Friday, March 23, 2012
Will you vote for the proposed budget?
On Wednesday, Arnold Goldstein, superintendent of North Bellmore Schools, announced that there will be a close to zero percent budget increase in the district's 2012-2013 school budget. The proposed budget for the upcoming school year is $47,901,815 million. He said that with the tightening of the budget, retirement incentives and the closing of Jacob Gunther Elementary School, the district has saved $1.2 million. What do you think of the proposed budget and how will you vote in May? Take the poll and tell us in the comments below.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Arnold Goldstein said that no school programs will be eliminated.
Superintendent Arnold Goldstein said that the district will be able to reach the 2-percent tax levy cap and still maintain the district's level of education. "North Bellmore has the 2 percent plus exceptions," Goldstein said at the school board meeting on Thursday. "We will be able to reach the tax levy cap this year and keep our quality of education. We will not eliminate any school programs." According to Goldstein there will be a 1-percent tax increase. Goldstein said that when Jacob Gunther Elementary School closes in June, 15 positions will be eliminated, saving the district $900,000. He also said and that parts of the the school building may be rented out. At the end of the 2011-2012 budget, $2.5 million dollars will be left over, …
Friday, December 9, 2011
Decision on which North Bellmore school will close to be made Dec. 13.
Some people shouted, while others cried about the one issue that they all dread: the closing of a school. More than 100 people attended a public hearing Thursday at Saw Mill Road Elementary School regarding the shuttering of one of North Bellmore's six schools. Many parents told the board that they felt a school closure was not in the best interest of the community and that other options should be explored. Anthony Bifulco's daughter, Lauren, attends the Saw Mill School. He said that closing a school is simply unnecessary. "I think they should keep a school open by raising tax revenue," he said. "I don't agree with any of this." North Bellmore Superintendent Arnold Goldstein said that while the decision-making process hasn't been easy, "…
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Officials could decide which North Bellmore school will close at the meeting.
There will be a public hearing regarding the closing of one of six North Bellmore schools on Thursday, Dec. 8. Superintendent Arnold Goldstein said that the school board will most likely announce which school will close. "Hopefully the final decision will be made at the public hearing, but there are no guarantees," he said. On Nov. 16, The Committee to Explore Educational Options, a group comprised of parents, teachers and employees of all six schools in the district, voted to close Jacob Gunther Elementary School. Twelve out of the 21 members found that closing Gunther would be the best option. The committee's vote will be recommended to the school board at the public hearing and the board will have the final say in which school will …
Friday, December 2, 2011
Jacob Gunther Elementary School holds a charitable event to support our men and women in uniform.
On Thursday, Jacob Gunther Elementary School held a "Sock Hop," a fun and charitable community event where kids and their parents put their feet on the dance floor to help the feet of the American military via generous sock donations.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Vote here on the issue of closing the Gunther School.
The Committee to Explore Educational Options voted to close the Jacob Gunther Elementary School during a meeting on Wednesday night. Twelve out of 21 members found that closing the school would be the best option in helping to cut costs. The school board will make the final decision on which school will close. Do you agree with the committee's decision? The committee voted, now here is your chance. Vote in the Patch poll or comment below.
News that a North Bellmore elementary school is to be shuttered leaves parents upset.
Marie Spohrer was on the verge of tears when she heard that Jacob Gunther Elementary School was voted to be closed. Her 10-year-old son, Phillip, is a special education student at Gunther and his favorite teacher, Christine Meaney, was recently granted tenure there. "I am very sad to see it close," she said. "My son now has to go to a different school." The Committee to Explore Educational Options, a group comprised of parents, teachers and employees of all six schools in the district, voted to close the school at a meeting at Saw Mill Elementary School on Wednesday night. Approximately 300 people were in attendance. Twelve out of the 21 members found that closing Gunther would be the best option. The committee's vote will be recommended …
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
One of six North Bellmore elementary schools will close.
The Committee to Explore Educational Options voted to close the Jacob Gunther Elementary School in front of about 300 people at a district meeting on Wednesday night. The decision will be recommended to the school board at a public hearing on Dec. 8. The board will have the final say on which school will close. Read the full story on Patch Thursday morning at 8 a.m.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Sound off on the daily hot topic.
At a school board meeting on Thursday, the North Bellmore School District announced that closing Jacob Gunther Elementary School would make the most sense to cut costs due to the number of students, transportation needs and special education needs. Do you think the Gunther School should close or another school in the district ? If you had to choose, which school do you think should close?
Friday, October 14, 2011
The North Bellmore School District said they will close one of its six schools to cut costs unless they come up with another "viable" option.
Joe Licato, of North Bellmore has a son in a North Bellmore school. When he heard that the district decided to close one of its six schools at a school board meeting Thursday, he said he was bothered and confused. "I left last week's meeting thinking that it was not 100 percent clear that a school would close," he said. "I was under the impression that it was something that could happen." Licato and about 400 people attended an open forum on the issue on Oct. 6 at Saw Mill Road Elementary School. "I don't think people walked away from that meeting thinking that a school was definitely going to close," Licato said. School Board President Grace Cramsie said they the district has no choice at this point."The state imposed a 2-percent tax cap …
G Bashaw
10:51 pm on Sunday, March 25, 2012
I recall ,Mr. Goldstein telling my fellow tax payers that the budget was tightened already and THAT was the reason for closing the school. He painted the hasty picture of economic need, since they could not raise taxes more than 2%. more ›