Budget and Capital Proposition Pass; Hebert and Spector Win BOE Races
The people have spoken. Huntington School District residents overwhelmingly approved the budget and capital reserve fund propositions and elected Jennifer Hebert and Adam Spector to three-year terms on the board of education during 15 hours of voting at Huntington High School on Tuesday.
The $109,037,301 spending plan for 2011/12 was given a green light by a vote of 2,318-1,139. The capital reserve fund proposition also easily passed, 2,460-837.
In the race for two seats on the Huntington School Board, voters elected Jennifer Hebert (1,677) and Adam Spector (1,656). School Board President Bill Dwyer (1,327) and challengers Jim Cahill (1,242) and Susan Tully (842) trailed in the balloting.
Turnout was substantially lower than last year when more than 4,100 cast ballots. Heavy rain throughout the morning hours undoubtedly interfered with the voting plans of many residents.
"We are grateful that residents have approved next year's budget," Huntington Superintendent John J. Finello said. "Every taxpayer can rest assured that all of us in the district remain fully committed to tight fiscal management and to making sure than not a cent gets wasted."
The budget approved by voters carries an estimated tax rate increase of 3.15 percent. The average home in the district assessed at $4,000 is projected to see a tax increase of $253.20 before STAR program savings are factored in.
The vote culminated a budget process that featured more than $5.7 million in spending reductions, including the elimination of 96.4 full-time equivalent instructional and non-instructional positions, cuts to the art, music and athletic programs and full-day kindergarten being scaled back to a half-day program.
The budget passed by voters features a 0.23 percent or $250,762 year-to-year increase in spending. The tax rate is estimated to go from $200.83 per $100 of assessed valuation to $207.16.
Mrs. Hebert and Mr. Spector won election following a spirited five candidate campaign. Their terms commence on July 1 and run through June 30, 2014.
Mrs. Hebert earned bachelor and master degrees at Tufts University in Boston. She has lived with her husband, Jamie in Huntington for 14 years. The couple has three children, ages 7, 10 and 13 enrolled in district schools. She has worked as a kindergarten teacher in Massachusetts and is currently a pre-school teacher at St. John's Nursery School in Huntington.
Now in her second term as Jefferson School PTA co-president, Mrs. Hebert previously served as the Woodhull Intermediate School PTA treasurer. She has devoted countless hours as a PTA volunteer.
Mr. Spector is a 20-year resident of Huntington with his wife, Meredith. They have two children in the Huntington School District. He received a bachelor's degree in management from Binghamton University. His work experience includes corporate technology management in New York's financial district and the development and management of a technology consultant firm.
An active participant in the district, Mr. Spector serves on the Shared Decision Making teams at Woodhull Intermediate School and J. Taylor Finley Middle School and has a long resume of PTA executive leadership. He has coached and volunteered in the community and schools.