I Laughed out Loud When I saw this article about Syosset

http://www.antonnews.com/syossetjerichotribune/2005/05/27/opinion/

Some losing candidate claims that Syosset Schools need a change!! A change from what?! From being the number one arts district in the country? From having 99% of students going on to college? From being ranked an OUTPERFORMING district by Standard & Poors? From having all secondary schools as blue ribbon schools of excellence? From having unique partnerships with prestigious orginizaitons like The Metropolitan Museum of Art? From offering a wide array of courses at the High School through colleges like Syracuse, LIU, and through the AP program? From winning the magna award? From having a top-notch research program that produces Intel Winners?

Maybe if the guy ran in a less upscale district, he would win. But, people come to Syosset for top-notch schools. That's our FIRST concern. Besides, Syosset taxes are actually below the median on Long Island. We had one of the lowest tax rate increases this year!!

Visit his website. Send an e-mail to edtop40@yahoo.com
Tell him: End your smear campaign. Keep Syosset Schools at the top.

Dr. Hankin and her allies are being vilified with lies. I know her soul. She cares deeply about keeping Syosset the best it can be. We are able to enjoy low taxes due to her connections to politicians in Albany and Washington.

Syosset- Thanks for handily defeating people like Ed Adrion who want to gut funding and turn our school system from the best of the best to just another mediocre district.

[sleepless in syosset]

Sounds like you are under some kind of spell! ... While the Syosset school district is one of the best in providing its students with a quality education, you could use a reality check when it comes to the district administration, school board, and some of the teachers... A "holier than thou" attitude overshadows common sense and concern for community, and there is little if any cooperation with the taxpayer! ...They are a "legend in their own minds"

Saw a recent article that the Supt of Syosset schools makes 410K a year not including perks! The President of the United States makes 10 K less. But keep telling yourself "It's for the kids"

Saw a recent article that the Supt of Syosset schools makes 410K a year not including perks! The President of the United States makes 10 K less. But keep telling yourself "It's for the kids"

UMMMMMM, YOU JUST MADE THAT UP!

HER SALARY NOT INCLUDING PERKS IS $290,736.

Her perks are $40,000 for a tax-deferred annuity, give $12,000 to her retirement plan and up to $65,000 for unused vacation and sick days.

That brings us to a total of a bit less than 410K INCLUDING PERKS.
GEESSSH. That's what the anti-school people do! THEY MAKE UP FACTS!!

[School daze.....]

So you're actually freeing up about $120,000 ....let's see.....that should be enough to staff an Asst Superintendant of the coffee cup closet........for the kids, of course. The nerve of these posters- how can they expect an educational professional to get by on only $300 g's a year. And , including the perks you listed, it's $407,736...close enough to $410,00. But when you're in that neighborhood, I'm sure things get a little blurry. So, let's not be anti-school. Let's all go down to our local school board meetings with a white flag, the deeds to our property and the coffee can filled with loose change that sits in the pantry of our kitchens. Once full and unconditional surrender has been offered, staff will not be dressed in "funeral black" the day after a budget is defeated, student's class work will again be displayed in the school building, and parents/taxpayers will not have to listen to melancholy recitings at the dinner table on how the "school is not going to be able to function....Mom....Dad....how could you do this to Ms Migilicuddy".

Did you ever hear of the law of supply and demand?

There is a very short supply of talented, dedicated individuals like Dr. Carole Hankin. In order to retain the best, Syosset taxpayers must pay a generous salary. I have no problem paying her 410K.
I consider it an investment. An investment because Dr. Hankin improves our schools, which keeps property values up!! If property values go up, when it's time to sell the home, we will enjoy more $$$$$.

Your premise is also wrong. If our budget were to fail, the consequences would be much worse than you described. (BTW, I highly doubt that our budget will EVER fail. Our residents care about the schools. If they didn't they would live in other towns.) We would lose valuable AP, Syracuse Project Advanced, and other honors programs. We would lose unique language programs like Russian, Latin, Japanese, and American Sign Language. We would lose special programs like Peers-as-Leaders that help the studnet body. We would lose award-winning extra-curricular activities like the Forensics Team, Newspaper, and Magazine.

Nobody is forcing you to live in Syosset. If you think taxes are too higher, then leave!!

[SLEEPLESS IN SYOSSET]

fact #1 - keeping property values high adds to the tax payment of each homeowner.
fact #2 - the budget WAS VOTED DOWN in two of the elementary schools
fact #3 - the school board could never find a qualified replacement for Dr. Hankin (not without searching anyway)
fact #4 - district brainwashing prevents one from accepting the above facts

[poortaxpayer]

SYOSSET SCHOOL AUDIT FINDS WEAK
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, BUT NO WRONGDOING



State Comptroller auditors found poor financial controls at the Syosset Central School District, New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi said today, but did not find any spending that raised concerns of wrongdoing.

The audit released today examined administrative expenses for the school district from July 1, 2002 through August 31, 2004. Auditors found that the district lacked written policies and receipts for spending on travel and meals and identified instances where managers took personal time not granted under employment contracts, but also noted that the district had implemented some new policies. This is the ninth audit of Long Island school districts that Comptroller Hevesi’s office has completed.

“Schools must have clear, written policies in place to control costs and ensure that public dollars are being used for legitimate school business,” Hevesi said. “I commend board members for improving internal controls and drafting new policies for administrative expenses, but I also urge them to be mindful of their ongoing oversight responsibilities.”

Findings included:
The district allowed the superintendent, deputy superintendent and director of business to take personal time that was not part of their employment contract. While no compensation was given to the managers for the time off, auditors noted that these officials may have used personal time rather than vacation time and then later converted vacation time into cash payments. The combined cash value of the personal time taken was $23,700. An attorney for the district claimed that it was a “long-standing, open and widely-known practice,” even though it was never formally approved by the board of education.
The deputy superintendent, director of business operations and elementary curriculum coordinator submitted claims for mileage reimbursements for more than 49,000 miles that totaled more than $18,000. The claims did not show the dates, locations or purposes for the trips. Instead, these particular managers were allowed to submit claims that contained the total number of miles driven, typically, for a month.
The district spent about $125,000 on meals and refreshments at 983 meetings and events, including $9,530 for 52 dinner meetings for managers. No supporting documentation was provided to indicate why these expenses should be paid by the district, nor did the district have a policy governing spending on meals.
$36,000 was spent on approximately 55 cell phones. Auditors found that the district did not have a written policy for cell phone use, monitor overage charges or seek reimbursement for personal calls.
The district spent $18,000 on travel and conference expenses for managers but did not require staff to submit itemized receipts so the district could verify the expenses. The district also had no limit for what officials could spend on meals or lodging.
$5,600 was spent on three credit cards assigned to district personnel, but no written rules existed on how officials should use those credit cards.

In recent months, the district cancelled its credit card and requested new and detailed proposals for internal claims and independent audit services. In addition, the district adopted policies that require travelers to submit all receipts, but did not establish reasonable maximum limits for lodging and meal costs.

Auditors recommended that the district ensure that all benefits are clearly noted in employment contracts. Auditors also recommended that the board require all managers to submit detailed monthly mileage statements, limit what can be spent on meals and lodging costs, and require proper documentation for all expense claims.

In response to the audit, Superintendent of Schools Carole G. Hankin indicated that many of the recommendations have been implemented and that the district will assist the district’s new internal auditor. Her full response is included in the audit, as well the auditors’ responses to five taxpayer concerns that were investigated during the audit.

The Syosset School District has approximately 6,600 students, ten education buildings and about 1,450 employees. Its 2004-05 operating budget totals about $138 million.

Click here for a copy of the audit or visit www.osc.state.ny.us.



###

[Fact #6]

As a board member I would giv Dr. Hankin everything she asked for and then double it to get her as my superintendent.

If you think there is a better superintendent, you are just an ignorant fool.

I was happy, but no suprised, to read that there was no wrongdoing in Syosset Central Schools!
All ludicrous complaints to the auditor were unfounded,as deterimed by the auditor's office!

Thank you to comptroller Alan Hevesi and his team for their hard work. Their recomendations, such as detailed mileage lists, less allowances for food, etc., will enhance the district's already outstanding record of financial management!!

To an above poster who mentioned that the budget was voted down at two elementary schools:
First of all, I'm curious, which two schools were those? :D
Second of all, what's your point? The budget was passed by a healthy majority of Syosset voters. If your unproven claim that two polling locations voted down the budget, I'm sure that other schools made up for it by super-majority budget support. Perhaps the "no" votes came from less wealthy areas of town like the South Grove area. I'm sure that the votes at Walt Whitman and Village made up for the less affluent no votes.
Your fact #1 is correct, but it misses the point! Everyone knows that higher property values mean higher taxes. But, the taxes are an investment. If you want a higher return on your home when it's time to sell it, you will have to pay appropriate fees, via taxes, to mantain your home's value. I moved to this district 8 years ago. In those short 8 years, my home value has literally doubled!! It goes without saying that I am paying higher property taxes. THAT DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT MY HOME HAS DOUBLED IN VALUE!!!

Congratulations Syosset Schools!!

Syosset schools HAD THE HIGHEST READING SCORES FOR BOTH 4TH GRADE AND 8TH GRADE IN ALL OF NASSAU COUNTY.

98% of 4th graders passed. 90% of all 8th graders passed.

Thank you syosset schools for your excellence.

[taxedoutonLI]

http://www.antonnews.com/syossetjerichotribune/2005/05/27/opinion/

When applied to ridiculously high assessed valuations, this isn't saying much about Syosset. Taxes here are outrageous and high quality schools are just one reason among many people buy homes here. The arrogance and self-importance of the school establishment on Long Island is absolutely astounding.

PS - Chantilly, Virginia graduates and sends just as many kids off to great colleges as we do - yet property taxes in that Washington DC suburb are half of what we pay.

Syosset....high quality schools at astronomically high taxes. That should be our slogan.


Some losing candidate claims that Syosset Schools need a change!! A change from what?! From being the number one arts district in the country? From having 99% of students going on to college? From being ranked an OUTPERFORMING district by Standard & Poors? From having all secondary schools as blue ribbon schools of excellence? From having unique partnerships with prestigious orginizaitons like The Metropolitan Museum of Art? From offering a wide array of courses at the High School through colleges like Syracuse, LIU, and through the AP program? From winning the magna award? From having a top-notch research program that produces Intel Winners?

Maybe if the guy ran in a less upscale district, he would win. But, people come to Syosset for top-notch schools. That's our FIRST concern. Besides, Syosset taxes are actually below the median on Long Island. We had one of the lowest tax rate increases this year!!

Visit his website. Send an e-mail to edtop40@yahoo.com
Tell him: End your smear campaign. Keep Syosset Schools at the top.

Dr. Hankin and her allies are being vilified with lies. I know her soul. She cares deeply about keeping Syosset the best it can be. We are able to enjoy low taxes due to her connections to politicians in Albany and Washington.

Syosset- Thanks for handily defeating people like Ed Adrion who want to gut funding and turn our school system from the best of the best to just another mediocre district.

finally someone gets it

http://www.antonnews.com/syossetjerichotribune/2005/05/27/opinion/

Some losing candidate claims that Syosset Schools need a change!! A change from what?! From being the number one arts district in the country? From having 99% of students going on to college? From being ranked an OUTPERFORMING district by Standard & Poors? From having all secondary schools as blue ribbon schools of excellence? From having unique partnerships with prestigious orginizaitons like The Metropolitan Museum of Art? From offering a wide array of courses at the High School through colleges like Syracuse, LIU, and through the AP program? From winning the magna award? From having a top-notch research program that produces Intel Winners?
./
Maybe if the guy ran in a less upscale district, he would win. But, people come to Syosset for top-notch schools. That's our FIRST concern. Besides, Syosset taxes are actually below the median on Long Island. We had one of the lowest tax rate increases this year!!

Visit his website. Send an e-mail to edtop40@yahoo.com
Tell him: End your smear campaign. Keep Syosset Schools at the top.

Dr. Hankin and her allies are being vilified with lies. I know her soul. She cares deeply about keeping Syosset the best it can be. We are able to enjoy low taxes due to her connections to politicians in Albany and Washington.

Syosset- Thanks for handily defeating people like Ed Adrion who want to gut funding and turn our school system from the best of the best to just another mediocre district.