What Our Readers Think : Students Speak on Budget

Patch readers had a lot to stay this week about Commack High School students attending the district's budget workshop on Thursday night, stepping up to the mic to made their pleas to keep classes, programs funded for the 2012-13 school year. The articles spawned further discussion of the district's proposed budget based on tax levy to teachers' contracts.

The following is a round-up of what our readers had to say. Keep the conversation going and post your thoughts in the comment section below.

asked," So Dr James said he's negotiating with the teachers. If they end up giving up some of their salary would we, the community, support a 4.1% budget? He said that budget would save 13 jobs. If the teachers give too maybe they can save 13 more. Any thoughts?"

responded, "No....all the talk about increased class sizes didn't ring true. Class sizes appeared to go up by 1 or 2 kids. Voting NO for the budget until they can make do with closer to their current $164 million budget."

said, "Who said all? When business gets slow, people are laid off that's a reality. When enrollments are down teachers get laid off. If a district claims to have no money, you cut salaries to keep services the same for your children to get a quality education. R you saying that the same teacher paid $100k this year wont be able to teach as effectively at $90k next year?"

said, "Let's face it in the 30+years I have been here in Commack the budget has always ended up passing even if it was on the second time around. We are all afraid of what we sand to lose, whether it be sports, teachers or other programs. The real question I have is "where is our money really going"? My big concern is some great teachers we stand to lose, the ones that truly love what they do and the ones that help our kids succeed. The thought of class sizes of 28 or more makes me sick. This is not the same Commack I remember."

said, "There is another point that no one has mentioned. The value of your house. The reason houses in Commack, and to some extent in LI in general,sell for such high figures is that people want to move here for the good schools. Go ahead. Reduce the budget. Fire teachers. Cut programs. People will stop wanting to live here, and when you go to sell your house the drop in value will more than offset the small amount you saved on your school taxes."

said, "Richard, that issue has been debated ad nauseum on these boards. Property values do not increase when the school taxes become grossly unaffordable..rather just the opposite is true. Moreover, no one is saying cuts need to be made forever, just until the economy turns around and the District learns to be more financially responsible with the money they have. The District and Teacher's Unions have to realize that the old days of awarding routine raises and benefits are OVER. If they had been more responsible previously, maybe we wouldn't be in as bad shape as we are in now.. they no longer can continue to believe that they can burden the taxpayers with more and more tax increases every year without consequence..they have gone to the proverbial well too many times and it is now dry.. Send a message that enough is enough and Vote NO!"

said, "This is a debate that's emotional and will never be agreed upon by all of the taxpayers and teachers and the administration. Many of us believe that the kids can still receive a good education for less money, by cutting out waste and duplication, and over-the-top administrator salaries. Why not at least start there?"