Local PTA Leaders Share Concerns About Vote

"My mind is whirling," said West Hempstead PTSA Co-President Josephine DiMarco, on the eve of the school budget vote.

"I feel more confident this year than last," she said. "There was a lot more negativity last year from community members, businesses and parents."

Like DiMarco, the failure of the school budget in West Hempstead last year has left a chilling effect on the community, especially those parents with students in the public schools. 

"Overall, I do have a pretty good feeling," she said, but admitted a small part of her worries, doubts. "There's always that 1 percent."

Once again, residents and businesses who oppose the budget have taken to handing out flyers and posting signs encouraging others to vote "no" when they head to the polls on May 17.

"I am  very disappointed in the local businesses that are displaying the 'Vote No' signs," DiMarco said. "These businesses want the support of our community, yet they are telling us they don't support West Hempstead."

She also pointed out that if the proposed 2011-2012 budget does not pass, the district could give it one more try, but ultimately if the community fails to support it, the district will be placed on a contingency plan that would actually raise taxes.

"I don't know if they're ignoring that fact," she said, adding that the opposition is clearly trying to send a message that they are discontent about rising taxes. "It's being done spitefully, but they're taking their anger out the wrong way."

In the end, not only will taxes rise if the district is forced to go on a contingency plan, but it would also have less control over its expenditures, most likely leading to cuts in clubs, sports and other extra curricular programs.

"Clubs and sports are what make a child learn, grow and work together, " said DiMarco. As a mother of two sons - one in West Hempstead Middle School who loves sports, the other active with clubs in the High School - DiMarco can't help but get passionate when others in the neighborhood tell her that district should sacrifice these programs to save money.

She says many of these naysayers send their kids to private schools and received books, transportation and other services through the school budget that are mandated. Hence, they can not be cut.

"They're telling me that my children don't deserve 'all these clubs and athletics,' when their children have all these things....and busing to take those children to schools out of district," she said. "If those items like busing weren't mandated I think we'd be having a much different conversation."

Davison Avenue School PTA President Laura Avvinti was optimistic the budget in Malverne would pass.

Although she said she knows times are tough for everyone, including herself, at the end of the day "you do what you have to do."

She was hopeful that the community - even those without children in the schools - will realize that they need to support the district's education system.

Avvinti said administrators did not go into too much detail about how a contingency plan would affect student clubs and programs if the budget failed but knew it could mean cuts.

At this time, she said she is more concerned with scrambling to give the fourth graders in the district a proper send off only a week ago that they will be leaving Davison Avenue School to attend Herber Middle School next year despite promises to parents that they would stay put.

She reassured parents that the kids would get a graduation party, moving up ceremony and yearbooks.