School Budget Passes, Two New Members Elected to Board of Ed

Voters passed a $212.4 million budget Tuesday for the 2011-2012 school year.

With a final tally of 4,847 to 2,342, homeowners within the Smithtown Central School district can expect to see a 4.9 percent increase in their collective tax levy in the following year. 

The Board of Education also has two new members as President Robert Rossi was defeated by Grace Plourde 3,307 votes to 3,045, and board member Neil Carlin lost to Joanne McEnroy by a tally of 3,687 votes to 2,540.

Gladys Waldron, who ran unopposed, received 4,332 votes.

The bus referendum also passed by a final tally of 3,915 to 3,055.

Distances will be increased for children to get bus service to school – at the elementary level the distance will now be one-half mile limit, secondary schools will now have a one-and-a-half mile limit, and private and parochial schools will now have a 15 mile limit.

The budget, , includes cuts to 30 positions within the district; class size changes from kindergarten to fifth grade, resulting in the reduction of 14 teachers, the elimination of JV2 sports teams, and physical education reduced to every other day, resulting in cuts to four teachers.

Voting took place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Nesconset Elementary, Accompsett Elementary, Smithtown Elementary and St. James Elementary.