Voters Pass $103.1 Million School Budget, Incumbents Hold Seats

A group of about 75 anxious spectators erupted into cheers Tuesday night as the final vote count approving the district's proposed 2011-12 budget was projected onto a screen at the LMK Middle School auditorium.

Plenty of numbers have been thrown around and debated during the months leading up to Tuesday's vote—but arguably the most important figures of the spring were revealed at about 9:30 p.m.

The Board of Education's $103.1 million budget was approved by 59 percent voters. The final tally was 1,703 in favor and 1,182 against. Three of four voting districts approved the budget, it failed in Preston Elementary School by four votes but passed at Parsons Elementary for the first time in more than a decade, school administrators said.

"I think it sends a strong message that the community supports what is going on in the schools and it shows that they have confidence in the school board," said Robert Salierno, Harrison assistant superintendent for business. "I think people really showed they're willing to pay for the quality education we are providing here."

All three incumbents seeking another term on the Board of Education were re-elected. David Singer will serve his fourth term as trustee, receiving 1,790 votes to defeat challenger Matthew Joseph who had 1,294. Paul Curtis won a second term with 1,809 votes, defeating Joseph Magnus who finished with 1,296. Phillip Silano will serve his fourth term after defeating challenger Robert Piliero, with 1,743 votes to Piliero's 1,422.

There are 112 absentee ballots that have not been included as of yet, but the margin of victory was wide enough in each district that those votes cannot change the outcome.

"This was one of the most hard-fought board contests I've ever been involved in," said Singer, adding that Tuesday's vote showed that all of Harrison's voting districts appear to be joining together as one community.

Silano thanked the community for their support of him and the board's vision. He too acknowledged that it was a difficult race.

"It was a little more in the gutter than in past elections," he said, but he added that there were a couple of valid points raised by the three challengers that will be addressed moving forward.

"We've always looked at all the data and will continue to improve where we need improvement," he said.

Numbers were used by both sides at various points during the election process. Incumbents touted college acceptance rates and AP participation, while challengers focused on per-pupil spending, scores in advanced placement and regents tests and average SAT scores.

In the end the numbers weren't enough to convince voters of a need for significant change in the district.

"I'm disappointed," said Piliero a few minutes after seeing the results. "I'd like to think we raised issues that have not been dealt with before, I think in previous elections it had been about the budget and this time I think it was really about the kids and probably the first time it has been, and I think that's important."

Piliero, who along with Magnus is a member of the Parents Educational Partnership (PEP), added that he hopes the debate started this spring won't be ignored by the board, which will remain in-tact for at least the next three years.

"Given the fact that all three incumbents won, I don't know that the board is going to do anything different," Piliero said. "I think if they take this as a mandate to continue what they're doing our children will be in deep trouble."

Whether or not significant reform is necessary at Harrison's schools was an issue at the heart of the Board of Education race. Much like the candidates, voters Patch spoke with Tuesday were either in support of the district's current direction, or ready for change.

Lorraine Freed said she supported the latter after casting her vote Tuesday afternoon at Harrison Avenue school.

"(The budget) keeps going up every year, but our test scores are low," she said. "I wanted the new guys because I think we need a fresh perspective, they're very intelligent. I think they have a solid background and these other guys are 12 years, eight years, I think it's getting too complacent and they're getting too comfortable."

Mike Callari, of Purchase, said he voted against the incumbents for the same reason.

"Just the way things are going in the world, the country, everything. Too many people have been in office too long, they get complacent and my idea is get some new blood in," he said, adding that he thinks the $103.1 million budget is too much. "If you go to the high school there's assistants to assistants to assistants—it's crazy, it's out of control with these guys."

Others said they support the direction of the district and voted in favor of the incumbents.

Chris Troise, who has three kids in the district, said he supported Singer, Silano and Curtis because of the district's recent acceptance into the International Baccalaureate program.

"That was really the driving force for me," said Troise. "I think it's very forward thinking to bring that to a school district, it's very impressive. It also took a lot of work to do, my kids are German so it's definitely a big thing for them to be able to enter into that."

Michael Castellano of West Harrison said he supported the current Board of Education after casting his vote at Preston Elementary School.

"I'm very impressed with the strides that Harrison has made in the educational system over the last 10 years and I think it's very, very, important to maintain that trend because I think it allows more students the opportunity to achieve higher standards," he said. "It seemed that some of the other candidates really had a different agenda—wanted to take the school on a different track."

Highlights of the newly accepted budget:

• Overall Spending: $103.1 million
• Tax Levy: $91.3 million
• Tax Rate Increase: 3.18 percent
• Noteable Cuts: 20.4 total employee positions including 10 full-time teaching positions (an estimated three through layoffs) and 10 teacher's assistant positions (all through layoffs). Eight clubs at LMK Middle School (out of 39). Eight clubs at Harrison High School (out of 42).

For a deeper look at the budget, .

Here's an overview of the election results broken down by district. (winners in bold).