Should the Plainedge School Board be reduced from seven to five members? That is the question coming before voters in that district May 17. The proposition will be on the ballot together with the District’s annual budget vote and trustee election.

The proposition was placed on the ballot by Michael Cimino, a former school board member. Cimino had attempted to get the question before voters last year, but his petition was thrown out on technical issues. This year, however, it met legal muster.

"Five trustees can vote ‘yes’ as easy as seven," said Cimino who charges that the lack of diversity of ideas and independence on the board prompted him to push for the change. "It’s been my experience that it makes no difference, so we may as well save taxpayers a few dollars and have only five members."

Opposition for the change comes from two longtime board members, Maryann Karageorges and Ellen Ryder who are stepping down this year.

"The public has to realize that this change would mean that every decision in this district will be made with a 3-member majority, and frankly I don’t think three people should be making decisions on everything," said Karageorges, who has served on the board for 9 years. "A larger board means there are more people bringing different perspectives, and with stakes so high today for our students, and the fiscal challenges we face, that’s important."

Under the proposal, the board seats would be changed in a three-year cycle, with two seats up the first two years and one seat up the final year of the cycle. "This will ensure that it will take two years to change the majority on the board," said Cimino.

Cimino said that the District did vote in 1975 to move to a 5-member board, but overturned the proposal the year later, before it was implemented.

With regard to savings, Karageorges said it would be minimal, if at all. Since School Board members serve without pay, no savings in salaries are involved. And, she added, school districts are charged a flat fee for memberships to the various educational organizations to which they belong.

The District does pay for books and other supplies, and to send school board members on conferences and to workshops, and those costs would be reduced, said Cimino.

Others point out, however, that generally one or two school board members attend conferences and bring information back to the rest of the board. It’s not likely that fewer will go if the board is smaller, they said.

The proposition will be on the ballot May 17. If approved, it will not affect the board until next year.