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Editorial: Say it ain't so
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March 27, 2009 | 12:45 PM
It is with sadness that we report this week of Smithtown Board of Education President Carl Gianino's decision to leave the board when his term ends this June. Professional and community service responsibilities are causing him to retire after a single term.
As Gianino is the first to say, the school board's accomplishments — steering the district from years of contingency spending involving deep cuts to student programs, to consecutive years with no tax increases or program reductions but plenty of investment in district infrastructure — are the work of a team, trustees and administrators together. Even if we sometimes take issue with particular policies, we have only admiration for their dedication and achievements.
But Gianino's leadership as president over the past two years is not to be discounted. His professional conduct, organizational skills and moderating presence have kept the board on topic and productive through countless meetings. His presence at district functions far outside the call of duty has been admirably noted by many.
What's more, Gianino's clear-eyed view of the district's needs and trends last year played a major role in delivering the likely property tax rate freeze this year.
Willing to take a sometimes unpopular stance, he took the lead in opposing calls by fellow trustees and community members to drastically, but only temporarily, cut taxes by dismantling the district's accumulated surplus and putting it toward the tax levy. As a result of following a more cautious plan Gianino and others favored, Smithtown should have enough leftover funds at the end of 2008-09 to negate a tax hike in the latter half of this year — at what is hopefully the bottom of a recession, when residents can least afford an increase.
While he is leaving the board in June, hopefully Gianino's parting advice will continue to benefit the district for years. Trustees and administrators must take to heart his warning that without a 50 percent cut in the district's spending growth rate — or some unforeseen and unlikely windfall from state aid or taxable property value resurgence — Smithtown residents could face double-digit tax hikes in as little as three years.
The board and district are replete with talented volunteers who we are confident can step up to fill the void left by Gianino.
But, however short, he shouldn't feel that his time on the board has not made the permanent, positive mark on his community he sought. Gianino's contributions in Smithtown won't be forgotten any time soon.
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Copyright 2010
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