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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Fundraiser to be Held Saturday for Wojciechowski Family

Chinese auction fundraiser with more than 200 baskets will be held at Sachem East.

A month after a fire destroyed the Farmingville home of Sachem East head football coach Mark Wojciechowski, the Sachem community continues to step up for the Wojciechowski family. A Chinese auction fundraiser for Coach Wojo, who is also a dean at Sachem North, and his family will be held this coming Saturday, May 19, at East. Doors open at 5 p.m. and admission is $5. There will be more than 200 baskets available.

Are You Happy with the Outcome of Tuesday's School Budget Vote?

Budget approved by slimmest of margins Tuesday.

A proposed $291.36 million Sachem school budget squeaked out approval from voters on Tuesday. The budget passed by 18 votes as it garnered 60.2 percent approval. The budget pierces the state's tax cap, with a 4.2 percent hike in the tax levy, thus it required a 60 percent super-majority to pass. Are you happy with the results of the budget vote? Vote in the poll below and share your thoughts in the comments.

Budget Vote Breakdown by School

Tamarac was the scene of the highest percentage of vote for the budget.

A $291.36 million proposed 2012/13 school budget passed on Tuesday. The budget received 60.2 percent approval, 5,031 for and 3,323 against. With 8,354 votes cast, the budget needed 5,013 votes (or 60 percent) to pass as the budget exceeded the state's new tax cap. Voting took place at all 12 Sachem elementary schools. The broken down figures from each polling location are below. Every location collected a majority vote for the budget. Tamarac had the highest percentage (67.7) of voters in favor of the budget. Hiawatha had the lowest percentage (53.6) of voters in favor. Official Results By School

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

UPDATED: School Budget Passes by 18 Votes, Duncan Re-Elected to Board

Budget approved on supermajority vote; incumbent Douglas Duncan defeats Jeff Vinci and Jon Siegel for only contested Board of Education seat.

Sachem residents green-lighted a 2012/13 school budget on Tuesday, giving the $291.36 million proposal the 60 percent supermajority it needed to pass. The spending plan, over the state's new tax cap, received 60.2 percent of the vote, 5,031-3,323. With 8,354 votes cast, the budget required 5,013 votes for it to be put into effect. "I mean this, I've been here 30 years and I have never, ever once been disappointed by the people in this community and I can continue to say that," Superintendent James Nolan said after the votes were tabulated. Incumbent Douglas Duncan won the single contested Board of Education seat handily, defeating Jeff Vinci and Jon Siegel for another three-year term. Duncan received 3,406 votes, Vinci tallied 2,159 and …

Talk Back: How Did You Vote on School Budget?

Polls are open until 9 p.m. Tuesday at all 12 elementary schools.

Sachem residents are at the polls Tuesday casting their ballots on a proposed $291.36 million school budget for next year. The polls will remain open until 9 p.m. at all of the district's elementary schools. If you haven't voted yet, be sure to check out our full voters guide here. We want to hear from you. How did/will you vote on the school budget? Let us know by voting in the poll below and more importantly, share your reasons why you voted the way you did in the comments section. Patch will have the results of both the budget vote and the Board of Education races as they come in Tuesday night. Stay tuned.

Joe Corbisiero

6:03 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012

I went to Tamarac to vote, only to find out that my registration to vote hasn't been processed yet? Meanwhile Sachem had all the Seniors register to vote 2 months ago in their history classes.... Looks like a good sign for Sachem....   more ›

Voters Guide: School Budget, BOE Election

Polls open from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday at all 12 elementary schools.

Sachem residents cast their ballots Tuesday on a 2012/13 school budget, along with selecting members of the Board of Education. Here is what you need to know: Budget The proposed budget is $291.36 million, a 1.2 percent spending increase over the current year. The budget, however, carries a 4.2 percent hike in the school tax levy. That is above the 2.8 percent allowed under the state's new tax cap. If the budget passes, school taxes will rise on average by $256, $224 and $304 for residents in the Towns of Brookhaven, Islip and Smithtown, respectively. Sachem is among 17 out of 124 districts on Long Island to propose a budget over the tax cap, according to Newsday. What does that mean? Local municipalities have the option to override the …

Monday, May 14, 2012

Douglas Duncan: Why You Should Elect Me to the School Board

A final pitch from BOE candidate Douglas Duncan before Tuesday's election.

Editor's note: Patch has offered all three candidates (Douglas Duncan, Jon Siegel and Jeff Vinci) for the one contested Sachem Board of Education seat the opportunity to tell residents in their own words why they are the best choice. The following was submitted by the incumbent Douglas Duncan. A full voters guide to Tuesday's budget vote and board election will appear on Patch Monday evening. Dear Residents, I have had the honor and the privilege of serving on the Sachem Board of Education for the past six years. I first ran my freshman year of college and won, and then was humbled to be voted in by the community for a second term on the board, and I now ask you to send me back for a third term. For the past six years, we have been able to…

Michael Swanson

11:10 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012

So Mr. Duncan, why won't you respond to the allegations being discussed about you. If there aren't true you should deny them. Don't the hardworking parents and taxpayers of this community deserve to know the truth. Where is that personal character you pride yourself on?   more ›

Jon Siegel: Why You Should Elect Me to the School Board

A final pitch from BOE candidate Jon Siegel before Tuesday's election.

Editor's note: Patch has offered all three candidates (Douglas Duncan, Jon Siegel and Jeff Vinci) for the one contested Sachem Board of Education seat the opportunity to tell residents in their own words why they are the best choice. The following was submitted by Jon Siegel. A full voters guide to Tuesday's budget vote and board election will appear on Patch Monday evening. Dear Sachem residents, My name is Jon Siegel and I am running for the Sachem Board of Education. I am a lifelong Sachem Resident, class of 1986 graduate, homeowner, and parent of three children who attend our schools. I am also like the majority of you, tired of watching our children’s educational opportunities be reduced and our home values decrease as we struggle to …

Friday, May 11, 2012

Photos: Staff Appreciation Week at Gatelot

Gatelot Elementary has been full of love for its staff this week.

It's Staff Appreciation Week at Gatelot Avenue Elementary School and the Gatelot PTA has gone all out to shows its love for the teachers and staff at the school. "Every day of the week the PTA celebrates with a new surprise (candy bar, donut day, breakfast, cupcake day)," said Lannie Homayoon from the Gatelot PTA. "As well all teachers got homemade caramel apples in their mailboxes." Earlier in the week, the doors of every classroom in the school were decorated in honor of staff members. Browse through the photos above to see the incredible designs.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

BOE Candidate Spotlight: Robert Scavo

Scavo is running unopposed for a third-term on the board.

Editor's note: This is the fifth in a series of profiles of this year's Board of Education candidates. The election will be held May 15 at the same time as the school budget vote. Robert Scavo is running unopposed for a three-year term on the Sachem Board of Education. Scavo, the current board president, was first elected to the board in 2006. Q&A 1) Please briefly describe your bio (age, education, occupation and name of your employer/s, family, etc.) I’m 43 years old and graduated from Sachem in 1986. I attended Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island and graduated in 1991 earning a degree in occupational science. I also attended S.U.N.Y Oswego and obtained my degree in career and technical education. I currently work as a culinary …

MJD0615

3:14 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012

Sachem district school taxes are disgraceful. Top administrators should be part of the solution...not part of the problem. We need a whole NEW school board that is more in touch with the taxpayers.   more ›

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