Forced to move to a contingency budget, Copiague school officials wrestled with tough decisions recently, cutting more than $100,000 from the $77,562,807 budget that voters rejected last month by a narrow margin of 1,088 to 1,076. Superintendent of Schools Dr. William Bolton told the public that the community has always been supportive of the district and that despite this setback, "We’ve made a commitment to do the best we can for our children to be their best in a competitive market."

Bolton cautioned the community, however, that there is a "ripple effect" if contingency budgets, which limit by state law, budget to budget increases, and that "it becomes harder to honor that commitment."

Copiague was one of 45 school districts that failed to pass its May 17 budget, and one of 18 districts that failed to pass a revised budget in a revote in June. To meet the spending mandate, Copiague reduced spending by reducing salary lines by $52,000; equipment purchases by $10,000; contractual agreements by $28,000 and transportation by $18,000. The district is also forced to charge "real" fees for the use of school facilities, limit field trips and seminar and conference fees for board members and staff.

Despite that, Copiague officials said the district’s academic program remains intact.

"These cuts are not anticipated to affect class size and were made without harming core educational programs," said Allen Frank, Assistant Superintendent of Finance.

"The balancing act entails trying not to affect educational programs, especially for those children who may have no other means to be successful," said Bolton. "We are their only ticket".

The reductions are expected to reduce the school tax increase on the average home by $11 a year.

Copiague, like other districts, is showing the signs of voter frustration and the financial pinch many residents are feeling as school budgets, for a variety of reasons, continue to rise.

"School spending is out of control, like many other districts," said Copiague resident Jim Foley who echoed the sentiments of many of his Long Island neighbors. "Taxpayers are finding it difficult to keep up with yearly increases."

Barbara Bruhrike, past PTA President of the High School said it was that frustration and sentiment that concerned her the night of the second vote in Copiague. She had hoped, however, that voters would recognize that good schools need community support.

"I hoped that somebody angry by the tax situation on Long Island would not take it out on the children by voting against an educationally sound school budget," she said.

Bolton said that unless the issues that are directly responsible for high increases in school taxes on Long Island are addressed, that the problem is not going to go away.

"The problem is at the state level with funding and state aid," he said. "Children in high-needs school districts are being short changed. Education, in comparison to other districts such as Copiague are not receiving their fair share, despite the gains that students have made in state testing regents scores.

Bolton added that he hopes the community becomes more informed about the budget and the process before they go to the polls so that they understand why districts are forced to pass along increases.

"The turnout for the Board of Education meetings, where the original and revised budgets were discussed in detail, was sparse at best," he said.

The next regular Copiague School Board meeting will be held Monday, Aug. 15, 7:30 p.m.