Students Fight For Proposed Cuts To Westhampton Beach Programs

Facing a million dollar budget gap, the Westhampton Beach School Board has proposed a number of program cuts — cuts that students spoke out against during a Monday night board meeting.

One after one, students pleaded with the school board not to eliminate programs including, music, latin and American sign language — a program that was saved two years ago after students fought for its reinstatement.

Sentiments similar to those made in the past about the sign language program were made monday night.

Students said the class, which is available to sophomores, juniors and seniors, has taught them so much, especially because it is taught by a teacher who is deaf.

"It would be such a shame to cut this program, said Lucy DiBenedetto, a well-spoken sophomore, who is enrolled in the district's sign language, latin and music program.

Read an article posted by DiBenedetto on the ASL program here.  

"Non of these programs should be cut," said DiBenedetto, who spoke highly of all of the programs.

She started with the music program where is she is a member of the band and concert choir. She touted teacher Eric Rubinstein, whose job is slated to be eliminated, as one of the best.

Rubinstein she said not only recently took the district's chamber singers to perform at Carnegie Hall, but also directs all of the district's musicals and teaches a number of classes.

DiBenedetto said she feels the same about her Latin instructor.

"We are one of the only district's on the Island with a Latin program and it is such a great program," said DiBenedetto, who is in her fourth year of Latin, starting in 6th grade.

But, DiBenedetto, who hopes to one day become a pediatric surgeon, understands that there is a budget gap that needs to be addressed and rather than cutting what she calls, great programs, she suggested other ways the district can make ends meet.

For starters, she said the district should cut back on technology.

"We have plasma tvs in our math and science classrooms and only two of those classrooms are used — one for chemistry and the other for Spanish," she said.

Giving each student a Macbook is also a waste, she said.

"In most of my classes, we don't even use them," she said.

And finally, she pointed to the language department, where she believes there are too many Spanish teachers.

"We have a bunch of Spanish teachers that only teach one or two classes," she said.

Patch Wants to Know: How do you think the school board can made ends meet? What cuts should be made? Which programs should remain? Let us know in the comment section below.

Related Reading: 

• Westhampton Beach Schools Facing Million Dollar Budget Gap

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