Two new trustees on Lawrence Board of Education

With the school year completed, a new one began on Monday for the Lawrence district, as its Board of Education voted in a new president and vice president and swore in two newly elected trustees at its reorganizational meeting.

The reconstituted board comprises President Dr. David Sussman, a longtime trustee; Vice President Abel Feldhamer; new Trustees Tova Plaut and Michael Hatten; and returning members Dr. Asher Mansdorf, Murray Forman and Uri Kaufman.

It was clear on Monday that changes are in store, as Sussman took more time to run through the agenda, and occasionally stopped to have items explained or discussed. “There will be lots of discussion this year, and longer meetings,” said Sussman, who is beginning his seventh three-year term and his 19th year on the board.

There will be more board meetings, and they will be held not only at the Lawrence Middle School, but at every district school. In addition, the board announced that it is looking to form citizens advisory committees, which will seek residents’ input on issues and programs.

Both Plaut and Hatten work in education. Plaut is the director of a private nursery school in Commack, and Hatten is president of the Far Rockaway-based Global Business Institute. They have said that improving relationships and communication with community members is a top priority for them. They attended district events, including the high school’s graduation, before being sworn in on Monday.

“While attending district events, I have had the privilege to meet with parents, students and staff members,” Plaut said. “These informal encounters have given me additional information about district programs … I found these candid moments both enlightening and uplifting, as many shared the great accomplishments our students have achieved.”

Hatten, who previously served on the board for one term, from 2006 to 2009, said he would take his time in making decisions, and he abstained from three votes during the meeting, citing a lack of familiarity with the employees involved. “In my first year, I will do a lot of listening,” he said before the meeting. “I want to open the lines of communication, to have the business of the district out there in the community and be inclusive.”

Hatten will chair the board’s Academic Excellence Committee, which will address student performance in the classroom and on exams, and graduation rates. “We will pull resources together, start from a baseline, benchmark everything and establish processes to improve those members,” he said.

Sussman, who ran unopposed in this year’s trustee election, lent his name to the Plaut/Hatten ticket. “Both are equally steeped in education,” he said, “and the two of them strongly believe it’s got to work for everyone for the public schools and private schools to shine” — a reference to what some in the community view as a battle between the public school district and the yeshivas.

Jesse Lunin-Pack, who ran for trustee this year, said he viewed Monday’s meeting as a positive step, but remains disappointed that there is no parent of a child attending Lawrence schools on the board. “The fact remains that none of the seven board members have kids in the school district,” Lunin-Pack said. Sussman’s children attended Lawrence schools, but have all graduated.

Lunin-Pack, Plaut and Dov Herman ran to replace Dr. Solomon Blisko on the board after he declined to run for re-election. Two recounts were needed to determine that Plaut won the election, after it was discovered that the initial tally had been recorded incorrectly.

The board’s stated intent to operate more openly was seen as a step in the right direction by Herman, who commended trustees for planning to hold meetings at other district schools. “It is really very refreshing,” he said. “What a wonderful way for the school district to interact with the community.”

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