Students, Parents Ask District to Avoid Cuts

Smithtown parents and students stood before the Board of Education Wednesday night to rail against possible program cuts and tax increases in the Smithtown Central School District's 2011-2012 proposed budget.

Much like the final regular board meeting of March, students gathered with picket signs urging the board to not cut or change the district’s art programs. Though Wednesday’s meeting, featured a student speaking as an advocate to keep the art programs as they are.

High School West art student Erin Fitzpatrick said in her speech that art programs serve more than just the creative side of the student and are taught by teachers who help the students well beyond the classroom.

“Art has made me the person I am today. In our art classes we learn much more than one may think – we learn communication and social skills that are imperative for a successful future. … The art classes have taught us to solve problems and think outside of the box entirely. … Most importantly being in the art rooms has taught me perseverance – our art teachers are as dedicated to helping us as we are dedicated to creating artwork,” she said.

Following Fitzpatrick’s speech, Superintendent Edward Ehmann told all in attendance that art programs are not part of any cuts in the proposed budget.

After the meeting, Fitzpatrick said she was relieved the art programs would not be cut, she is still worried about the district cutting programs in the future and is prepared to fight possible future cuts if needed.

“I’m actually scared about next year and the years after,” she said.

Smithtown resident Stan Meyers, 76, who currently has no children in district schools but has had children graduate from the district, requested the board look into tax benefits for senior citizens who have children who have graduated from the school district and are still living in the community.

“I would like to make an appeal for people in my category – seniors – that the school board consider putting a tax freeze on seniors that have been in the district for ‘x’ number of years and after their last child gets out of school after 20 years you freeze taxes for those people and after 30 years you start to reduce the tax rate 10 percent … I do believe that there’s something to contribute as far as the education of our children. Somebody did it for my children long before so I’m willing to pay back, it’s just that it does reach a point where it’s enough,” he said.

Other speakers lobbied for saving music related programs, voiced concerns relating to transportation to private and parochial schools, and requested the district look into the use of energy-saving light bulbs, solar panels and green energy.

Wednesday’s meeting began with an 11-slide PowerPoint presentation from Ehmann, outlining what went into the formulation of the proposed budget – from sources of revenue to expenses, possible future reductions and more, which totals just more than $212-million.

The meeting to adopt the budget will be held on Tuesday, April 12 at 8 p.m. in the Joseph A. Barton Building, and the budget vote will take place Tuesday, May 17.