In addition, most districts are hiring extra teachers next year to deal with enrollment growth and to keep class sizes small. Many are adding classrooms and expanding libraries and gyms as well. While the district has long prided itself on quality services, leaders of a local taxpayer group insist costs are putting an undue strain on many homeowners. A new issue this year is the fiscal impact of charter schools. The Roosevelt district has gone to court in an attempt to avoid paying tuition to an existing charter school, Roosevelt Children's Academy.
State law requires such payments, so the referendum is strictly advisory.
Still, local officials see this as a way of registering a protest. Steve Charkow, a computer company manager who is heading the local charter-school effort, says such arguments overlook the fact that voters have little or no control over most items in school budgets. Researcher Stacey Altherr contributed to this story. Produced by Newsday Electronic Publishing.