DiSibio faces challenge from Heaney in District 13

There are two seats up for grabs on the District 13 Board of Education this year. One seat is held by Joseph DiSibio, who is seeking re-election. He is being challenged by Patrick Heaney.

Joan Gartner, a trustee for the past four years, has decided not to run again. Vying for her spot are PTA leader Patty Farrell and retiring teacher Toni Pomerantz.

The winners of each seat will get three-year terms to serve Valley Stream’s largest elementary district.

A meet the candidates night will be held on Thursday, May 16 at 7 p.m. at the James A. Dever School. Voting will take place on Tuesday, May 21 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the district’s four elementary schools, along with the school budget vote. District 13 serves parts of Valley Stream, Malverne, North Valley Stream, Franklin Square and Elmont.

Joseph DiSibio

In his six years on the District 13 Board of Education, Joseph DiSibio says spending and taxes have been kept under control, which was his main objective when he first ran for a trustee spot.

The father of three is seeking his third term because he says there is still more work to do. Because of the tax cap, which limits the amount of revenue a district can raise through property taxes, the board needs to be even more diligent in its long-term planning, DiSibio said. He would like to see a five-year financial plan implemented.

DiSibio says that the combination of the tax cap and rising expenses, such as pension, health insurance and energy costs, will prove detrimental at some point if the district doesn’t plan well. “It’s only a matter of time before you can’t keep up,” he said. DiSibio added that at some point, District 13 might need to break the cap in order to maintain quality programs, but that must be done at the right time.

He wants the district to continue its focus on managing contracts with the various unions and noted that the current pact with teachers has led to some big savings.