Meet the candidates

By Anthony Rifilato

The Herald recently caught up with school board candidates Richard Schurin and Richie Hayes, who are running for a five-year seat on the Island Park Board of Education. The two spoke at a PTA candidate's forum on May 4, but we were able to pepper them with our own questions recently. The two spoke about the school budget, their goals and how they would serve as trustees.

Name: Richie Hayes

Age: 45

Occupation: Supervisor, Wantagh Animal Shelter

Platform: To attract more community members to participate and appreciate how educational programs are developed, financed and carried out.

Why he’s running: “Being a school board member would give me the opportunity to give back to my community.  I would like to see my daughter – and all Island Park children – feel the same pride that my wife and I share for this community and school system.”

Community affiliations: Member of the high school committee, volunteer at Sacred Heart Church, Little League coach, member of 2011 Community Day committee.

Q: How long have you lived in the District?

A: I have lived in Island Park for 45 years and share the same aspirations that my grandfather had when he brought his family here in the 1950s. My daughter attends Lincoln Orens Middle School and she is actively involved in many activities both academically and extracurricular.

Q: What difference can you make as a board member?

A: As a supervisor at the Wantagh Animal Shelter, I am familiar with managerial procedures. I feel I could build on the community relations that I currently have because I have a pulse on the community which would help in decision making. It's important to not only attend meetings, but observe the many fine programs in the district as well. My vision is to attract more community members to participate and appreciate how the educational and maintenance programs are developed, financed and carried out. This could be accomplished by bringing board agendas to various groups and civic organizations. This would help to eliminate all misunderstandings on how our funds are being used and create an open relationship with the community.

Q: Do you think the current board is doing a good job?

A: Yes. Along with our new superintendent, they have brought in new programs, such as the FLES program and the summer recreation program, in addition to the many excellent programs that are in place. At the same time, the board has evaluated and cut back in areas to increase cost-effectiveness without having an adverse effect on the students.

Q: Several years ago, parents were given the option to choose whether their children could attend Long Beach or West Hempstead high schools. Did you agree with this decision? 

A: I feel the Board had the interest and concerns of the Island Park community in mind when they made this decision. It gives the high school students of Island Park an opportunity to explore alternative educational programs.

Q: What are your thoughts on the 2010-11 school budget and are you in favor

of it? 

A: I feel the Board and staff have cut expenditures as much as they could without hurting programs for the children. The proposed budget maintains fiscal responsibility while considering the tough economic times.

Q: Do you feel the board and administration have done their best to preserve programs and keep spending in line and why?

A: From what I can see, they have. I have been following the budget building process closely and from what I can tell we are in good shape. 

Q: What are your thoughts on the board's decision to eliminate the dean position?

A: The first I heard of the elimination of the dean's position was at a budget presentation. It was decided that it was a cost-saving decision on behalf of the administration, and, from what I gather, the majority of the Board of Education. I would like to hear more about what the district plans to do to fill the void when the position is eliminated. As a board member, I would monitor the situation closely to see if the right decision was made.

Q: Why should people vote for this

budget? 

A: The Island Park School District has come a long way in accomplishing high ratings on standardized test scores and other evaluating tools. This is why my wife and I keep our daughter in our schools and a main reason why we live in Island Park. It’s a small, caring community with a public school system that feels like a private school — safe and educationally sound. If the budget is voted down, busing could be cut back; we could lose extracurricular programs, community use of the buildings and grounds would be trimmed or eliminated, and class sizes could increase.

Name: Richard Schurin

Age: 44

Occupation: Attorney, Gottlieb, Rackman & Reisman, P.C.

Platform: Top priorities will be to help get finances in order to reduce taxes, and to develop new educational initiatives.

Why he’s running: “I want to be a member of the board because I want the best possible education for my two boys, at a price our community can afford.” 

Community affiliations:  Cub Scout Master Troop 312, member of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, member of the Island Park Civic Association.   

Q: How long have you lived in the

district?

A: I have lived in the district for nine years and my wife Maureen Hassett-Schurin is a lifelong resident. I have two boys in the district. My son Matthew is in second grade, and my son Jonathan is in kindergarten.

Q: What difference can you make as a board member?

A: I will bring an independent and informed perspective to the table. I have been an attorney in private practice for more than 15 years; I also have experience in public contracting. I have attended nearly every school board meeting for the last three years, so I am thoroughly aware of the challenges in our district. I fought for a foreign language elementary school program (FLES). I noticed that our reserve accounts were substantially over-funded, a practice that I questioned. When our administrators were unable to give me a satisfactory answer, I continued to raise it publicly. If elected to the board, I will continue to aggressively challenge any past practice that does not benefit our children or the taxpayers of Island Park, and will continue to promote new initiatives like FLES.  

Q: Do you think the current board is doing a good job?

A: I think that they are doing a better job than they did two or three years ago, but there is still much more that needs be done. 

Q: Two years ago, parents were given the option to choose whether their children could attend Long Beach or West Hempstead high schools. Did you agree with this decision? 

A: Yes, I supported choice then because it brought our community together. I continue to support it now because I have heard that the community as a whole is happy with the situation. I also believe that having an additional relationship with Long Beach of this type provides additional benefits to our district. For example, when our auditorium was unavailable recently, Long Beach agreed to allow our students to perform in their school. Our new relationship with Long Beach has also presented cost-saving/buying opportunities.         

Q: What are your thoughts on the 2010-11 school budget, and are you in favor of it?

A: Yes, reluctantly. I was certainly disappointed with some of the decisions. I know that they could have done much more to cut costs, which is something I will focus on if elected. 

Q: Do you feel the board and administration have done their best to preserve programs and keep spending in line and why?

A: No. I think that they can do much more to keep spending in line. Tough decisions need to be made. Members of our community, especially senior citizens and others on a fixed income, cannot continue to pay more and more taxes.   

Q: What are your thoughts on the board's decision to eliminate the dean position?

A: I do not yet have a position on the elimination of the dean position. Unfortunately, this board, like many others, continues to discuss issues such as this in private, executive session. As a result, although I attend every public board session, I was not aware that they were even considering this move until they announced that they were doing it at a budget meeting. One of the changes that I hope to bring to the board is to bring more transparency on issues such as this so that the community has an opportunity be heard.

Q: Why should people vote for

this budget?

A: The reason that I reluctantly support the current budget is because a contingency budget this year will force our schools to accept a zero percent increase. Unfortunately, a zero percent increase will result in cuts to programs that will hurt children. If I’m elected to the board, I would make the tough decisions that are necessary to continue to provide the best education.