CARTHAGE — School Superintendent Carl H. Militello has been under fire for raising taxes and cutting many positions in the proposed 2008-09 budget, but Board of Education members are saying they're backing Mr. Militello and that he's made the right decisions.

Board President John E. Peck said that even though there has been talk in the community of Mr. Militello's resignation, the board has not talked about it and he doesn't think it's an issue.

"I don't think people know the whole story," he said. "Maybe he's tough to work for, but we've set a standard of accountability. He's a competent leader."

Mr. Peck said that every time taxes are raised, he pays more money than many others because of the size of his dairy farm, so he knows what people are going through.

"We've done the best we can," he said. "People are upset and they have every right to be unhappy. I pay a lot of taxes myself, but we have to educate these children. We worked very hard on this budget. I worked many hours and sleepless nights. I expect next year to be a very rough year also because we know the state is having financial difficulties."

Board member Paul C. Marolf said he also stands by Mr. Militello.

"He's made some tough decisions, but they're the right ones," he said.

Board member Barbara A. Lofink said she understands the issues the taxpayers have brought up with the budget, but the board has walked a fine line trying to educate the students and keep taxes low.

"The cost to the taxpayer and how we educate our kids to make them global learners — those are the foremost topics on my mind," she said.

Mrs. Lofink also said she doesn't think it's a good idea to force Mr. Militello's resignation.

"The board has not discussed it, but I'm not saying that we won't," she said. "But I think it's a bad idea to buy a superintendent out of his contract. It's just not a good idea."

"Everybody has their own management style and I think the superintendent before had a different management style," she said. "This is the first superintendent that they've had after 10 years of Mr. Mangee. Whenever you implement change in a district, you're going to ruffle some feathers. I think he's had some rough patches, but I've stood behind his decisions. I'm not a bobblehead — I won't say yes to everything. I ask questions and I'm not afraid to talk to him. But I certainly stand behind him. It's a thankless job when you're the implement of change."