With little fanfare, the 2010/11 Rye Neck budget was passed on May 18, 2010. And although there are 5,760 registered voters, only 14 percent showed up at the polls, passing the budget 571 votes to 282.

Incumbent Guy Pipolo and newcomer Bonni Gottlieb won the two uncontested Board of Education seats.

At yesterday's Board of Education meeting, superintendent Dr. Peter Mustich thanked the community for passing the budget in difficult times. He promised to ensure "every dollar spent is wisely spent."

To make up the drop in state aid, 2.7 teaching positions were cut, in addition to cutbacks in the athletics department, occupational education, buildings and grounds, utilities, and transportation. For the ensuing year only, there will be a one-time reduction of $646,608 in the teachers health insurance costs. Rye Neck presented a budget-to-budget increase of 1.08 percent which was easily passed by a 2 to 1 margin.

Another issue brought up during the communications to the board discussion was the theft of students' property from the gym locker room. According to Mustich, there have been three or four "issues" in the locker rooms over the past few weeks.

Mustich said the matter has been investigated, and Rye Neck Athletics Director Joe Ceglia and high school principal Dr. Barbara Ferraro looked through the locker rooms themselves.

The situation was addressed during all high school homeroom classes: students were reminded to keep their gym lockers properly closed and locked, and not to leave their possessions unattended outside the locker or in an unlocked area.

"If you leave an iPod and phones around, they are going to get stolen," Mustich said.

If a student desires added protection, he or she can request a second lock from the athletic department.

Dr. Barbara Ferraro, who is also the assistant superintendent for curriculum, announced a recommendation to the board to adopt the K-5 Math in Focus program, which has been piloted since September along with Singapore Math and EnVisions. Because New York State is changing the math assessments and making requirements more difficult, the district has decided to move away from its current K-5 program, Growing with Math, to a more rigorous approach which balances fewer topics with greater mastery. Math in Focus will be fully implemented in September and there will be two meetings scheduled to educate parents on the new program.

This school year's next and last Board of Education meeting will be June 16 at 7 p.m. in the community room of the Rye Neck MS/HS.