School board candidates prepare for May 15 vote

Helen Hoffman currently serves as vice president of the Franklin Square district’s Board of Education.

Newcomer Kleev Simon, an Elmont resident, is challenging first-term Elmont Board of Education member Kevin Denehy for his seat.

Pam Margaroli has served on the Franklin Square Union Free School District for nearly three years and is currently employed as an administrative assistant in the West Hempstead Union Free School District’s Special Education Office.

Patrick Emeagwali is running unopposed for a second, three-year term on the Elmont Union Free School District’s Board of Education.

Kevin Denehy has lived in Elmont for the past 17 years and has served on the Elmont district’s Board of Education for nearly two.

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With last Wednesday marking the petition deadline for candidates running for Boards of Education seats in New York State, local school board elections are now in full swing.

Elections for local districts’ 2012-13 budget proposals and board seats will be held on May 15 for all state districts, including the Sewanhaka Central High School District, Elmont Union Free School District and Franklin Square Union Free School District.

In the Elmont district, the seats of first-term Board of Education members Kevin Denehy and Patrick Emeagwali are up for re-election this year. Emeagwali, a local educator who has lived in Elmont for nearly 12 years, is running unopposed for a second, three-year term on the district’s Board of Education.

Newcomer Kleev Simon, an Elmont resident, is challenging Denehy for his seat.

Born and raised in Floral Park, Denehy has lived in Elmont for the past 17 years and has served on the Elmont district’s Board of Education for nearly two years. During his tenure on the board, he said, he’s worked with other trustees to make some important decisions, including cuts to balance the district’s 2012-13 budget proposal, which was adopted by the Elmont Board of Education on April 17.

Denehy currently works full-time as an Information Technology support manager at a national fitness corporation — a role he’s held for most of his career, which has included experience in higher-education environments, he said.

A state-licensed business teacher, Simon has worked in education for nearly 15 years, including as a school administrator, supervisor and educator. He is currently employed as a high school administrator and supervisor in New York City.

For the past several years, he said, he’s been an active member of several organizations statewide and in the Elmont community, including the Clara H. Carlson School’s Building Advisory Committee, the Elmont Dad’s Club and the Nassau Educators Federal Credit Union Advisory Committee. Additionally, he said, he previously served as recording secretary of the Elmont East End Civic Association.