Plainedge school district residents came out angry and shouting last week, telling the school board that the half million in cuts it made to the 2004-05 budget that will be presented to voters June 29, were irresponsible. In particular, they objected to the elimination of the high school guidance counselor for a savings of $127,000 and cuts to the athletic program.

One angry parent told the board they should first consider eliminating some administrative staff, while another, said the board and the superintendent, John Richman, should resign.

"I have never seen this community so angry," said Fred Truebig, a resident who attends numerous school board meetings. "And there were a lot of young families here who generally support their schools, so I am sure the school board had to sit up and take notice."

The district initially set its second revote for June 15, but later changed it to June 29. The budget to be presented June 29 calls for $521,830 less in spending than the $55.8 million spending plan presented—and rejected by voters—in May. That budget represented a $4.2 million increase in spending over the 2003-04 school year.

The Board will hold another public hearing June 22, 7:30 p.m., in the board room to present the changes that were made. "Residents must understand that even though New York State law requires that a hearing be held to present the information, no further changes can be made, said school officials, since the budget is set.

The changes made to the budget include a freeze on the superintendent's salary and a waiving of any pay for performance he may be eligible for upon completion of his annual evaluation at the end of the 2004-05 school year. That anticipated savings is $10,551. In addition, the board will terminate the services of its public relations representative from BOCES, Maureen Traxler for a savings of $40,273; the elimination of the district's newsletter, PlainTalk for a savings of $8,900; the elimination of a mass mailing of the school calendar for a savings of $1,437 and the scaling back of teacher training programs for a savings of $13,550.

In athletics, the district plans to eliminate 7th grade soccer, basketball baseball and softball for boys and girls at a savings of $31,407, and the district's enrichment program, SPRINT for a savings of $119,429.

School board members listened to what residents had to say and then thanked them for their input and went into executive session to discuss how the board would respond to the comments made by residents.

School Board President Maryann Karageorges said that while the budget has been set, that the board will be sitting down again this week to discuss the concerns raised by residents.

"What the public has to understand, however," she said, "is that even if we want to put some money back into something that has been cut, the money will have to come from something else. We want to do the right things for kids, but this is just a very tough year for Plainedge and every other school district."

To view all of the changes made by the board in detail, residents can go to the Budget Hot Spot on the main page of the district's website: www.plainedgeschools.org.

Residents are reminded that on the day of the budget revote, June 29, voting will take place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., in the Plainedge High School gymnasium.