Mamaroneck Schools Superintendent Paul Fried got a double birthday present on Tuesday, May 19: voters approved both the $121 million budget and the $22.1 million bond by a 2 to 1 margin.

Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried and School President Linnet Tse applaud the results of the budget and bond vote.

The vote for the three board members running without opponents was: Linnet Tse, 2268; Robin Nichinsky, 2311; and Anant Nambiar, 2148 (results updated on May 28).  Results from the Committee for the Selection of School Board Nominees, the independent group that recruits and endorses candidates for the School Board, are reported below. 

 Budget Vote Results
OFFICIAL RESULTS-Updated May 28

 
“It was a very long budget process,” said Dr. Fried after he and School Board President Linnet Tse had thanked those assembled outside the district clerk’s office to hear results of the vote.

“The board really was sensitive to the community,” said Dr. Fried. “And in return the community responded favorably.”

OFFICIAL RESULTS-Updated May 28

 
“On the bond side, the community really understood the need to maintain the health of the infrastructure of the school district,” said Dr. Fried. 

Quiet Before the Vote

The run-up to the budget, board and bond election had been remarkably quiet. Whereas the February 2009 bond vote entailed vigorous compaigns by supporters and opponents, there had been much less public commentary this time around.

The PTAs partnered with the Mamaroneck Teachers’ Association to publicize their support for the budget and the bond.

But there was no publicity from field supporters or Friends of the Bond, the organization that pressed hard for the previous $38 million bond. That bond, which was narrowly defeated, included $7,740,000 for developing new synthetic turf fields at the high school and Central School. There was an additional $1,329,244 for playground improvements at the elementary schools. Other items, such as electrical and bathroom upgrades were also removed from the bond. 

The current “bare bones” $22.1 bond included only work on building infrastructure – mainly boilers, HVAC, windows and roof repairs.

There was also no word from Taxedenuf, the group formed in opposition to the $38 million bond. According to Catherine Wachs, one of the organizers, there was no consensus in her group. “Some of the retirees said they weren’t happy, but they felt they didn’t have a choice,” said Ms. Wachs. “Others felt we should be at zero growth.”

“My position,” she said, “was that the board has worked hard to get the budget down to where it is.” Others in the group concurred.

As for the budget, there were no controversial items included this time, as there were in 2007, when the budget was defeated on the first round. This time, the board had made a series of cuts, which along with administrative pay freezes and concessions from the teachers and administrators’ unions were credited with keeping the tax rate increase at 3.89%, one of the smallest in years. (See: Superintendent”s Budget Calls For Many Cuts.)

9-Year Budget Vote Record – Updated May 28

All candidates were running unopposed for open seats. For details, see: Seven Run for Selection Committee.

Central

John Leitner 60 votes
Jeffery Stillman 53 votes

Chatsworth

Theresa Viti-Finck 92 votes

Mamaroneck Avenue

Susan Brot 110 votes
Pamela Lewis-Varon 109 votes

Murray

Matthew Teitsch 54 votes
Frieda Kraft 51 votes

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