Thursday, May 17, 2012
About 300 students participated in Wednesday's career fair.
They may have already had exposure to traditional careers like medicine, nursing, teaching, and law enforcement, but on Wednesday, every student in grades 4 to 6 at Nassakeag Elementary got to learn what other careers are out there. "I heard them saying 'That was cool,'" principal Gail Casciano said. "It really got them excited. ... They're seeing careers that maybe are not typical." Among the guests at the career fair: local event planner Laura Mastriano; animal trainer Nick Gacinto from Animal Adventures; a photojournalist; a K-9 police officer with his canine partner; a chef; a personal trainer; a robotic surgeon; a Stony Brook University men's basketball coach; and award-winning filmmaker Cody Blue Snider, who recently shot his next …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Though the total number of people voting represents only about a fifth of registered voters in the area.
School administrators are pointing to the controversial nature of this year's budget vote as the reason why voter turnout nearly matched the district's highest total in the past decade. Ever since the school board adopted a budget that would have raised the tax levy by 4.48 percent, debate has swirled around the effects of the tax cap legislation on both the students' educational programs and the taxpayers' wallets. "People just had a perception that we'd be at the cap, and may not have become fully informed as to the consquences of a failed budget," interm superintendent Neil Lederer said Tuesday. The 7,016 voters who cast ballots on Tuesday represented the highest turnout since 2006 – which was one year after the community voted down the…
Dr. Andrea Fusco-Winslow, who lost her bid for a school board seat, thanks the community and recommends parents attend the next BOE meeting.
I wanted to thank everyone at The Patch and The Three Village Herald for helping me get the word out for my campaign for Board of Education at Three Village. I was extremely happy with the many people who came out and voted for me. These people are telling the board and our community – "our kids come first." We need to protect our children's education, our communities' commitment to children, and our home values. The Board has now to dig down into the budget and find money to save our full day kindergarten, junior high sports, high school day and many teacher jobs. As parents, we need to be present at the Board of Education meeting next week to let them know these programs are not on the chopping block. It is my hope that our unions and …
The school board has a few options.
Now that the Three Village Central School District failed to get a supermajority of voters to approve the $178.6 million budget, the district has multiple ways to proceed: Interim superintendent Neil Lederer has said in the past he will recommend the school board adopt a budget at the tax levy increase cap of 2.99 percent. Three Village's tax cap is higher than 2 percent for reasons including the decreased about of state aid the district will receive from New York State coffers. The second vote will take place on June 19. What do you support? Log in to Patch and vote in the poll or add a comment below.
Deanna Bavlnka and Bill Connors win seats on the school board.
Incumbent candidate Deanna Bavlnka has been re-elected to the Board of Education, and running mate Bill Connors, who previously served 12 years as a trustee, will once again sit on the school board. Bavlnka and Connors both expressed gratitude towards their supporters, but said they wished it could be under happier circumstances, as the school budget failed to get the supermajority it needed to pass. "Thank you to my family and my friends who supported me. ... I'm thrilled and happy for Bill and I, but I'm very upset about the budget," Bavlnka said. "I thought we were going to do it." Connors said he feels honored to be able to serve the district once again. "I certainly appreciate the support they gave me," he said. "I just wish that the …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Capital project, noted as 'Proposition 2' on the ballot, gains more than 65 percent of the community's support.
The budget may have failed, but 65.9 percent of voters on Tuesday supported a proposition that will save the district hundreds of thousands of dollars by converting all district buildings to natural gas. Residents voted 4,554 to 2,358 to support the proposition, which will cost the taxpayers $780,000 – but which will save the district more than $450,000 in one year. Administrators have also said the state would likely refund the district 66 percent of the cost in the form of building aid, a form of revenue separate from traditional state aid. The Board of Education voted March 13 to put the natural gas proposition on the ballot as a separate item rather than build it into the school budget because it would have a chance to pass on its own …
Voters fail to reach required supermajority by 4 percent.
The decision to pierce New York's tax cap blew up in officials' faces Tuesday as Three Village voters rejected the proposed $178.6 million budget. Just 56.74 percent of voters approved the budget, which would have raised the tax levy by 4.48 percent. Since the budget exceeded the 2 percent cap, it needed a supermajority of 60 percent voter approval to pass. "They sent us a message," interim superintendent Neil Lederer said. "We'll have to make some adjustments to bring the budget in at the cap, and hopefully we'll be successful." By the numbers, here's how residents voted: The failure of the budget sends school officials back to the drawing board. "We'll revisit it now," Lederer said. "I'm sure the board will vote to go back out to have a …
The early voter crowd weighs in on Three Village's proposed $178.6 million budget.
An informal survey of residents who voted before 3 p.m. on Tuesday has shown mixed feelings for and against the proposed $178.6 million budget. Where do you stand? Add a comment below or vote in our poll here. Lucille Flaherty of East Setauket: "I didn't support the budget. ... I think it's about time that the teachers start kicking in. When they had nothing for a salary we gave it to them, but now they have to start kicking in." Linda Maloney of East Setauket, a PTA president: "I voted yes. I just didn't want to lose all the stuff we have, all the great programs we have." John Robinson of Poquott: "I'm in favor of the budget. I was concerned about the potential for very drastic cuts in the programs. The natural gas proposition seems …
Assistant superintendent blasts writers for manipulating facts.
A post published on May 4 on SuffolkOutrage.com titled "Three Village Schools Exposed" is full of falsehoods about the district's proposed budget, a school official said Monday. Jeff Carlson, assistant superintendent for business services, spelled out multiple errors, most notably the Web page's claim that Three Village's proposed budget would raise the tax levy by "more than twice the average increase for all schools on Long Island." Three Village's proposed tax levy increase is 4.48 percent, while the average for Long Island is 2.61 percent and in Suffolk 2.84 percent, Carlson said. Because of Three Village's decreased state aid revenue along with other factors, 2.99 percent was the actual limit on the tax levy increase that Three …
One resident explains why she supports Deanna Bavlnka for the Board of Education.
I am a resident of Three Village School District, parent of children in the district and an educator. I am writing in support of the re-election of Deanna Bavlnka for a seat on the Three Village School Board. We are fortunate to have someone with such valuable assets and is willing to dedicate their time to our district. Deanna is a dedicated advocate of education. She is a woman of integrity, she is an advocate and truly understands the needs of our children. Deanna has two children of her own and has high expectations for our school district. Deanna’s vision for our district includes enhancing our district's reputation, finding creative ways to cut spending and preserving our student programs with continued outstanding student …
Its Over
8:41 am on Friday, May 18, 2012
To jwcaring phoney, they won't be able to afford living here because of a greedy overpaid teacher union more ›