Education

Springs School District voters will elect two new board members from among four candidates on May 17 after two sitting board members opted not to run for re-election. The race will be the only contested one on the eastern part of the South Fork this year, while two districts, Sag Harbor and Montauk, are facing a shortage of potential board members.

In Springs, the candidates are Summer Romeo, Hella Drew, Emma Field, and Erik Fredrickson. Ms. Drew ran for a board seat last year but was not elected. Dave Conlon and Amy Rivera are not seeking re-election.

Not only have Abigail Corish and Eve Iulo spent many hours volunteering, but their commitment to academics has also paid off. Abigail and Eve have earned the ranks of valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the class of 2022 at Pierson High School in Sag Harbor.

Elijah Jones, a middle schooler who found his way to the cello while in fourth grade at the John M. Marshall Elementary School, will play at Carnegie Hall on Sunday with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra.

Appreciating Moms in May

The East Hampton Library has lined up crafts for kids and teens that will be sure to impress their moms, just in time for Mother’s Day, which is Sunday, May 8.

Kids in grades six through eight can make pounded-flower handkerchiefs on Tuesday from 4 to 5 p.m., using fresh flowers and a hammer. On Wednesday, children ages 3 to 6 can make sunshine-theme cards from 4 to 5 p.m., and next Thursday, kids ages 7 to 10 can take a turn, making pop-up Mother’s Day cards, also from 4 to 5 p.m.

Springs educators and administrators are hoping voters will say "yes" to a proposal for a new playground geared toward kindergarteners and first graders. A preview of the playground design was offered on Tuesday.

Waking “Sleeping Beauty”

The Hampton Ballet Theatre School will perform “Sleeping Beauty,” featuring talented students alongside professional dancers, plus original choreography and hand-sewn costumes, for four shows starting on Friday, April 29.

Finding itself at least $300,000 short on revenue, the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center petitioned the East Hampton School District to add $250,000 to its upcoming budget vote to support day care and prekindergarten for its 100 students, most of whom will one day attend school in East Hampton.

Springs Adopts 2022-23 Budget

On May 17, voters in Springs will cast their ballots for or against a $32,888,886 spending plan that stays within New York State’s cap on tax-levy increases.

The school board adopted that budget proposal at its April 12 special meeting. The year-over-year spending increase is $2.088 million, or 6.78 percent. The associated tax-levy increase is 5.46 percent. According to budget documents shared last week, if approved, the school tax on a house with a market value of approximately $1 million would rise by about $366.

Talking to young people about sex and related issues is rarely easy, but a new series of programs hosted by OLA and Planned Parenthood aims to change that.

The South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton has lined up some seasonal outdoor activities for kids and teens next week, plus a big celebration of Earth Day.

A deep dive into expenses and revenues over the last four months culminated Tuesday night in the East Hampton School Board’s adoption of a $76.5-million budget plan for the 2022-23 school year.

The proposed budget adheres to New York State’s rules for tax-levy increases, with a 1.75-percent increase, for the tenth time over the 11 years that the tax cap has been in place. The district will need a simple majority of voter approval on May 17 for the budget to pass.

Here’s the buzz out of Bridgehampton High School this week: Ayanna El has been named its 2022 valedictorian and Grace Turza its salutatorian.

By this year’s graduation ceremony, Ayanna will have completed nine Advanced Placement, honors, and college-level courses. She is a consistent member of the high honor roll and the recipient of a perfect attendance award. A skilled volleyball player, she received a Suffolk Zone Award for achievement in physical education and a Thomas Cutinella Memorial Foundation Service Award, which goes to athletes showing high character.