Voters in the eight public school districts of Huntington will go to the polls Tuesday to select members of their Boards of Education as well as determine the fate of proposed budgets.
Many of the elections are relatively low key, with few or no contested seats. But Northport stands out for the vitriol and continuing attacks and accusations spread on social media sites, as the fallout from the LIPA tax settlement continues to to divide residents. The tone led the Northport Observer newspaper to publish an editorial expressing some regret,
Here are the budgets and candidates for each district.
Elwood. Two people are running for two seats. Board president James Tomeo is seeking re-election while Walter Edwards, Huntington’s deputy parks director, is running to fill an unoccupied seat. The proposed budget is a 5.04% increase to $76,760,609; the tax levy shows a 2.02% increase to $52,092,739.
Huntington. Four candidates are running for three spots: incumbents Theresa Sullivan and Thomas Galvin are seeking re-election, while Sara Baliber and Dr. Annie Michaelian, who is a primary school principal in South Huntington, are also vying for seats. The proposed budget of $152,277,619 represents a 4.05% increase, with a tax levy increase of 2.93% to $113,711,800.
South Huntington. No contested seats. The three incumbents running for re-election– Linda LaCara, Erin E. Meijer, and Frederick Scragg– are all unopposed. The budget of $217,524,666 represents an increase of 4.04%. with a tax levy increase of 2.40%.
A proposition would authorize capital improvements at Walt Whitman High School, includingthe replacement of boilers. The cost would be covered by the sale of real estate and are estimated to cost no more than $2.5 million.
Voting hours in South Huntington have expanded this year to 2-9 pm., an hour earlier start.
Half Hollow Hills. Three seats are open; three incumbents, Adam Kleinberg, Nadia Pervez Bilal and Stephanie Gurin, are seeking re-election, as are newcomers Brian Hall and Tina Shek.
The proposed budget reflects a 3.15% increase, to $298,912,008. The tax levy would increase by 2.54% to $230,235,146. The vote will also determine the fate of a proposal to create a capital reserve fund for building improvements.
Voting hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Half Hollow Hills High School East.
Cold Spring Harbor. Three candidates, incumbent Heather Morante Young and newcomers Mark Attalienti and Scott Kaufman are competing for two spots on the Board of Education. The proposed budget is $80,699,285, a 4.61% increase. The tax levy would increase 1.6%.
Voting runs from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Cold Spring Harbor Junior/Senior High School.
Commack. Two candidates are running for one spot on the Board of Education, incumbent Gus Hueber and Dana Schultz. The proposed budget is $227,094,961, an increase of 2.24%. That means a 1.99% increase, to $155,698,880.
Voting is from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Commack Middle School and Commack High School.
Harborfields. Five candidates are running for three spots on the school board: Incumbents Dr. Eve Meltzer-Krief and Susan Broderick, and challengers David Balistreri, Freda Manuel and Rachael Risinger. The proposed budget is for $99,764,898, a 3.64% increase. The tax levy would go to $$73,955,220, a 2.44% rise. As a separate proposition, the board has proposed to liquidate the 2015 Capital Reserve Fund to fund settlements in certain Child Victims Act cases.
Northport. The district has four candidates seeking to fill two spots, Victoria Bento, Michael Cleary, Paul Darrigo and incumbent Carol Taylor.
The Board of Education has proposed a budget of $187,932,561, an increase of 2.67%. That would mean a 2.33% increase, to $157,214,163. It has proposed to spend $1 million from its reserve fund for repair of district facilities.
Voting is from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. at 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Fifth Avenue Elementary School, Dickinson Avenue Elementary School, the William J. Brosnan Building.