The 2008/2009 Wantagh Union Free School District Budget Re-Vote has Failed.
Re-Vote Results
NO: 2,812
YES: 2,330
May 20, Voting Results
No: 1692
Yes: 1566
The 2008/2009 Wantagh Union Free School District Budget Re-Vote has Failed.
Re-Vote Results
NO: 2,812
YES: 2,330
May 20, Voting Results
No: 1692
Yes: 1566
June 17, 2008 at 10:56 pm
poor stingy people of wantagh couldn’t shell out 200 bucks a family to give their community kids a decent educational year. too dopey to figure out that 8% of the 2nd lowest budget in Nassau doesn’t amount to a hill of beans compared to 2 or 3% increases of all those HIGHER budgets in Nassau. Guess you dimwits need to attend some of those math classes over there- oops- forgot- there won’t be any seats for you in the crowded classrooms next year! Have fun with your new rep- not too bright scroogetown- too dense to know when they had it good -too blind to see their schools gave them a first rate education on the tighest budget they could with the best people being paid peanuts compared to the rest. You get what you deserve people. Have fun with all those kids roaming your neighborhoods without sports and after school activities!
June 17, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Maybe the stupid corrupt arrogant administrators will finally get the message: give us something to sink our teeth into and we’ll shell out the $$$. Presenting that same budget (the only district with the arrogance to try to shove the same failed budget down the throats of the taxpayers) was an INSULT. And the contingency budget? It cuts from the kids but NOT the administration? Shame on the corrupt board of ed. Newsday will be investigating Wantagh next and heads will roll! Bravo to the brave souls of Wantagh who refused to eat the scare tactics and said ENOUGH ALREADY. So the kids will have to pay a few dollars to play sports. Big deal. Enrollment is down anyway, some teachers should be cut. Hooray!
June 17, 2008 at 11:07 pm
FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN=PASSED BUDGET
WHAT A SHAME AND EMBARASSMENT THAT OUR YOUNGEST CITIZENS HAVE BEEN GIVEN SHORT SHRIFT EVERY YEAR.
FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN
FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN
FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN
JERKS.
June 17, 2008 at 11:09 pm
such a hateful letter just because the majority disagree with your position
June 17, 2008 at 11:18 pm
hey mommymo and anyone else who voted no….how many BAC and Board meetings did you go to with all your answers to the problems with the budget…..why was it so difficult to not punish the kids … and then start going to meetings and work out the problems….shame on you for punishing your OWN children and community…
June 17, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I was at all of the meetings, FYI .
June 17, 2008 at 11:37 pm
republicanmouth. ..It’s obvious u have no clue what ya talking about. 8% of $6,000 is $480.It would have been $250 additional to the minimum a failed budget would raise or about $500 with a passed budget. The BS had to stop some where. Wantagh isn’t even in the top 1500 and no longer a bue ribbon district.
Wantaghians tired of paying for arrogance / ignorance…
Your lucky u live in a better place then Wantagh….Not.
Just what position do you hold in the school district anyway?
June 17, 2008 at 11:38 pm
I was at all of the meetings and the Board is thick headed, arrogant and does not appear to HEAR what people are saying. The budget was bogus and the resubmission of the same bogus budget was a slap in the face to the taxpayers, and, apparently, the community agrees.
June 17, 2008 at 11:38 pm
mommymo is a perfect example of a wantagh nitwit. Cut off your nose to spite your face. The “arrogant” administrators put up the same budget because it was so low there was nowhere else to go and provide the same quality of education our town worked hard to achieve and our kids deserve- einstein. IF you had acutally looked at the budget you would have seen that the Wantagh administrators are doing what other districts won’t or can’t- run a VERY tight ship- so tight they have NO fat in the budget from year to year. Ask anyone on the BAC. Most towns don’t even HAVE a BAC. That’s because the Wantagh Schools are receptive and responsible- UNLIKE YOU. Because the government raised every stinkin thing we buy- the budget HAD to go up to be able to afford all the increases. The only insult to Wantagh is YOU and your half-wit friends. Some teachers should be cut- blah blah blah- obviously you have no interest in education or its benefit to a free democratic society. What a bunch of losers. You don’t punish the schools- you scream at the politicians for putting us all in this economic predicament.
June 17, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Why can districts like Seaford come up with a budget that is 4% increase AND implement full day kindergarten?
Why can other districts do what Wantagh fails at doing?
The ‘blue ribbon blah blah blah’ education is a big MYTH. The Myth of the spectacular Wantagh schools. Time to wake up and shape up.
June 17, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Hey Wantagh speaks- Wantagh is as Blue Ribbon as they come. If you want to get technical thanks to DC there is no Blue Ribbon School Program like there was. But please, put down your schools all you want. Bye Bye property values. Please make your town a pariah. It’s gonna be so cool when the media does its thing with this. Only 2 budgets went down and Wantagh was one of them. If you think the budget was bogus- you prepare it einstein. See how much better YOU can do!!! LOL Talk about ARROGANT.
June 17, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Oh, and if Wantagh is so receptive and responsive than maybe they will be receptive to the fact that the Community voted NO and responsive to the things that would have elicited a YES vote.
June 17, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Again mommyyo is showing her ignorance. Seaford has NOTHING compared to Wantagh. You like Seaford so much- pack your bags and live there. You didn’t look at the budget or the budgets of the past years or you would know the answer. Wantagh budgets are so tight there is no fund balance to fall back on.
June 17, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I guess it wasn’t the RAIN that elicited the original ‘NO’ vote, afterall, eh? This went down worse than the first insulting attempt.
You could have taken the emergency notification system out the second time around…that would have reduced the budget $25,000
PUT IN FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN BEFORE YOU START PUTTING IN EMAIL ALERT SYSTEMS, IDIOTS
June 17, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Seaford now has full day K!
What, exactly, besides the myth of Wantagh’s blue ribbon schools, does Wantagh have in its lean and mean budget that is so far superior to other districts? Wantagh doesn’t hold a candle to our neighbors. Bellmore/Merrick = far superior.
June 17, 2008 at 11:54 pm
You and your No contingency weren’t the only ones voting mommyarrogant. There were plenty of yes votes. But please- enjoy your vote. It’s gonna be a great year on contingency. LOL
June 17, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Funny you say I should move to Seaford…when you don’t even live in Wantagh
June 17, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Threats is all we have heard…and WE stuck it to the kids? The administrators are sticking it to the kids. Cut some of your raises. Pay more of your own benefits. Oh, but nothing will come out of the administration budget…it all comes fromt he kids.
June 17, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Maybe those writing the budget should be residents.
June 17, 2008 at 11:57 pm
There were plenty of yes votes, but there were plenty MORE no votes!
Goodnight!
June 18, 2008 at 12:00 am
Oh please mommy- move to Bellmore Merrick and their FAR superior school district LOL and their FAR higher school taxes and house prices. MOMMYdearest you are blowing smoke. The people of Bellmore are richer than you are and they care about education and pay for it without whining. When you finally can tell us WHAT exactly you would change in the Wantagh budget- then we’ll listen. Just because you don’t want to part with your money isn’t a REASON. You can’t just make up a load of manure and trash reputations with NO basis.
June 18, 2008 at 12:00 am
Oh, maybe on contingency instead of having to send in 31 boxes of pencils parents will have to send in 50 boxes each (I think the teachers were eating the pencils). Instead of having to send in 4 gluesticks we will each have to send in 20.
June 18, 2008 at 12:01 am
Oh Mommy–They are residents Einstein. It’s called the BAC- go to a meeting instead of watching reruns on TV.
June 18, 2008 at 12:02 am
Unfortunately I made the mistake of moving here from Bellmore Merrick and my school taxes here are the same as they were there.
FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN. Next time you write the budget (I know who you are) put it in there.
June 18, 2008 at 12:03 am
And yes, I don’t want to give YOU , YOU personally, any more of my money.
Next time maybe you will be voted out.
June 18, 2008 at 12:04 am
If you think a failed budget means sending in more gluesticks you have rocks in your head. The ramifications and impact are very far reaching—beyond pencils and crayons…but that would be too much for your little brain to handle. So go to bed and get your beauty sleep.
June 18, 2008 at 12:06 am
You know who I am??? LOLOLOL- Who am I einstein? Having another delusion- better take your meds and go sleepy.
June 18, 2008 at 12:07 am
The logic of the avalache is simple:
You brake the school -> You brake the name of your village -> You brake the value of your property.
The math is simple too:
You save $500 this year -> You lose $50000-$100000-$???…equity next year or two.
So help us God.
Mommymo, please share your thoughts on this.
June 18, 2008 at 12:08 am
Right.
no sports. no chorus. kids running wild in the streets (naked and on drugs). no heat. no hot water. no air conditoning…oh, wait, there IS no air conditioning!.
But the teachers will still make their average $85.000 a year and pensions will be untouched. YOU will make sure the kids suffer because of this vote no matter how much money there is.
June 18, 2008 at 12:09 am
Funny, you are never this nasty to my face.
June 18, 2008 at 12:10 am
The value of our houses are already down. Oh, and trying to explain the 2 1/2 hour kindergarten to perspective buyers….ugggh….
June 18, 2008 at 12:13 am
Anti education people are the scourge of our society. But alas, they are everywhere. When times get tough, the shortsighted take it out on their educational systems. They whine about how teachers and administrators don’t deserve their pay. How school boards don’t listen to their constituents- blah blah blah. Yet, every time the gas prices surge they pay them without even opening their mouths. Every time the seats at Yankee Stadium go up another few bucks and the salaries of guys who play games for a living reach the stratosphere, they dutifully put on their team shirts and caps and fork up the dough without a peep. What a world!
June 18, 2008 at 12:18 am
Well diamond- you got that right. It will take a while to restore confidence in Wantagh to prospective buyers. And yes- no one will pay top dollar to buy into a district that votes its budgets down. Oh well.
June 18, 2008 at 12:19 am
Teachers desearve their pay, but to put forth a contingency budget that cuts everything EXCEPT administraive costs is really repulsive. Oh, I’ve heard it all before….you have ALREADY cut as much as you can from the adminstrative portion of the budget but it is INSULTING to put that out there. Take SOMETHING out of the administrative costs and a bit less out of the programs and maybe your constituents will soften. Right now, you all look like a bunch of pig-headed, arrogant bastards who are just going to stick it to us by sticking it to the kids.
June 18, 2008 at 12:23 am
And, it was a huge mistake to put the same budget that failed the first time before the taxpayers for a second time. It sent a very arrogant message and, as you see, it backfired.
June 18, 2008 at 12:51 am
Ahhh- it’s just ignorance that causes people to vote no- mommydearest thinks the administrators of her district have a choice. Give back their hard earned salaries (i’m sure their families won’t mind) and give the money to the students. this way they won’t seem like such “bastards” LOL Mommydearest didn’t read her state laws 101 book. naughty naughty. State law protects all salaries. So school budget votes cut back expenditures on kids. Too bad you didn’t know that before you voted. Well, like I said. Enjoy Wantagh. YOU voted and all those kids who have a sucky year have YOU to thank. Guess it backfired on YOU!
June 18, 2008 at 1:08 am
And mommy and all you Wantagh citizens- I agree with you- why don’t you just get rid of all your administrators and run the schools yourselves for free. I am sure you could all do a MUCH better job. Then YOU could be the “bastards” when things don’t go somebody’s way. Think of all the money you would save–a meal ot two. Yeah- that would put you on the map- no administrators. They don’t do anything anyway! I think they call that communism- no bosses - you’re all equal! Wow- you Wantaghnians are quite a breed. Oh- don’t forget to add FREE full day kindegarten while you’re in charge. Just ask teachers to volunteer their time so you don’t have to pay extra salaries. And get the bus companies to throw in free transportation while you’re at it. And don’t forget to have the insurance companies throw in free liabailty and…well, you’ll know what to do. Yeah- that will fly!
June 18, 2008 at 6:45 am
It is time for everyone to take responsibility for their own actions instead of blaming others. If you voted against the budget you know why and I can understand why people would vote to support the budget as well. It is very clear whose actions caused this mess. The Budget Advisory Committee. They failed EVERYONE. They failed the residents of Wantagh by clearly designing a budget they COULD NOT FINANCIALLY continue to support, they failed the teachers and administrators who are taking the heat for this ridiculous DO OVER VOTE, and they failed the students of Wantagh who will ultimately pay the price for the failure of their apparantly PERFECT budget. Wantagh is a great place to live and ultimately that is why this budget was voted down TWICE. People who have been here for years don’t want to move but if the taxes continue to increase the way they have been, many will be left with no choice. The Budget Committee needs to take a hard look at their plan and revamp it. Give us a budget we CAN support so that the students and teachers can have what they deserve, a school district they can be proud to be associated with. What the BUDGET COMMITTEE did was offensive and pompous. How do you submit the SAME EXACT BUDGET assuming it will pass? That doesn’t make any sense. No one should be shocked by this outcome. This is exactly what needed to happen.
June 18, 2008 at 7:12 am
I have a child in first grade and a child entering kindergarten…. I feel what was written from the Wantagh Resident/Teacher is exactly CORRECT. I had mixed emotions about voting , actually 50/50…but I voted YES. The bottom line is for me, I want the best for MY CHILDREN. Everything goes up in our lives and we PAY. Why not pay for our children. This is why MY FAMILY moved here…..strictly for the SCHOOLS.
June 18, 2008 at 7:55 am
I totally agree with what Wantagh Resident/Teacher said. And Wantagh Resident, yes, everything does go UP but to blindly pay more and more taxes for a budget that is all WRONG just because we are bullied with scare tactics and letters home about cut programs and the presented with a budget that is ALL WRONG and given no alternatives (even when it came to a revote….we are the only district that had a revote that presented its citizens with the same exact budget…SHAME).
So, maybe we need a year of austerity. The kids who want to play sports may have to pay some fees. Or maybe they will have to sit this year out. Maybe more parents will get involved and will not allow such a poorly designed budget to be presented next time around.
Oh, and about paying for full day K, Mr. Republicancan can-can — The enrollment is so DOWN that half day kindergarten classes have been cut OUT anyway. It could have been done WITHOUT bringing on any additional teachers. NY State pays for the full first year of implementation and there are grants available to districts who want to go full day. The BAC is too focused on Sports.
June 18, 2008 at 8:05 am
Is the Republication part of the Board? He/she sounds like an ASS!
June 18, 2008 at 8:08 am
Mr. Republican can was very instrumental in writing the wonderful budget and doesn’t even live in Wantagh.
June 18, 2008 at 8:18 am
Oh, and while we are on the subject of spending I would like someone to explain to me WHY we waste fuel money, salaries, costs to run the buildings, etc. on a week of school like the one coming up which is all half days? The last full day of school is this Friday so WHY are we wasting the money and resources running the schools and getting the kids transported for a week of half days???? Maybe next year’s budget should cut out these half days to save money! Gas alone…. Makes me really wonder about the monkeys running the show….
June 18, 2008 at 8:35 am
I can totally understand how Wantagh residents feel slighted by the admin. and the BAC. It is not right to think that people are that oblivious that they would pass the same exact budget the second time around. HOWEVER…as a former teacher in the district, I am COMPLETELY insulted at anyone who thinks that Wantagh teachers get paid too much for the jobs they do. Do you people realize that you have some of the best teachers in the state teaching your kids? Those teacher bust their butts to do creative, engaging, and meaningful lessons with your kids. For the most part they don’t just go in and photocopy something and throw it on your kids’ desks. AND furthermore… I don’t know of any other district who makes their teachers stay for extra help 3 days a week, do inservice out the wazoo, attend conferences, dept. and faculty meeting RELIGIOUSLY, everything short of sleeping over at the schools b/c they are there so much…C’mon people…it’s ok to be angry with the admin or BAC, but DO NOT even for one second bring the teachers into this. Cutting salaries=lowered morale=low productivity=kids suffer. And most of all, Wantagh teachers genuinely CARE for the kids, unlike many other teachers in other districts I have come across.
June 18, 2008 at 9:15 am
While I agree that teacheres should be paid well it is appalling to see that no matter what…wheather the budget passed or didn’t pass, that the administrative costs would stay the same while the kids programs would suffer. There should be SOME cuts to administrative costs in the contingency budget. $85,000 ‘average’ salary is pretty high by any standards for a 10 month a year job. I come from a family of teachers and Nassau County teachers are very well compensated.
June 18, 2008 at 10:13 am
Actually, many members of the BAC were NOT happy with the final budget and voted AGAINST it
June 18, 2008 at 10:17 am
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH FORMER TEACHER. Like I said I was 50/50……..UNDECIDED on what to do. BUT because OUR teachers are SO WONDERFUL and MY DAUGHTER has PROGRESSED UNBELIEVABLE I voted YES!! I still have some DOUBTS…..I wish we had FULL TIME KINDERGARTEN. It is NOT the teachers fault. They are here to TEACH our children and I think they are doing a GREAT JOB!!! I blame the BAC, giving us the SAME BUDGET as before.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE………………………………..OUR CHILDREN SUFFERS!!! MY CHILDREN SUFFER and that PISSES me OFF!!!!! We NEED to rethink our thoughts and try to figure out how we FEEL about EDUCATION for OUR CHILDREN!!!!! Because in the end…..that is ALL that counts for ME!!!!!!
June 18, 2008 at 10:46 am
republican can sounds like a real arrogant ass.
June 18, 2008 at 10:55 am
FYI there was never any full day kindergarten proposed for the budget in Wantagh…that was a myth…and you believed it…HA!
June 18, 2008 at 11:01 am
Come on!
Do you really think $85000 is a lot for a Teacher?!
In Wantagh?!
$85000 is too much for the administrating rats, I agree.
June 18, 2008 at 11:13 am
FYI…….WantaghResident, I am also a Wantagh Resident and I NEW that there was NO PROPOSAL for Full Day Kindergarten……and being a mother who works full time I had to sign my child up for the Enrichment Program…another added exspense!!!!
June 18, 2008 at 11:39 am
Unfortunately there are really only a few people truly working and earning their keep here…in this great inflated Fixed Overhead Budget…very lean at the bottom Budget…
The residents…and the teachers….they try to doing a great job, regardless of the fact that they cannot make photo copy, or have air conditioning, or a proper microphone system for awards night or graduation, or even more simply how about getting new books…. There are alot more countries in the world beside the ones listed on the maps of my sons SS book…
give US something…Give us hope… hell give us a tiny $$$ break…and we would all be happier..but just tell us that its the BOE way or NO way…well I guess the people have truly spoken…Now What?? Maybe now we can discuss some real solutions? Im just sad…that a few try to dictate a nation…
June 18, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Oh, I don’t think there was even a rumour that full day K was in any proposed budget. The idiots at the top are stubbornly stuck in the dark ages. They NEVER give a passing nod to full day K which is so ridiculous.
We live in a highly taxed area and we get minimul services for our kids.
A working parent in Wantagh district with a child in Kindergarten can’t even easily orchestrate before and after care. There is NO CARE AVAILABLE OTHER THAN A PRIVATELY HIRED BABYSITTER from the hours of 11:30 until 3:30! There is an am scope, a pm scope but nothing in the middle. All the enrichment programs (that are private and very expensive ) are from 1-3. What does a full time working parent do? PAY PAY PAY on TOP of CRAZY high taxes.
Stop the madness!!!!
And, if a few kids miss out on school sponsored sports, so be it. There are other means to playing sports.
June 18, 2008 at 12:11 pm
And, yes, I think that an ‘average’ salary of $85,000 is HIGH.
I think a salary of over $200,000 for the Superintendent is CRIMINAL
We are being robbed.
June 18, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I have to AGREE with you Mommymo…..that the Superintendent’s PAY IS CRIMINAL….JUST CRIMINAL!!!!!!! The teachers salary may be HI ….BUT I do BELIEVE they are worth it, at least all the teachers I have encountered!!!!!
June 18, 2008 at 1:27 pm
It is very sad what happened here but I can not understand how they put the same budget up-I have children and want the best for them. I do agree with Full day kindergarten.
June 18, 2008 at 1:35 pm
What I really want to know is how much the district pays for sports programs, schools supplies and extra-curricular activities that they are now threatening to cut on austerity, because all I do all year is shell out money for my kids school related events, sports teams and supplies. There’s a few hundred in September for the initial schools supplies for two kids, and then added expenses throughout the year for replenishing those supplies that are used up. There are fees associated with every school related sport activity. Then there are fundraisers for everything from the 5th grade trip to the drama club. Our sports teams look like the bad news bears, their uniforms are old and mismatched. Then there are fees associated with every field trip, dance, school outing and club event. So, can someone please tell me where the money is going???
The teachers are great, and although they should not complain about mandated extra help hours and meetings because they only work 10 months a year (with every holiday and school vacation off), they deserve every penny they are paid. They do a wonderful job with educating our kids. However, do we really need two superintendents? Do we really need all these administrators? I think not.
And, the other question I would love for someone to answer is this: Does the cost per pupil, which is being quoted as one of the lowest in Nassau County, include the money that is being spent on these bonds that were issued? Because if you include the proceeds from the bonds, I don’t think we have the lowest spending per pupil. Oh, speaking of the bonds, the only thing I have seen from last years bond issuance were new bleachers at the High School. Where’s the rest of the improvements we were promised?
I, for one, will be joining the budget advisory committee next year to help make some positive changes in this district. But I would also like to see an audit of the finances / expenses, because something doesn’t seem right. I want the best for the kids, but I also want to be able to afford to stay in this community, and if the taxes keep going up, I will be forced to move, because we just can’t afford it any longer. Perhaps it’s better for the kids to come home right after school due to cuts in the extra-curricular programs than not to have a house to come home to at all.
June 18, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Let’s set one record straight…MOST TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT DO NOT MAKE $85,000 A YEAR!!! The fact that some people keep throwing that number around is ridiculous, ignorant and uneducated. MOST of the teachers in the district are young, creative and energetic and are NOT even making CLOSE to that figure. Yes there are several older teachers in the district making great money but they have been there for 30 years and HAVE PAID THEIR DUES and DESERVE it! They are entitled to pay increases just as a business person gets pay increases. And another thing…just TRY being in a classroom for 10 months out of the year and see how difficult it is dealing with admin, parents, and kids with AND without poor attitudes. We deserve EVERY day off, every cent, and it wouldn’t hurt if once in a while someone threw us a “thank you for being my kid’s surrogate parent, coach, mentor, counselor, nurse, psychologist…and oh yeah teacher” once in a while.
Another bone to pick is that the money for supplies is usually for STAFF supplies as well as for kid’s supplies for the kids who cannot afford to buy their own. Over the years I can’t tell you how much of my OWN money I spent on kids who couldn’t afford their own supplies, supplies for myself, etc. AND lastly, yes, there is a need for all those administrators. A school is an enormous responsibility and there are so many facets to running it. It cannot possibly be done by just a few people. I know the principal in my former school stays there until about 8 every night just to get stuff done, in addition to being there by about 6 every morning. So yes SOME of them deserve their salaries. The bonuses are another story. I think those are out of control.
You know, it is so easy to put your kids on the bus in the morning and then comment on what you THINK is going on in a school all day long. I think if anything, each parent should have to spend a WEEK in school and see how extremely stressful and difficult and emotionally and mentally taxing it can be. Yes there is waste…guess what? That’s a fact of life. There is waste in EVERY school, business, etc. And yes, I would day a good majority of people on LI are struggling. But some of the things some people are moaning about are ridiculous and unrealistic.
June 18, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I am quite sure teaching is a stressful job. Many jobs are stressful. Those who choose stressful careers usually thrive on the stress. Teachers are well paid for the stresses they endure. Try being a NYC teacher…now THAT is stressful AND way UNDERPAID! Please….LI teachers have a cakewalk in comparison. And, they are paid well above the median income for the area. If the Wantagh teachers are not happy with less than a 4 or 5% raise, well then, let THEM leave….NYC teachers will be knocking down the doors to get into these cushy teachign spots.
June 18, 2008 at 3:00 pm
AND, I would STILL Love for someone to answer the question I posed about the waste of sending the kids to school for a week of half days…paying salaries for building staff, bus drivers, gas, costs of keeping the buildings open, etc. WTH?
June 18, 2008 at 5:31 pm
all you nay sayers are so full of yourselves and your “wonderful” ideas–
You presuppose that all of the people writing and submitting the budget are flawed and their motives suspect. They just want to waste your money. HA! You are such losers. Go sit on the committees and write the budget yourselves oh mighty ones. You think you can do SO much better. GO- do it and quicha bellyachin. Once you sit down and see how complicated it REALLY is and how many different factions you are tryng to satisy- you’ll shut your mouths.
The hard cold reality is that you hurt OUR CHILDREN because they don’t get a do over. They are seniors or juniors or whatever- only ONCE in their lives. They are at your mercy and YOU failed them. The people writing the budget had their hands tied. They probably didn’t adjust the budget because to do so would have been just as bad a choice as being on contingency- SO they gave you one last chance to see the light.
None of us want higher taxes BUT we are all paying MORE for everything because the prices are going UP. Reality- Fact- can’t hide from it.
Why are the buildings open and being heated -why not condense half days into full days?- shows how out of the loop you are. Ever hear of Regents? You don’t get to pick the day it is given.
Mommy’s head is filled with Kindergarten- which by the way should be full day. But with you lulus voting- NO ONE will vote to INCREASE spending einstein.
Former teacher says its OK to blame everybody but the teachers. I agree the teachers in Wantagh are the best-but you have administrators who kill themselves to make it right for your kids AND the teachers- considering the cheapos in town.
You shouldn’t make the schools suffer and bad mouth the people who serve them- SCREAM at your politicians for screwing up the economy and putting education funding at the bottom of their lists. Making ridiculous mandates and NOT funding them. Do your YELLING at THEM…. bozos.
Same to you anonymous
Diamond- like I said- go run the school yourself einstein- see how much fun you have. It’s SO easy.
It’s criminal to pay million dollar salaries to baseball players, cable vision moguls and hedge fund gamblers, not educators dumb bunnies. Bonuses? What bonuses are out of control??? Educators don’t get bonuses! But hey- get rid of the superintendent who makes only double what his teachers make for a full year of headaches 24/7 and run the schools without him. You don”t even have a clue what he does- do you bigmouths? Do you say anything to Chucky Dolan and his billion dollar salary for TV channels? Guess that’s more worth your almighty dollars.
June 18, 2008 at 6:03 pm
These posts are just comical. For all who voted against the budget and are asking all these questions NOW…..too little too late. How about showing up at PTA meetings? The lack of parent involvement beyond the elementary level in this town is sickening! And NOW you pretend to care? Perhaps if you all showed a little respect for your community, the children and the school system by participating, or by walking through the halls of the High School you wouldn’t have to ask WHY. I am throughly disgusted by this community and can’t wait to move. Oh that’s right, I CAN’T move, because nobody will want to buy a house here anymore!
June 18, 2008 at 6:46 pm
All the board had to do was make an effort to modify the original budget–their arrogance in not making any changes caused the budget to fail again. As a retiree, I must watch every dollar, be it one, a hundred or a thousand.
Having voted against the first budget, if even a small change were made (and we all know certain items could have been reduced or eliminated without hurting the kids,) I would have voted yes.
June 18, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I am a Wantagh Resident, and a local Business Owner. I have been reading this bickering back and forth, and have now decided it might be time to comment.
First off, I am a father of 4 with children ranging from the 4th grade, to 8 months old. I obviously have a vested interest in the community, as well as the budget. I started my business completely on my own, with no financial help, and have grown it to be a successful business for over 15 years. I hope to use that business sense in becoming much more involved in the budget.
I am not going to tell you whether I voted for or against the budget. I am going to tell you that I have feelings towards both sides.
For one, I don’t feel enough is being disclosed on where the spending is going. I am admitedly guilty of not participating in any meetings, but only because I was not aware of the meetings to begin with - and I had not realize the importance of it. I am using this budget as my platform for getting involved. I will not comment on the spending until I know more, but I do have my curiousities, this is why I am being pro active.
On the other hand, it is obvious given my family plans on growing up in Wantagh, and I hope to be able to afford to live here long after my kids have gone through the school system. We have lived here for 10 years now, and we renovated our home with the intention of living here for a long time to come.
I am using this opportunity to say what I have to say, and NOT be anonymous. I think people that have such strong words to say should not be afraid to say who they are no matter what the platform. If you feel so strongly about something, don’t be so afraid to identify yourself.
I have already inquired about being a member of the BAC, and I also hope to gather the required support for becoming a board member in the next election. When I put my mind to something I do it 100%. I feel I can be bias enough for both the kids, and the communities best interests - and I have reason enough to see both sides of these arguements.
It is good to see people fight for what they believe in, and it shows our committments to what we believe in. On one side the committment to passing the budget for our children’s best interst, and the other side to try and keep our taxes at affordable rates for our community. If you wanted the budget to pass for the sake of your homes value, then I do not think you have the communities best interest in mind.
If you agree with my views, then don’t forget who I am. I am involved in my childrens activites in the community, and now hope to be more involved in the best interest of all residents of Wantagh.
June 18, 2008 at 7:20 pm
9% is what i read they were asking for? What about the people who dont have kids in the public schools? What about the seniors who are on a fixed income…..I know 9% works out to be an increase of 1000.00. What about the people who choose to send their kids to Catholic school? Why shouldn’t I get a rebate for my taxes? All I know is any more increases in this economy will force people out, will cause people to forclose on their homes> What I do know is that the salaries of the superindentant is 237K…….that is high way robbery, and you should use some of those higher paying positions and use for the teachers who really do the work, and the kids with their programs. If taxes keep going higher, you wont have any children enrolling.
June 18, 2008 at 7:40 pm
I voted yes for the budget because I didnt want the kids or teachers to suffer. We are blessed with great kids & teachers here…but, I cant believe what I am reading here- from other people who voted yes. Where is your sense of diplomacy- or consideration for the people of our community who voted no.- Your condescending attitude that-” you’re so stupid for voting no” is why we are in the sad state we are in right now. People are hurting financially now- maybe they didnt get to board meetings- maybe they dont understand why the budget needed to be what it was- but honestly I think the attitude of the people vocally for the budget was a “turn off”. And that’s what cost us this vote. We had a chance to change minds by talking civilly- perhaps attemping to lower the budget by even a tiny bit- just to show we cared about our “opponents” concerns. But instead- we did the complete opposite.- & now we are screwed. Tell you one thing, the board seriously needs a lesson in P.R. work.I know alot of people who voted no- neighbors , relatives. They are great-people who never voted no on a school budget before. I dont pretend to have the answers- or fully understand the budget- but I do understand arrogance & people not respecting one another.- The people I knew who were voting no- who knew I was voting yes- never made me feel stupid for my decision. We talked about it- explained our points of view- & ultimately- respected each other anyway.- So mr Republican- please stop the nastiness. I know you are disappointed- I am too- but really, your attitude is not going to help us- & if you truly care about Wantagh’s kids- be kind. I suppose you’ll have something awful to say about me now!! but dont!! Let’s move forward.
June 18, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Thank you for a well thought-out letter. There are good points on both sides and the low class of people calling names helps no one.
June 18, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I am sad to see the name calling and bickering between neighbors. I hope everyone who has written will become involved in the BAC as I did years ago and will do again. We as a comunity must come together and present a budget that WE ALL can say YES to. I think both those that voted no, and those that voted yes, all want to be able to vote YES together. The division hurts our community. Hopefully, the next budget we vote for will be one we ALL can vote YES. It is Not just about the children, it is about our community.
June 18, 2008 at 8:44 pm
My wife and I participated in the budget vote for the first time in years. Like most people we want to support a good district. However, we both voted no for a couple of reasons:
The district should explain why it needs to increase its expenditures so much from last year, far more than most other districts. Why is Wantgh unique? The mailing we got explained nothing.
The arrogance to propose a seemingly outrageous budget once again, demonstrating no respect for voters, was offesive.
Somebody needed a wake up call to get more fiscal responsibility. Yes, maybe students will suffer for this year, but perhaps (unlikely) the board will wake up and get creative to control spending.
We voted because we felt or vote might make a diffference instead of the rush to vote yes blindly that seems to happen every year.
Yes a good district supports house prices but high taxes hurt prices.
A good district is comprised of its students. Just becuase you spend more doesn’t make it better. Blindly agreeing to any spending level is just silly.
Perhaps we dont know much about the budget process, or what went into it. But why does almost every other district have much more reasonable increases.
June 18, 2008 at 9:21 pm
I am upset that the budget failed. It really did not have a chance to pass. This budget failed once. Why? Becasue we have been paying for the same expenditures year after year. Six years ago, a bond was passed to fix and expand the schools. The elementary schools were expanded but what happened to fixing the roofs at Mandalay and Forest Lake? Every year in the budget, there is an expenditure for concrete work. Has anyone seen this work being done? The schools are a disgrace. It is embassing to host another town in Wantagh High School. When we travel to towns without “Blue Ribbon Schools”, They have bathrooms that are clean and properly maintained. They have fields that are properly maintained.
It seems like the BOE was trying to punish us because the budget failed. That is why they put up the same budget. The children should not be punished for this and the parents should not be punished. Maybe the BOE has to look at other options to cut expenses. Do we really need to spend $600,000 on 300 new computers? If you look at any of the conmputer manufacters websites, you will see that 300 new computers will cost much less. I wish I was the saleman making the comission on that sale! Now the big threat is that we will have to pay more for outside sports such as Wantagh Football Club, Wantagh Little League and PAL.
I will be joining the BAC next year and I hope my friends will too. We as a family must cut back on expenses. The school district must too!
FYI to Mommymo… The fact that we have half day kindergarden is not the reason why the budget failed. The budget failed by 500 votes not the 300 or so Kindergarden parents vote. Your child is not missing anything by being in half day. Full day kindergarden consists of nap time, more specials and less classroom time. You are just looking for a babysitter. Why did you move here if you were upset about the kindergarden program? One more thing Kindergarden is not mandated by New York State. Each district can do as they please!
June 18, 2008 at 9:48 pm
So many good points brought up here on both sides. I agree WHOLEHEARTEDLY that people need to start being nice to each other on this site. Kids really emulate what they hear and see coming out of the adults’ mouths.
Anyway…maybe everyone can take some positive out of this whole budget thing…maybe this will be a call to action to people who might have otherwise done nothing. But when it comes down to it, EVERYONE is hurting. Admin and the BOE have a tough job in trying to make things decent for (mostly) everyone involved. Maybe we don’t know enough about the process. Parents want the best for their kids without having to work 100 more hours of overtime just to pay the bills. Teachers are feeling the pressure to make every tax dollar count, and I think, for the most part, they do the best with what they have.
PS…Mommymo…I am well aware of what it is like to be a city teacher. I come from a family with 7 teachers, 3 of them being city teachers. Believe me, they have a DIFFERENT kind of difficult, but not any better or worse per say then what most Long Island teachers deal with. And I am obviously not talking about teachers in wealthier districts. I am curious…you seem to know a lot about what it is like to be in the education world…are you a teacher? Or are you just assuming these things? I personally don’t “thrive” on stress…I just really like working with kids, I like the content I teach, and overall I just really became a teacher because I wanted to try to make a small difference in a kid’s life. Be careful what you say.
June 18, 2008 at 11:26 pm
GOOD JOB JOE C. !!!… :)
June 18, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Involved Wantagh Parent: I disagree that half day kindergarten kids are not missing anything…I’ve heard the argument about the longer day being filled with ’specials’, playtime, lunch….I think that school for the 5 year old set SHOULD consist of more specials, have a lunchtime, more playtime…school should have an element of fun in it at that age…I do not believe for one moment that 2 1/2 hours of kindergarten can yeild the same academic results as a full day. When I moved here and heard the myth of the stellar school district it never even ocurred to me that the kindergarten program could possibly be half day…it was an absurd idea especially given the reputation of the district. I was shocked to find out that there was half day kindergarten here. I didn’t think ANYONE had half day kindergarten anymore.
And, Former Teacher: what I was referring to when comparing NYC teachers to LI teachers is that NYC teachers are paid far less than LI teachers while under at least the same amount, if not more, of stress. I still think that a median salary of $85,000 for Wantagh teachers is quite high.
June 19, 2008 at 6:37 am
Joe couldn’t put it any better….We should come together get more involved and make a difference. I am proud to in live in Wantagh and I am sure I am not alone in that.
June 19, 2008 at 7:17 am
If you were parents who voted down the budget get ready for a rough ride. Parents kids and families will take the brunt in raising money or having to pay for supplies, private sports and services. The community’s reputation is tarnished and real estate agents are none to pleased, nor are homeowners who now have the dubious distinction of being the only town in Nassau to vote down their budget. Too bad some in the community are so egocentric. But that is sadly a growing trend- the ME society.
Public education is a SHARED vision. It is the American way or WAS- long ago the citizens of our country decided that the community would share the burden to educate its children, rather than allow only an elite class to rule- everyone would have an opportunity to rise and be productive, contributing members of society. It is in ALL of our interests to do so. EDUCATION produces the next generation of scientists, engineers, doctors, etc.
The infamous copout is that “I don’t have children in the schools.” WRONG WRONG WRONG. We ALL have children in our schools. They are our FUTURE and please don’t forget it. Our country depends on THEM and SO DO WE! We are only as strong a nation as our populace. Remember Thomas Jefferson “A democracy ignorant and free never was and never will be!”
The other assumption many of you are making is based on gossip and misinformation. The people you have entrusted with the operation of your schools are doing the best for you and the economic reality of this community. Many of you have made up your minds that they are trying to FOOL you. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you get to know the people running your schools you will find that you are lucky to have some of the best, the brightest, the most experienced, and the more caring and conscientious. They WORK hard for our children. It is maddening to hear many of you call them “criminals” because they are earning what they have worked hard and long years for, decades for. Why demonize and deny those people who are entrusted with our most precious commodity- OUR CHILDREN???
As citizens of Wantagh- you need to get your priorities straight. And yes- get involved. the more you know and learn- the less you will have to complain about. You will realize that these educators and concerned citizens are working their butts off in hard economic times to provide your community the BEST it can with tight budgets. There are plenty of school districts that give themselves a cushion in the budget- this is NOT one of them. FEW if any districts have citizen oversight such as the BAC. Because they have insisted on NOT providing any cushions- a difficult economic downturn, such as the one we are presently experiencing, necessitated the higher percentage this time around. If you had OKed a slightly higher budget percentage EACH year as you went along- this would not have been necessary. There is no collusion, no employees stuffing wads of cash in their pockets at your expense. HOW INSULTING for them.
June 19, 2008 at 7:41 am
Mommymo - you need to get over the full day kindergarden thing! Children learn their social skills from their parents, family and friends. Join the library programs. They have programs for children at night. Take your child to the park and meet other parents. We have 2 huge parks in Wantagh. This is how child will learn social skills. A structured setting is for learning academics, even in physical education. Now to address the fact that you were unaware of half day kindedrgarden. Did you live in a bubble in Bellmore-Merrick? Did you have internet service when you lived there? All this info is readily available. Get over it. There are more pressing issues!
June 19, 2008 at 7:51 am
$237,000 is a LOT of money by any standard for a salary no matter how many ‘decades’ a person has been ‘working his butt off’. Even in the private business sector, $237,000 a year salary is wealthy. I think we can scale back a bit on those outrageous salaries.
The most insulting point being made is the accusation that those who voted NO do not care for our children or are cheap, stingy, anti-education. As one who did vote NO I find those comments insulting and dead on wrong.
We DO care about our community, our children and education (at least I know I do) but we are not stupid or so easily led that we blindly accept an unsatisfactory budget. There was no MEAT to sink our collective teeth into in that budget that was worth such a high tax increase. And WHY can’t Wantagh do what the other districts can do with less of a burden on the taxpayers? We have less AP classes than some of the poorest districts, we have half day kindergarten, our sports teams have uniforms that are an embarassment and are falling apart…yet, our tax increases are HIGHER than other communities with more — WHY? Could it be because our tax dollars are going to the salaries of wealthy administrators instead of to the children they profess to love so much? Mr. Republican can can you are quite close to the situation and your comments here just illustrate how very nasty, arrogant, self-righteous the board is.
I am writing to the Governer’s office to call for an audit of the Wantagh District and I urge you other concerned citizens to do the same. We need to get to the bottom of WHY Wantagh cannot come up with a budget with a reasonable tax increase and why, even with their ‘ideal’ budget we cannot have some basic programs—we need to know where the money has been going….every penny.
June 19, 2008 at 8:05 am
To Involved Wantagh Parent-
As a first time parent who grew up in NYC I was very naiive to LI politics and LI education system and the structure so I guess , yes, I lived in a bubble. The thought that in this day and age in a fairly cosmopolitan suburb that there could be half day kindergarten is some districts and not in other districts was a thought as ludicrous to me as the thought that there may not be electricity or plumbing in Wantagh. It was a given, I thought. So, yes, I lived in a bubble but I am learning quickly how very broken this system is with one district doing its thing and a neighboring district (your physical neighbor can be in a different school district) does another. I’m just disgusted.
And thanks for the suggestions but my child has attended those library programs, goes regularly to various parks in the area, has lots of friends and playdates–I want her in school for longer than 2 1/2 hours a day. She needs it. She craves it. And, I need to work to support these crazy taxes so I need it. What does a working parent do? Of course I know the answer….pay pay pay for programs, babysitters, etc.
You know who benefits from half day Kindergarten? Maplewood, Matss, Scope, local babysitters….even Pixie has gotten in on the Kindergarten enrichment bandwagon….it is a golden opportunity for the local private pre-K programs because they KNOW our children need more than can be taught in2 1/2 hours of kindergarten.
Believe me, I know there are more pressing issues (and Sports is NOT one of them) but it just blows my mind that something that should be so basic is just not even addressed here in Wantagh. It is continually put aside. People are more passionate about Sports being cut than about giving our kids the right start.
June 19, 2008 at 9:32 am
Here you go….District Administrators salaries
Number of district employees making > $100,000 a year: 19
Superintendent of Schools $246,919
Asst. Supt. for Instruction $173,861
Asst. Supt. for Business $173,165
Principal High School $131,585
Principal Elem. School $129,273
Principal Elem School $129,217
Director of Reading/Elem AP $121,644
Director of Guidance $119,472
Director of Computer Ed $119,472
Principal Elem. School $119,459
Dir.of PE/Athletics $119,291
HS Asst Principal $117,593
Chair of Cons. Sci., Art,Hlt $114,611
Principal Middle School $113,975
Chair Lang, Busi $109,237
Chair of English $108,611
Director of PPS $106,154
Asst Director of PPS $105,361
HS Asst Principal $101,840
June 19, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Mr. Repulbicancan - I do not know who you are, but you are extremely one sided in your thought process. I thought this blog was turning in the right direction by ways of how we can improve it, and what we need to do, but once again you are telling everyone how we will all be suffering. My child went to school the day after the vote, and was let down being told there would probably be no orchestra next year because the people of Wantagh did not vote for the budget to pass. Do we really need to subject a student who is 9 years old to this, and probably does not even understand what a budget is? He came home upset. I understand there will be upset children, but the scare tactics, and demoralizing the children is not the way to do this. It is up to me - as his parent to explain to him why this is happening.
In 10 years living in this community I have always heard why the budget needs to pass. Being involved in the BAC, I hope to get more information as to where the money goes, and how it is spent. One of the things I read (AND I HAVE NOT CONFIRMED THIS OR NOT) is that part of the budget included $600,000.00 for 300 computers. IF THIS IS TRUE, that is $2,000.00 PER computer. Now these are the things I want to get down and dirty with, because I know I can buy 300 new computers for a fraction of this cost.
Mr Republicancan, I am not picking on you, but you have never once admitted things could POSSIBLY be wrong in the system that is in place. All you are talking about is how we are going to suffer as people from Wantagh, and the Real Estate Agents will frown upon Wantagh. For one, I did not even think about property value when I thought about this vote, and I can bet a large percentage of people did not either. This was a vote for our children, and their future, so I resent the fact you even talk about this having somthing to do with property values.
Secondly, you talk about how we should have just voted for it, and that is that. I am once again not saying I am for or against the outcome of this budget vote, but I think the people of Wantagh have shown that we stand up for what we believe in, given the voter turnout at this last election, and the passion the community is showing for what we believe in. If you are not a resident of Wantagh, I do not see how you have the right to criticize any of us. We are certainly NOT a ME society as you have put it. Most people I have met in Wantagh (if not all), are all caring, and family oriented.
Programs should not be cut. If our taxes all went up on a steady average basis, the elderly people of Wantagh could hopefully afford to stay, and the younger generation would not be afraid to move in. I can be sure that if parents with children who wanted to participate in certain programs, like sports for example - had to pay extra money for those programs to exist we would have no problem with it. Once again, it is how the money is allocated. This is the big questions amongst the residents of Wantagh. If the questions could be answered and explained in greater detail, I am sure the vote would have been a completely different outcome. We already pay for our children to participate in PAL, Little League, Flag football, and other extra activities as it is!
Basically, the board asked us to all make sacrifices, but showed none on their end by not making ANY adjustments to the budget. The other towns made small adjustments, but they did something. Something the people of those towns showed appreciation of by voting for those budgets. We need a voice on this board who has a vested interest as a both a resident, and a parent. Last I checked, we were still living in a democracy, and for you to tell us that we should have just voted for it, shows that you are not in touch with the average family who barely makes $100,000.00 a year and has a desire to live in Wantagh.
I do not live in a “tarnished” community as you so cowardly put. I live in a community with people who stand up for what they believe in. Some came out and voted yes because they wanted this budget to pass, and others voted no because they question where the money is ultimately going. We will hopefully look back at this day in a couple of years, and say that is the day Wantagh residents came together and decided to make sure the system is working.
June 19, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Amen, Mr. Joe C. !
I’ll add that it doesn’t hurt our property value to have reasonable taxes….many people do not buy houses with inflated property taxes. I know that our taxes have gone fronm $8000 to $11,000 in the 4 years we have lived here. THAT is criminal.
June 19, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Just like at the last board meeting. One board member objected to hiring an Asst Principle. He stated we should save the salary (over 100,000). Yet every other board member approved the position. It was all an act. The board had no intention of saving anything. They threatened our children with cutbacks. Tried to use scare tactics on the parents. They had contingency budget planned. Just keeps floating the same ship until it sails. Tightening the belt to save is across the board, how much of a pay increase did they budget for themselves? It is about time!
June 19, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Mommymo’s list of salaries below says it all. NYC has 1 superintendant of schools for about 5 million students. Wantagh has a superintendant and 2 assitants for 10 thousand students. Together they make over $1 million in salary and benefits. Worse - there are 65 superintendants in Nassau County, what a waste.
The budget failed because the Board was arrogant enough to propose the same budget the second time around. Also, lets not forget that the run up in house prices and taxes have made it impossible for young couples with children to offord to live here. So the older folks whose children have already graduated are left to pay the $6000+ per year in school taxes. Wantagh had not failed a budget in 20 years. Be warned school board, there will be more to come. To paraphase Michelle Obama, I have never been proud of my fellow Wantagh residents, until now!
Wantagh News Comment: According to longislandschools.com, Wantagh School District’s enrollment is around 3,660 students.
June 19, 2008 at 2:24 pm
237K salary is criminal and you need to cut salaries, thats where the extra money can come from. I dont think its fair for seniors, or anybody who doesnt have kids, or anybody who choses a catholic school to pay these astronomical taxes. Our teachers do just a good job on half, and out pricipal makes 150K…….who dont have an assistant pricipal she handles it on her own. We dont have heads of depts, our pricipal does it all on her own. Maybe you need to replace all of this administration..we are being ripped off, and your children are suffering with cutbacks because no one wants to take responsibility for the buget problems, and God forbid they cut their salaries and give it to the teachers who DO the work.
June 19, 2008 at 2:44 pm
For a district that prides itself on athletic teams as well as academic achievement, to be so shortsighted is ridiculus. Good athletes/students and teachers will be leaving in droves. The good kind citizens just took the first step in becoming another Roosevelt school district. You get what you pay for and in this case what you vote for.
June 19, 2008 at 3:14 pm
At this point it does not matter who voted no and who voted yes. The budget was defeated and we need to fix it. Unfortunately, our children are the ones who suffer the consequences of an austerity budget. The BOE needs to go back to kindergarden (half day is good, they don’t need full day!) and develop listening skills. There are many ways to trim a budget. There were many suggestions brought up at the board meeting after the first vote failed. However, they chose to punish the residents by punishing the students they are so proud of. The seniors in the High School are going to lose so much if the extra curriculum activites are cut. The 9th graders will start their High School years off without experiencing after school activities. The 8th graders will end their middle school years with nothing. The 6th graders will start their middle school years with nothing. The elementery schools will lose teachers which will make class sizes bigger. There are good teachers who will be losing their jobs because they are not tenured and not so good teachers keeping their jobs because they are tenured. We need to work as a comunity to fix our budget and it will be a long time before we get back what has been lost.
June 19, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink……..plenty of equipment and fields to play on, but no one to compete,,,,,,,,how many will loose athletic scholarships???????????
Penny wise pound foolish…….college costs more than a lousy tax increase.
Some of those voting no are the same parents buying top end cars for their kids. I have empathy for those struggling to get by, but for those who are given much, much is expected.
Welcome to Wantagh,
Gateway to Mediocrity
June 19, 2008 at 4:54 pm
The people who want to pay more in taxes, just donate the money then if you dont think there is enough to go around. I think a donation is better, you can deduct it on your taxes. And the peope who can’t afford it can get a tax break. Come on people this is not going to be roosevelt……median tax on house in wantagh is 11K. you think roosevelt taxes are that high? 6K of my taxes is enough, and i dont even have kids in the public school system. Catholic schools raise their money……..we just raised 100K for our school this year! What are you doing to ofset the budget…..why dont you pay for their after school programs like we do? Do we need families forclosing, or everyone leaving who cant afford it anymore, wake up Wantagh!!!!!!!! Let the stay at home moms go to work and donate all their money to the schools. Your school cant even provide a full day kindergarten, and I must work because the taxes are getting out of hand. So all the stay at home moms I dont want to hear it…..
June 19, 2008 at 5:04 pm
To Cierra1026 I wish I could afford to send my children to catholic schools They are superior, however even with 2 incomes we can’t afford it. By the way we do have to pay for the before and after school scope programs just like you do. We do pay for our children to play sports. And even the H.S. band has to fundraise to meet their needs. The cheerleaders and dance teams have to raise money themselves. Our taxes will still go up even on though the budget failed. The BOE and the BAC need to find a way to keep the bidget at a reasonable rate.
June 19, 2008 at 5:19 pm
You sound like a good guy-Joe Calise! I love Wantagh for so many reasons- & it’s refreshing to hear someone not “putting down” anyone for their decision. This was a tough budget to swallow- even for thoses of us who voted yes. Things didnt seem to “add up”. I voted yes anyway- mostly at the pleading of the high school kids we know & love here- They were all scared about what a” no” would do to their H.s. years. We were not crazy about it. I can totally see why it got rejected- .I admit,I have not been to any meetings. I have very little ones at home to care for….and I admit- it’s not for me!!Sorry- everyone has their forte- I am definately not a “group” “meeting” person. I just sort of trusted that the people on the board knew what they were doing…but the fact that our budget didnt get passed- that in itself tells a story. I see I am getting tons of e-mail from people I dont know- before the budget- now after. maybe , the board, or the advisory commitee could inform those of us who cant get out to meetings by e-mail!? you know tell us whats going on- show us the numbers. I know I literally dont have time for phone conversations- I barely am getting through this e-mail without chasing a toddler down!! I guess I am speaking for those of us who love Wantagh- want to be informed but really cant fit getting out to meetings in our lives right now.- I am reading here alot of , again-”put downs” of people who didnt attend meetings. We arent fully informed- well you know, you’re right! So help us to be . Maybe there is something already in place- I dont know. The info I did actually receive on the budget was very difficult for me to follow. It seemed to be very generalized. I really think alot of people would have voted yes if they had faith that this budget was appropriate. I myself, again- aside from being begged from the high schoolers I know- basically asked some key people I trust- who are way more involved than I- what to vote. That was even confusing- because it was so split. So please, their are those of you on the yes side & no side- who sound very…hmm guess the word is righteous. Lets find answers we all can live with. Wantagh is great. People who grew up here come back. I dont think our property values are going to suffer any more than they would have during this economic downturn. Some opposing bloggers here both had valid points on that issue. Yes- it’s bad for real estate sales to have failed budget- and yes, it’s bad for sales when people look at the taxes and see how crazy high they are.- But actually, thats all besides the point anyway. It’s a great place tp live- we arent leaving because of a failed budget. We are so rooted in this community in so many different ways, to bail now is pretty shallow. Those of us who love living here will pitch in to get through this. Me personally- I’m not going to be at any meetings for the next few years- but I’m a sucker for Wantagh fundraising.And I promise to be more alwert to emails &7 mailings on the budget. ok-2 year old pulling me from keyboard- good timing- who ever is reading this probably fell asleep by now1
June 19, 2008 at 5:20 pm
My oh my, I detect a little envy mommy. Publishing those salaries says what? That you have experienced leaders running your district? You think it’s too much money to pay people with bachelors, masters, administrative certificates, doctorates and years of experience? As the Chinese proverb says- ” You just might get what you wish for.” So get rid of them all. They’re too expensive for your taste. Hire some callow cheap people and let them run your district. In life you get what you pay for. After you divest your district of expensive experienced administrators, you might just save enough to go out for a couple of meals at the diner. I’m sure that would be worth it to you. Then, as mommy cries, get rid of some teachers too. While you’re at it- cut teacher’s salaries— and wave goodbye to talent. In a capitalist free market system- good people go where the money is. It’s a product of competition. Wantagh won’t be one of those places- but who cares- right mommy? BTW this is not what you call “scare” tactics. It’s reality. And talk about “scare” tactics. OOOO- you’re going to call the governor and ask them to audit Wantagh. Sorry lady, the government beat you to it. EVERY district gets audited, even Wantagh. And knowing that, I’m sure they’re hiding lots of stuff so they can risk going to jail! LOL
You sound so righteous- “We won’t be forced to vote for an unsatisfactory budget!” you say. Well, from what I can see every last one of you voted BLINDLY. Not one of you can articulate what was IN the budget that was not satisfactory, except a few thousand in salaries that are chickenfeed in a multi million dollar budget. No matter how much you fantasize- you can’t run schools without leaders. You never went to any of the hours upon hours of meeting explaining the budget. They went on for MONTHS. You sound plenty brave on this blog- but just where were your voices with these questions BEFORE the vote. If you wanted to know something - why didn’t you pick up the telephone- it’s a modern invention I hear tell. Seems to me you prefer your ignorance- it makes bashing so much more fun- right mommy- justified or not.
BTW Joe, I can buy chairs for a lot less than schools pay too. School chairs are stinkin ugly to boot. You fail to calculate the durability issue, the rules governing purchases, bids, etc. It’s not as easy as going to Target or Circuit City. Furniture, COMPUTERS, must be exceedingly durable to withstand the use and abuse children dish out. They also have to have compatible software and programs. Save a little on a computer but replace it twice as fast is NOT economical.
I also get a real kick at how you ‘demonize’ your board members. You are so certain that they are there to fleece you and your kids. Amazing! I don’t live in their skins, but anyone who devotes hours and hours of time to their community for FREE should be applauded, not vilified. Be a board member if you think you can do better! Who are you mommy?- come out come out whoever you are. This way we can see if you are all bluster or if you really DO care and participate. Voted No is warning the BOE that there will be more of the same. More of what- people NOT supporting their schools? Good luck. You get what you reap.
Oh Cierra- only “teachers” work in a school district? You are all like a juvenile lynch mob. Cut administrative salaries and THAT will do the trick!!! What do you propose einsteins. Offer a teacher’s pay for a 12 month administrative job? Who do you expect to show up for the job interview?….. Mommy? You do understand that even if you paid a handful of people a whole lot less it would do NOTHING MUCH to offset the REAL expenditures- school buses, maintenance, heating, groundskeeping, furniture, textbooks, etc. Divide the savings in salaries (no one will work for free- unless mommy is willing to) and divide by thousands of residents and voila- pennies! You who opine about why it is that Wantagh is having such a hard time with money—Wantagh has NO Industry from which taxes can be applied. Wantagh has NOTHING. And the state just saw to it that TRUMP pays NOTHING to the tax base- while they produce billions at Jones Beach. Again, -where are your voices? OOPs, I forgot, it’s so much easier to beat up on educators. Trump is too scary.
And Wantagh pride- you denegrate your BOE for not listening to you! Who are you?! Your suggestions were “Not listened to!” HA! What if they weren’t feasible? What if they were bogus? What if your suggestions would have had nada impact on the bottom line? What makes you think that YOU and all the other know it alls here- have all the answers and NOBODY working in the district does? You are all so sure of yourselves without any substantive information, and you call everyone ELSE arrogant? You’d think from reading this blog that there are an awful lot of einsteins wasting their time behind a keyboard. Get crackin mommy, wantagh pride, joe and go do better. You have sufficiently maligned all the people working in the district, as “ignorant, clueless damned criminals!” How generous of you.- so go out there and do it MUCH better. You brag you “know” where the savings can be made. So go crunch the ACTUAL numbers. This will be interesting to watch. The kids and all of Wantagh are counting on YOU.
June 19, 2008 at 5:23 pm
WantaghPride, yes I agree.but the salaries, for the higer ups are way too high. If the seven schools can raise 100K each then you will have an extra 700K……do u really want that money to go to those people cause that is where it is going to go first. they are the greedy ones i cant believe 237K for just one salary plus benefits plus full retirement….that is a shame, you all should be mad at them they are stealing from us. They are taking for themselves first and putting the kids last…….my pricipals salary was just cut down from 150K, but she puts the kids first. She takes care of the entire school by herself. And she works hard, her days are at least 12hr days. The higher ups im sure dont put in those kind of hours. They have too much help and enjoy their greedy salaries. The schools are a wreck, why are their salaries so high???? Lower their salaries then you can fix up the schools, and even have money left over for the underpaid teachers. Think about it if our taxes were lower you could afford to send your kids to catholic school. Why do the people who dont use the system have to have such a heavy burden, it is not fair. The public school system needs to be pay as you go!!!!! That is fair for all of us, and then you can decide to pay it or not or even donate! Why dont all of the yes voters just donate 7k a year and then we would all be happy.
June 19, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Republican…….catholic school administrators and teachers get paid way less, how come we have better education?
June 19, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Republican didnt you read Trump lost his battle and has to pay taxes?…….Also……if you cant hire a teacher or an adminstrator that will only accept 85K or above…..i wouldnt want that person teaching my child….its not all about money its about the kids…..Our catholic school teachers are the best around and are lucky to get up to 45K a year…….Being paid what your worth is my motto but wantagh school system is being ripped off…….wake up……do you have a stay at home wife?…….would you like your wife to work? or be able to afford to stay home with your kids
June 19, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Cierra- Catholic schools don’t have half what public schools offer. Me thinks you are a little biased. They get to choose students- so you may get high achievers. Learning diasbled students and troubled children are not accepted. Special education students are moving into Wantagh in droves- you won’t see any special classes in Catholic School. One special ed child costs the district tens of thousands more than average students. They need aids, extra teachers, one on one….
June 19, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Republican….the elemantary kids do not take a test to get into the school, get your facts straight before you comment. I also think you are biased, you must work for the schools….my answer….pay as you go……we do have special services…..why would you think we do not?
June 19, 2008 at 5:48 pm
If you cut down the extreme salaries…..the budget would be fine……you think 237K is not extreme? Imagine what the kids would have with half of that each year……hmmm………Catholic school kids are offer a lot in different ways…….we have all the clubs and sports our kids need, and what there isnt the parents make up for it. Bottom line is…..greed…..greed…..greed………a teacher or administrator should be making over 85K……except for the principal who should be running the show…….obviously our school does a fine job with what we have…..because we are turing out great acheivers……sometime sports is not what it is all about……its education which is way more important…….the good teachers will come….and not because of median salaries……again why should i have to pay? wheres my tax break?
June 19, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Cierra- why is it that people always complain about what teachers get paid? They make too much…they’re lucky for what they get…
Why do they have to pay for at least two degrees? Why don’t you ask your plumber to teach your kids? You don’t really understand what a gifted educator does for children, or needs insofar as preparation…do you? Since when should teachers be denied decent salaries commensurate with their educational requirements???
Why don’t we complain about the salaries doctors, firemen, lawyers, garbagemen,…get? It’s always the teachers, the educators….it’s so predictable. Unless you ARE an educator, I DARE you, double dare you to lock yourself up in a classroom with hundreds of emotionally needy children with lots of energy and hormones. THEN tell me they make too much! Why is it that you complain about the people who are with your children the MOST–are responsible for their future success in school and life? Seems to me they deserve more that someone who collects tickets on a train or cuts your grass…..but you say they are LUCKY to make 45k . tsk tsk
June 19, 2008 at 5:54 pm
You think he works for the schools? He wrote that budget that failed.
June 19, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I think Republican can-can dance needs a little vacation….good thing summer is coming! The kids appear to be getting to him!
June 19, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Cierra- not everyone wants to go to Catholic School. So thanks but no thanks. Our Public Schools on long island are outstanding. On what authority can you say that YOUR principal works much harder and longer than any of the public school administrators? You are sadly mistaken. Shadow them- you’ll see. You seem so obsessed about the district CEO’s salary. He runs a multi million dollar enterprise that is chock full of CHILDREN- not lawn mowers, or ipods. As far as CEO salaries that’s a pittance for a 24/7 job. What are you smoking man? There are people living all over long island with half his responsibility making tons more…..and they are young kids just out of college!
Priorities are so messed up.
June 19, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I can not believe some of the things that I am reading.We have to move on. Insulting each other about our right to have an opinion is childish. This was a wake up call for all of us. We have to start listening to each other. No-one wanted to vote the budget down. Everyone I spoke to agonized over the decision. We all want the best for our children.Let’s not turn this into a war between the parents. This will take years to mend. We still have a great SD, yes we will have to give up a few things but what about all the years that the budget was voted up. We all supported the bond issues, there was no problem. Our town has to show our children that this is not the end of the world, we will survive this. We expect our children to respect people around us,and so should we. This should not be about who could afford it and who can not. I spoke to people that had no money issues and they voted it down. Just because they felt that the committee just doesn’t stop. Every year it has been alot. I myself voted yes, and by the way I am at a time in my life with a few in college, if you want to talk about tight money just send kids to college. As far as blaming it on the seniors it went far beyond them. Parents also voted it down. This year was a very mixed year as far as voting. We need to compromise and not have all or nothing. I spoke to a woman yesterday that told me she had to shut her windows because 2 mothers were fighting in the street, oh and by the way the kids were right there. Great judgement on the parents part. So let’s all work on mending the nice town we live in. Tell your kids that is what life is all about. We failed our kids, our community, our teachers and our way of life, you fall and you get back up again.. We need to support our kids and not turn this into a personal thing, so next year we can go and vote the budget up again, like we have always done in the past……………
June 19, 2008 at 6:13 pm
No mommy, I didn’t write the budget. I am an ardent supporter of public education, and happen to know a lot about what goes on because I read and am involved. You have tiny ones—just wait until they are preparing to go to college. Your persepctive will change drastically. You won’t DARE vote no when your kid is pitcher on the team or in the chorus of a school production, or needs an AP course to deflect the rising costs of education in a country that ignores funding it. You’ll be screaming at the people you represent at the moment. Yup, unfortunately most people can’t get beyond self interest.
June 19, 2008 at 6:15 pm
If you really read what i said…you would have seen that i said the higher ups should get cut 237K is highway robbery……i said teachers should get some of his money…….the kids programs and the schools should get half his salary…….or can u just focus on one thing..our teachers make around 45K…and we have the best of the best…….anything over 85K is highway robbery…… college professors make 85K….doctors make more because they went to school much longer….and have high malpractice insurance….maybe wantagh needs to be audited, really! Maybe I will take that project on to see if it is fair…..again you dont answer my questions……why do i have to pay at all when i dont use the system> and wheres my tax break? and how can seniors pay on retirement pay? and does your wife work? or is your salary from the system?
June 19, 2008 at 6:34 pm
It is oh so obvious that Mr. Republican can-can dance holds one of those positions that are over 100,000 in our district. Perhaps he is our Superintnedent of Schools? Hmmmmm….. Can get his frustrations out here because he won’t dare say these things to our faces—he would get can-can’d!
June 19, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Also, if you don’t already know this if you have a Target credit card you can have them donate money to the school of your choice….my school, in this district, has received over $4000 because of me…I would like to know where THOSE donations are going!
June 19, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Exactly Mommymo….hes all talk, he chooses not to comment on valid points i bring up…..my schools is a multimillion dollar business and is run by one principal, and she has one secretary, all on her plus on salary…..seems to me maybe there is some incompetance, laziness or greed……if they used half of that money for the kids, for the run down blue ribbon schools maybe the request of 9% wouldnt be so high. Affordability in todays economy is key> How can he comment when there are 9 houses up for sale on my block alone. Maybe taxes are driving them out? Maybe new young families cant move here because of unaffordability? When i went to consider Mandalay school for my child, i looked at the building and went ugh, and kindergarten half day? wow…..I said taxes are so high……maybe i better consider private school. The shape the building is in made me think, it was not a great first impression. How could the request be so high, the highest request in all of LI? where as every one else was asking 4%….why would they then ask for the same budget? well in the first vote it was close, then the second more people came out and said no, Isnt that the big picture……when more people came out to vote and said hey hold on here a minute…..why were there no signs up like there was for the first vote? did you not want people to know there was another vote going on? why was there a secret meeting, where scare tactics were used? your kids will suffer? well all i know is we got along just fine when i was in school with very little….we used our brains…..we didnt have computers……yes its technology, but that is where parents must become responsible for picking up the difference.
We need to change this outrageous budget…we need to investigate exactly where all the money is going to…..and we need an audit. we need to evaluate those higher salaries…..maybe that should be our next step and our next vote..
They need to be accountable to us. And as far as i am concerned the building is a mess…..and all the other school in nassau and suffolk have full time kindergarten, and some of those people pay the same taxes, if not more…..and have many more kids.
Did you know that nassau county is losing 20% of kids each enrollment, and suffolk county is gaining them.,..why? affordability……
Nassau county budgets are kicking our butts, and i would like to keep the money in my pockets for when my kid goes to college…..how am i going to afford it if they keep asking 9% each year….to authorze an increase will just hurt us in the future when your kids are in college…because we will be paying on these votes each year….
How do the small business owners whos prices keep going up and are losing business due to the economy stay in business?
If it keeps going up and the low income folks cant afford it here….who is going to do those jobs? where do business owners find employees?
So Republican…..look at the big picture…..look at what its hurting…take a good look
June 19, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Mr. Republican-can, your comment on computers directed to me, I can hardly even entertain. I am the owner of Sights-N-Sounds on Sunrise Hwy. in Seaford. I am VERY aware of computers and durability. At any given time I own more computers then you probably have in your lifetime. I shame your comment to me, and welcome a discussion about affordable, and durable computers for my children, and my fellow Wantagh residents children. I would gladly work to advise and consult on how we can get the most for our money. Maybe it is just that - the system that is messed up. The bidding, the process, and all that goes with it could be the problem - but you will not open up to admit this might be an issue.
You sit here and call us arrogant, yet you are completely one sided, and cannot even see that the good people of Wantagh DO want to vote for this budget, but have obvious concerns that none of us can get answers to. This is frustrating, and if nothing else shows our intelligence. You are calling for all of us to go and do a better job. I plan on it. And if I become informed enough, and think I can do a better job, I hope to run for the seat coming up in the next election. If the people of Wantagh are kind enough to vote me in at the time, I will arrange for an email system of notifying all that want to be notified. I will also take comments and suggestions, and do all I can to improve. I will also find a way to do it at a fraction of the cost the board would use. This I am confident enough to say.
This back and forth with you is not worth anyone’s time on this blog. You are completely one sided, and nothing will change your mind, or even open up your mind to saying maybe something is wrong.
I have to tell you - I know things will not be as good without the budget passing, and this is a shame for the students. However, I went through the NYC schools growing up, and never went past my HS Diploma. Not because I was not smart enough, but because we could not afford for me to go to college. My mother was a single mom raising two boys, and we both turned out ok. Our kids deserve nothing but the best, and even with these cutbacks, they are still going to be ok. Don’t sit here and tell everyone how we will all suffer, unless you can come up with a better way to make the budget pass. As someone put it up above, it takes a village to raise a child, and in this town we are not just sending our kids to school to learn, we all work with our children today much more then our parents did with us years ago. Amazingly, the Superintendent I had while growing up never knew who I was amongst the entire NYC school system, and he managed to steer us in the right direction.
Our teachers deserve all they can get. What the BOE needs to work on is just how much we can afford to give them, and making sure the money is divided accordingly. We as the taxpayers deserver the right to know where the money is being spent.