mr. Mountanos want to add and /or expand programs without explaining how to pay for them. That is the central theme of the education bureaucracy to keep adding but never subtracting. Mr. Spagnolo was not re-elected the last time he ran. During his terms on the BOE he became the primary cause of much of the disconnect with the tax payers. I will cast one of my votes for the incumbent. Bill Russack who seems to understand the educational needs and the economic issue.
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Post by petermountanos on May 20, 2013 17:18:40 GMT -5
bnjasperPlease check out my website - petermountanos.org. There, I explicitly state creative solutions to help generate revenue and streamline spending to help alleviate the tax burden for the residents. Feel free to contact me personally (pjmountanos@gmail.com) if you have any specific questions. Thanks! - Peter
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Post by tiredoftaxes on May 20, 2013 19:47:53 GMT -5
My take on all this: LETS VOTE THIS BUDGET DOWN.... My taxes are way too high as a result of all these bond issues!!! I'm still waiting for my taxes to go down as a result of old bonds already being paid off, but apparentlyt the BOE is still collecting this bond repayment money, but calling it something else... VOTE FOR TRUSTEES WHO HAVE GUTS TO SAY NO TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT UNIONS & WHO ARE WILLING TO PUT A STOP TO PUMPING UP A $75 MILLION SCHOOL BUDGET & will work to reduce the budgeted amount needed to run the district compared to the prior year...JUST SAY NO TO ADMINISTRATION.....
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Post by taxpayer66 on May 20, 2013 20:49:01 GMT -5
Chris, sent you a private message on here did you get it?
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Post by kathyt on May 20, 2013 20:58:13 GMT -5
Tired of taxes, do,you have children in the district? Failing a budget does absolutely nothing but hurt the kids. Do you know what the contingency number is? What we lose if the budget fails? For starters, we lose EDUCATORS. Unacceptable in my book and not fair to my child.
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lynch
New Member
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Post by lynch on May 20, 2013 22:19:56 GMT -5
In the past six years,Can you please give me one example of anything that Mr Russak has done to meet the educational needs of any of our children?
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Post by jdelisa on May 20, 2013 23:35:32 GMT -5
sorry lynch, inappropriate question of Bill or any other BoE member regardless of how long they've served since they supposedly act, and almost always publicly speak, with one voice. in practice, it seems every BoE members' individual service and identifiable contributions ends once they join the board. so lynch, if you're pushing for someone in particular, say so and why - rather than trashing someone you may not prefer. (full disclosure, Bill will be one of my two trustee choices Tuesday based on what I have seen him do to meet the educational needs of all our kids in the district before joining the BoE, and since.)
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lynch
New Member
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Post by lynch on May 20, 2013 23:51:35 GMT -5
And that would be my problem. The BOE hides behind one voice is an excuse in my opinion. I'm not trashing anyone just wondering how to vote for someone who doesn't have a voice. That's all! So then let me ask you Why are you voting for Bill Russak and if it were one of the other 4 board members,would you be voting for them as well because they are one?
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Post by Chris_Wendt on May 21, 2013 4:26:29 GMT -5
Taxpayer 66, I got the message and responded. Chris
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dave
New Member
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Post by dave on May 21, 2013 6:27:39 GMT -5
The important thing first is that we all get out and support the school budget. As for the BOE positions, you should all support who you feel will best represent the community and do a fair job in managing the budget process while ensuring the best possible educational experience for the Kids. Personally, I believe people with kids in the school system and a business background are ideal for the BOE. I also think we should change up the board so i will not be voting for Bill. I might have considered him, but he was very rude when I met him and I walked away with a bad feeling about him. I think we are lucky to have a few other candidates to choose from who have good qualifications and are willing to commit the time. I'm liking Kera and Don so far based on what I've seen.
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Post by tiredoftaxes on May 21, 2013 8:14:34 GMT -5
JUST SAY NO TO THE BUDGET TODAY....VOTE FOR TRUSTEES WHO WILL BE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE....THE SCHOOL BUDGET AMOUNT FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR NEEDS TO GO DOWN NOT UP...THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP OUR TAX INCREASES....
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Post by wantagh90 on May 21, 2013 8:52:51 GMT -5
Hey, Tiredoftaxes - you know our taxes will still go up if you vote no today, right? And do you really think the cuts will be made at the Administrative level?? That doesn't happen. Our kids get cuts in programs. This will not stop the tax increases... And, vote for trustees who are conservative....once again the BOE works together not their own agendas. Vote for who you want, just get out and Vote and become more informed of what actually happens in our schools!
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Post by Chris_Wendt on May 21, 2013 10:40:34 GMT -5
Okay, this thread is about the BoE Election, NOT about the Budget. If three of you fellow citizens want to discuss the BUDGET, then would one of you please start another thread titled "Wantagh BUDGET Vote?
As for those few anonymous posters who delight in knocking any candidate but then NOT indicating who you are supporting and planning to vote for much less WHY, I find that behavior self-defeating. But it's your nickle, so to speak.
I have attempted to set an example, and consistently, I hope, by giving my reasons why I am supporting Bill Russack and Kera McLoughlin, as well as my opinions, pro-and/or-con, of the other candidates.
On the BoE election ballot, there is no such thing as voting "against" any candidate; there are no "Yes" or "No" votes on the candidates. You select your own choices and vote for them, and the two with the most votes win. So, if you don't want any particular candidate to win, then the only way to accomplish that is to get someone else elected to the two seats being contested.
Example: in the run-up to the Presidential election, many people were "AGAINST" President Obama; but guess what, not enough people voted "For" Governor Romney. Get it? There is no such things as voting someone out of office without voting someone different in to that office.
Who do you guys stand for?
You know who I stand for and why. Call or fold.
Chris Wendt
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Post by wantagh90 on May 21, 2013 11:18:47 GMT -5
Mr. Wendt, I agree on the same candidates you do. I support Bill and Kera! In my opinion, they are the best. Vote Today
Signed, Wantagh90 - I am who I am
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Scout
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Post by Scout on May 21, 2013 11:25:57 GMT -5
I too, plan on voting down the budget, because of kindergarten. I have children in the elementary, middle and high schools and care very much about all our students. But we need to make decisions that will help our children most in the long run. Full-day kindergarten is less essential to our students' success than many programs in the high school that will we be at risk next year if we implement full-day kindergarten now. I think it is irresponsible and short-sighted to add a full day kindergarten program to a school district which is already strained.
Did we not learn anything from 2007-2008 when we passed a series of bonds that we could not afford? Our children suffered the consequences the next year when the 2008-2009 budget failed -twice. "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Wantagh is only able to afford to implement the full-day program and stay within the tax cap this year because of the huge amount of state aid we will receive for starting it. But, how will we pay for it in 2014-2015? No administrator or board member has yet explained how it will be funded in it's second year and beyond. This is not what reserve money is intended for. Using reserve money for this is irresponsible. Please keep in mind that 2014-2015, when we first feel the effects of paying for the full-time kindergarten program -without aid, is the same year the state presently plans on mandating, computerized testing. So in 2014-2015, in addition to the annual increases in operating costs, we are paying for full-time kindergarten, implementing an unfunded, expensive computerized testing system, AND staying within the tax cap? REALLY??
Full day kindergarten needs to come out of the budget and the budget needs to be voted on again. If not....Is everyone up for fund-raising...again? How about AP courses being cut? Athletics? Clubs? Bigger class sizes? Because that's where I believe we are heading. We all want to give our children the best of everything, but we can only give what we can afford.
Just an observation...............It's funny how after all these years, one of our long-time board members (who has always opposed a full day program), sudden support of a full day kindergarten coincides with his grandchild starting kindergarten?? Funny, huh??
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