BOE Prepares for Potential Budget Cuts

Patchogue-Medford students were recognized at this month’s Board of Education meeting for recent achievements and spoke out against potential cuts to school funding and programming.

The Patchogue-Medford High School Robotics Team 329 was honored by the Board of Education (BOE). The team received the National Spirit Award at the 2011 National Robotics Competition, which was held earlier this year in St. Louis, Missouri. They won the prestigious award after creating a water filtration system that provided 40,000 liters of potable water to five communities throughout Haiti. Robotics Team 329 showed the BOE and audience a video detailing their efforts.

Jonathan Smaldone, a senior who will be attending Rochester Institute of Technology next year, called the experience of winning the award and of creating a project used to help real people surreal.

"It's weird to see something we built across the world," Smaldone said.

After the Robotics Team received their award, four former and current students involved in the school's digital media program stepped up to the podium to advocate for the continuance of digital media funding.

The group was told by guidance counselors that the school's digital media program could be cut in the next school year, according to Jimmy Gubitosi, a junior.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Locantore would not confirm cuts specifically to digital media but said that NYS Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's budget could force the district to cut staffing and therefore course offerings.

"I don't like rumors," Locantore said, adding that he needs answers from bodies including the teacher's union before he can make judgment on cuts.

BOE member Brett Houdek had a rather positive outlook on the program. When asked if the district will be able to keep the digital media program, Houdek said, "I believe so." Though, Houdek warned the program could be cut back depending on budgetary concerns.

For students, the fight will continue until the budget is adopted.

Ryan Grippi, a 2010 graduate who currently attends the University of Tampa's Film and Media Arts Center, considers his digital media education at the district to have been very important.

"We have to face it every year that arts is being cut," Grippi said.

Approximately 60 community members were in attendance. The next BOE meeting will be held on June 20 at 7:30 p.m. at South Ocean Middle School.