Readers Discuss Pat-Med's Budget Passing

Patch asked readers on the Patchogue Patch Facebook Page and Medford, NY Patch Facebook Page what their thoughts were on Tuesday's passing of the $167 million 2013-2014 school budget. Below are some of the responses, and feel free to weigh in your own thoughts and discuss by typing into the comments section found by scrolling below this article.

Jacqueline Healy The tax portion of my mortgage has been and will continue to be larger than the portion paying off the principal. We have struggled many years to keep a roof over our heads with little money left to pay other bills etc....forget home improvements, haven't been able to do anything in 20 years. I understand most of that money goes to the school budget and I appreciate that we have good schools here but seriously, we are strangled and have no choice but to think seriously about making the move down south to a more tax payer friendly state. As it is our children have been moving out of NY because of the super high cost of living here.

Catherine Hannafey Hamer I am glad the budget passed, but to be honest it is as if we're bullied to pass it. "If the budget fails, we'll be forced to cut a,b,c" I want the best possible education for my 4 children. We have outstanding teachers at Pat-Med, who are going with out raises next year. What about all of the superintendents? Are they going to not take a raise next year? I don't remember reading anything about that. I bet that could've saved us quite a bit of money. Ms. Healy^, I hope your children are all out of school before you head south. We lived in NC for 4 years and you get what you pay for. $500 per year in school taxes. A teacher making $30,000 per year is only worth $30,000.

Jamie Beck The children deserve it. All of us, who also went to Pat-Med never had to do without...and with a failed budget. They are our future, and deserve all that they need. Bussing for sports teams, new text books, technology items within the schools are soooo important. We all made the choice to continue to live on Long island, as pricey as it can be...and we struggle hard to do so... having made that choice....no one should complain. We live in one of the prettiest places in the entire country... so stop complaining and give the children what they need.

Michelle McLoone But Jamie when we were kids we didn't have to bring in all the supplies we do today... I supply wipes tissues paper plates brown paper bags hand sanitizer makers for the teacher & pens tennis balls for the chairs & more. Teachers took a pay freeze so what are my taxes going towards??? Kids don't bring home text books anymore they stay in the classroom. They pay millions to a company called pearson that works with Bill & Melinda Gates to create tests for our children to take that they were set up to fail so the school will buy there text books. To me it's a shame what is happening to the schools system not just Pat Med. I do have to say I think Pat Med has some great programs for the kids(been very impressed with the music & they r big into art) but something went wrong somewhere along the way. The kids deserve teachers teaching them the way they should be taught & not for a test & teachers deserve to get pay raises for doing a great job. At least one good thing is the High School gets a new track & field the kids will like that.

MaryBeth Foy Clark I believe its good for the community to keep going in a positive manner. It definitely helps the kids in the higher grades especially the athletic students college searching with a chance at scholarships.

Dee Capo There is more to passing a budget then the teams having bussing.... There are a lot of other things that are brought to this district then that.... We have an outstanding music dept with extremely talented kids and look at our robotics team ..... These are super talented kids that bring a lot to the district that are always in the shadows of people worrying about the budget passing for sports purposes.

Scott Stratton Yes teachers took a pay cut on there behalf to help out , but administrators took a raise ! And I agree let teachers teach kids knowledge and not become test takers !

Jamie Beck Michelle McLoone I agree with you on that...our parents never did have to supply those items for us...along with baby wipes, crayons, colored pencils, markers, sandwich baggies for projects to come home in, special really expensive calculators, etc..besides all that you mentioned. I so do agree. I don't know why that is how it is. It has been like that for me though since Ashleigh started kindergarten (she will be 21 in August), and she didn't go to Pat-med then, at first, but still i had to supply those items...she went to emanuel lutheran.....both of my kids did through 5th grade then to south ocean for 6th grade and up....and I can honestly say....Pat-med offers soooooo much more to the kids than a private school does. They have so many opportunities in our public schools. I lived within the south country district.....just off of sipp... just near the high school.....but just in that one tiny area that was south country rather than pat-med...is why i felt i had to send them to eman luth first. Until i realized.....I could pay to send them out of district to Pat-Med through the district. 8k a kid, per year to do so, and they didnt even get a bus to school as out of district kids.I had to drive them daily...one to south ocean one to the highschool....4 times a day when they were both in pat med at same time... but to me, it was sooo worth it. Jay and I really wanted them to go where we went to school. So I did. I just love the Pat-med schools... I think they offer them a lot. Sucks though if the kids arent getting extra and all they need from the budget passing... when it failed a few years back.... ashleigh was still in south ocean....and i had to not only drive her to school and back, but also go pick her up bring her to saxton....as that was where south ocean kids did track....then pick her up from there... there were no busses..... and the textbooks that year....looked like hell... Arianna is in 10th grade (same as Dylan), she brings home textbooks, she has her own textbooks assigned to her.

Jamie Beck and for cheerleading, without busses....the girls didn't go to away football games or basketball games... we struggled through....it wasnt right....but with a passed budget, it offers these kids so many more opportunities....and they deserve it.

Frank Sacco Inquire on how much money is spent per pupil in Pat-Med School district, then compared to how much money is spent per inmate in Suffolk County Corrections. The numbers are astounding. 
I'd vote yes a million times over on a school budget and educate our future just to keep them out of jail. 
Why not ask how we feel about how the rest of our our tax money is being spent? Instead you open the floor to promote school bashing and negativity.

Jamie Beck It costs over 8k a year per pupil, I can attest to that, as its itemized as to where each penny is spent on my pages and pages of statements i get explaining my costs sending them out of district goes.... that is not much at all.....those living within the district aren't asked to pay nearly even that much directly in school taxes...I must pay my south country taxes of course too, then for each penny spent at Pat-Med for my girls to go (have gone...my older has graduated) there. And to me, it was worth every single penny!!!!! My girls. I'm sorry, I don't care what anyone says.....got an amazing education in the Pat-med schools. All the honors programs, AP classes..everything that is offered....amazing to me. Our children are our future....and they more than deserve what we had... worst part is @Frank Sacco we are one of the ONLY places that do not charge jail inmates daily, for their stay.....other states the inmate is billed daily, for their stay, and expected to pay it back..... we should do that here, and give more to our children.

MaryBeth Foy Clark Thanks to the Boces Program back in 2004-05 my son received a great opportunity in achieving his career in Culinary. Currently a Sous Chef in Hawaii. The budget helps all children towards a better education. Wish Boces was reinstated for those who didn't get their chance.

Maureen Trainor the high school doesn't need a new track either so stupid and such a waste of money.

Sandra Franco Well, I have to work a month and a half to pay just the school portion of my property taxes currently. So now what? I'll have to work two months of my life every year to cover the new budget? Why is it that other states don't pay so much for their children's education? Are the children in our district turning out that much better? Please don't even waste your time responding to me....I'm just venting frustration......