School Board Election Results
Results for the Nassau County District 15 School Board Elections:
For Trustee:
Seat 1 - Murray Forman vs. Rose Harris (incumbent)
Harris 3,900
Forman 3,970
Seat 2 - Stanley Kopilow (a.k.a. Mr. Shotgun) vs. Shlomo Huttler
Kopilow 4,047
Huttler 3,840
Budget vote:
PASS 3,429
FAIL 3,826
I would note that although the defeat of the Lawrence budget is being portrayed as a Jew vs. Jew battle both on Canonist and here in the district, the fact that a record 45 other Long Island school budgets were voted down tonight does suggest a trend of voters revolting against (or being revolted by) consistent double-digit property tax increases.
Stanley Kopilow must be loading his shotgun.
For Trustee:
Seat 1 - Murray Forman vs. Rose Harris (incumbent)
Harris 3,900
Forman 3,970
Seat 2 - Stanley Kopilow (a.k.a. Mr. Shotgun) vs. Shlomo Huttler
Kopilow 4,047
Huttler 3,840
Budget vote:
PASS 3,429
FAIL 3,826
I would note that although the defeat of the Lawrence budget is being portrayed as a Jew vs. Jew battle both on Canonist and here in the district, the fact that a record 45 other Long Island school budgets were voted down tonight does suggest a trend of voters revolting against (or being revolted by) consistent double-digit property tax increases.
Stanley Kopilow must be loading his shotgun.
posted by orthomom at 11:22 PM
42 Comments:
I guess that violence, or the threat of violence paid off. But wait, the budget failed. Does good old stan know how to use that shotgun
Still running with the shotgun comment?
That was the only thing the private schools had against him...a comment that was misquoted and misinterpretted.
Did you see the non-budget supporting fliers that were be handing out by supporters of Foreman and Huttler? They said "Vote NO on the budget or your taxes will go up 13%". There was another flier that said "make sure you vote for Foreman and Huttler or you will lose your busing, field use, etc..".
What amazes me is that an entire religious communtiy would 'obey' these contradicting fliers that are not even true. Explain to me how voting down the budget, which was a 4.5% tax increase not 13%, and voting for Foreman and Huttler will save your bussing, field use, etc..? Voting down the budget does not get you more! The Board is going to have re-work the budget to get it in at a lower number, with cuts to programs and services. Field use is likely going to be one of the first cuts.
Once again...a campaign dedictated to a bending of the truth! Congratulations!
Also, I just re-read your original comments.
You said "Nassau County school budgets were voted down tonight does suggest a trend of voters revolting against (or being revolted by) consistent double-digit property tax increases."
Do you realize we have absolutely NO control over our property taxes! Our property tax is based on the reassessments of our houses! The school tax is seperate! The school tax increase was 4.5%! Why is this such a hard concept to grasp?
BTW, you have Huttler's results as 'N/A'. Huttler lost.
As I understand it, the school tax compromises a LARGE majority of the total tax bill. I think this is what Orthomom was referring to. While I understand the need for a high quality of education, I think that what we (not only district 15) pay is ridiculous.
Actually, the rejection of the budgets WAS mostly due to the outrage over huge property taxes. Though school taxes are only a portion of your property tax, they are based property value assessments. So yes, I meant property taxes.
jrjr sounds bitter. did this vote cover the whole five towns, or just lawrence?
District 15 is, I believe, comprised of Lawrence, Cedarhurst, a small part of Woodmere, Inwood and Atlantic Beach.
SW - Living in the 5 towns don't you know where the vote covered?
Please tell me you voted SW...
Ortho, I was also surprised on the low margin in Lawrence. With the large frum pop., I expected a landslide there. Even Hewlett rejected the proposed budget with a larger majority.
Bitter, no. Mad, YES!
School taxes make up about 60% of our property taxes. However, our overall property taxes are so high b/c of the reassessment of our houses.
The school tax increase is only 4.5%
If you are pissed with property taxes, request a re-evaluation of the re-assessment of your house and write to Harvy Levinson's office.
Don't take it out on the kids by claiming the school tax is what is causing our property taxes to be so high!
Calling me bitter b/c I speak the truth is ridiculous. WAKE UP!!
"Don't take it out on the kids by claiming the school tax is what is causing our property taxes to be so high!"
Don't even try crying how your kids are deprived. They get the highest spending per child than probably most of this country gets. Their teachers get paid more than just about every teacher in this country gets (and don't try excusing it by saying we need to pay for the best. The fact is, it's INSANE what they get). Their classrooms are more furnished than just about any school in the country can claim. Their food is more gourmet than just about any kid in this country gets. And we can go on and on. Again, no one saying a good education is not important. Just stop crying poverty.
And if you want less animosity from the religious community, tell the districts to be less discriminatory in their dealing of services. My wife is a therapist and witnesses daily the nightmares parents go through to get the services their children deserve. The fact of the matter is, a child living in NYC (brooklyn, queens, etc) and not in the public school system gets far better services (therapy, special ed..etc) than one here. FAR better.
As I and many others see it, it's financial mismanagement coupled with resentment. period.
I am not crying poverty.
You think voting down the budget will make the teacher's salaries smaller?
You think voting down the budget will ustain the quality of education?
Have you eaten or even seen the food the schools serve. Standard cafeteria food. Nothing gourmet about it all.
I can't speak first hand about the special ed services. Bob Beckman from State Comptrollers office has said that our District goes 'above and beyond' in the services provided to the private schools.
I would like to get community harmony. Are the Orthodox willing to try and achieve the same?
@ortho or justpassingthrough...Can I get in touch with you to try and create some much needed community harmony?
If so, how?
what?? me?? live in the five towns. I'm shocked, SHOCKEd anyone would think that!
jrjr:
>"You think voting down the budget will make the teacher's salaries smaller?
Probably not. If budgets will be cut, it will probably be services, not salaries that are reduced. Most certainly not the salaries of the administrators-some of who make more than the Governer! The fact remains that we (all of us, not just the Orthodox community) are getting fiscally raped and voting no to extravagant spending is currently our only voice.
>"You think voting down the budget will ustain the quality of education?"
I honestly have no idea. But I DO know that the effect is probably exagerrated.
>"Have you eaten or even seen the food the schools serve. Standard cafeteria food. Nothing gourmet about it all."
I have not, but have heard first-hand accounts.
>"I can't speak first hand about the special ed services. Bob Beckman from State Comptrollers office has said that our District goes 'above and beyond' in the services provided to the private schools."
Well I can. The district may claim to offer 'above and beyond', but it seems that their bar is set pretty low for those not in the school system. Those with children in private schools are subjected to endless loops to jump through, runarounds and barely concealed resentment.
>"I would like to get community harmony. Are the Orthodox willing to try and achieve the same?"
I wouldn't say that the Orthodox are not willing to acheive harmony. I personally feel that the Boards of 14 & 15 feel resentment and feel threatend and have an agenda to assert discomfort. Take the bussing cut in district 14 last year. Bussing was canceled for all those in school after 5:30 PM; something that ONLY affected those in Yeshiva high schools. The claim of conserving and reducing costs were easily put to the fire by showing that ALL after hour bussing was still available for all district athletic activities and the savings were minimal. We just see no good-faith.
Out of curiousity, in what position are you in this system to offer harmony?
"Out of curiousity, in what position are you in this system to offer harmony? "
I am a parent that is very active in the community. I want the best for all children, public and private. I am tired of the divisiveness. It is sickening.
We need to break dwon the walls that are up. This has to be a one-step-at-a-time process. Are you interested? Can you refer me to the right individuals?
Some of the stuff that goes on is very sad. One example, my kids have tried to play with Orthodox children on our block, but were denied. Why?
One more comment....
The bottom line is that we live in a very affluent neighborhood. Nobody should have to worry about the quality of education their child receives or is entitled to. Period.
"Some of the stuff that goes on is very sad. One example, my kids have tried to play with Orthodox children on our block, but were denied. Why?"
That IS very sad and has also been a recently discussed in the Jewish blogesphere. Some Orthodox Jews are very xenophobic to anyone who is not exactly like them in every way. They are fearful that any outside influence will drive their kids away from their traditions. This is a very insecure and small minded way to live. I hope you won't judge all orthodox people based on these closed minded individuals.
Children should be taught to share and accept and this can only be taught at home.
jrjr:
I'm also a parent. And by no means an affluent one, which is why this bugs me so much.
I'm sorry you experienced the cold shoulder from your neighbors. I know that this exists and it should not happen.
Mom: See? Put up the emotional blogs and the comments just come! Where have you been?
@shifra -- Your words are encouraging.
What can we do to end the xenophobic attitudes?
Also, it seems that this is more common than not.
Another example that I need some explaining on....I was getting a haircut at a local salon and noticed some girls cutting off their long locks. I asked if it was for the 'locks for love' for cancer patients. Their answer was 'Yes, but I am making sure that a Jewish girl gets my hair.'.
I could not understand this answer. Why should it matter where the hair goes as long as it is helping someone that needs it?
I have seen this 'take care of our own' scenario several times. How should I interpret this?
@just passing through
Lets organize a group. I am sure you have friends (as do I) that feel the same way as you. We can start our own 'organization'. Something like the 'Citizens for Unity'. I am sure that once the word gets out and we set up a blog or a website, and have some meetings, interest and membership will snowball.
What do you think?
jrjr,
I'm not sure about what can be done to change the minds of these people.
It's a mentality that goes back many generations sometimes. It's not so unusual though for people to want to support their own family or culture/religious bretheren before all others. In today's intergrated neighborhoods however, it is necessary to treat everyone with respect, and offer respect, help, and friendship to create a happy and liveable community.
I guess the key is proving to people that you can maintain your own values and identity while creating that shared, livable community with your neighbors.
@shifra,
We have to live together. Period.
We really need to get the likeminded people from the public and private schools together.
Those that support this idea, respond to this blog.
we do have to live together but JRJR needs to know what the 4.5% means. It is a BUDGET increase. That means that taxes can go up by a greater or lower percentage based on the assessment of property. Since Lawrence's assessment is greater than 100% of assessed value, the school portion of the property tax, which is by far the largest portion, will rise more than 4.5% to a district AVERAGE of 8-9%. However, since not all home are average for some taxes may go up by double digits. I beleive that jrjr is the one who has been misled since a budget increase and a tax increase are not synonymous. Last year, many homes in Lawrence saw their taxes go up up by as much as 14% year on year. That is too much for some taxpayers to afford.
Mom, you're approaching the clique's comment record. You go girl!
Based upon the most current information available, 4.54% Budget will require a tax levy of 5.31%. The average assessed Class One property value, would see a 7.64% tax increase, not a 13% tax increase.
This can easily be seen on page 5 of Lawrence Budget Brochure.
Getting a lot of 'yeah we need to live together and end the divisivness', but no one is mentioning that they are willing to organize to achieve this.
My apologies, page 7.
I don't live in your community or even your state.
When the blog's author returns maybe you can work it out with her.
Wow, I spend the day in meetings and all hell breaks loose. jrjr, my email is in my profile. Feel free to contact me about working things out, though I am aware that Mr. Fitzsimmons had a long conversation with some members of our community with the goal of doing just that. Maybe what has to happen is that a gesture has to be made by someone in the Public School community, saying that you are not out to take away private school services. How many times did we hear the threat from members of your "crew" that we are going to pay for voting down the budget by having all of our services taken away. Try speaking to us like human beings and maybe you will find that we ARE human beings. And don't tell me about our flyers that were misleading until you are ready to answer for the much more vicious ALPS flyers.
momof4
I will be in touch via email tomorrow.
Based on the fliers presented by both private and public schools, and the reactions by both to the opposition's fliers, there is a great deal of misunderstanding going on.
Regarding Fitzsimons attempts, he is not from the community and I do not feel his heart is in the right place with this deal. I have met with him 'one-on-one' and think he is a nice guy on a personal level but don't think he has the 'know how' to deal with the community issues.
The public and private schools need to hear eachother out come up with reasonable, viable solutions even if it means compromising on specifics.
Again, I'll be in touch. I hope that there is a light at the end tunnel. There must be.
Looking forward to it.
There's alotta love in this room. Gawrsh, the five towns sounds like the happiest place on earth, and a great place to live. (not that I would know anything about that...)
SW - Inside info has it that you know a little bit more about these elections than you caare to admit ???
Is this the same Anonymous every time? Give yourself a handle so we know.
I hope SW is one of those few
i think the orthodox kids dont neccesarily play with each other.
on my block the right wing orthodox kids dont play with the center orthodox kids.
Then the kids who are good in sports dont play with the kids who are not.
Let me ask you this, as someone who may not be orthodox, are you willing to accept that a orthodox kids cannot eat in your house, or accept food from your kid, without you being insulted? the issues get more complex, like the issue of wether the orthodox may feel he is commiting a sin if he gives candy to a non orthodox kid who will not make a blessing on the food?
alot of times its the non orthodox who make an issue of feelings that the orthodox have to adapt to their feelings and social morals. Take for example the nytimes ethics advice column that castigated a orthodox man for not shaking a womans hand. If it were a arab man, he would have no problem with it, he would even admire his devotion to his religion, its only when orthodox do it is it wrong.
I have to side with Anonymous (get a handle) and disagree with Shifra. It's not necessarily xenophpia that prevents Orthodox kids from playing with non-Orthodox. While I'm fairly liberal and would probably allow it (my wife probably wouldn't) the fact of the matter is, kids today are not like they used to be. When I grew up, in a right-wing environment, I still played wih the local boys and girls (up to a certain age of course). YOu cannot deny that influence come into play and in our world today, kids need that extra shelter. Exposure is not always a good thing. Granted, you have to go about that with common sense and decency.
I think it is sad.
I know myself that I would respect any aspect of any religion if my child was playing with a child of any religion.
it's not disrepect for other religion or lack therof. Its just the favt that some children are less insulated than other (not talking religious matters here) and some parents don't want their children exposed to these 'worldly matters' just yet.
What per cent of the "frum" community have ever voted for a school budget?
What per cent of the public school PTA's have ever voted against a school budget?
Its all about money-not a moral issue.
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