Two running for Board of Education

Two Rockville Centre residents are running for the single open seat on the Board of Education.

Challenger Lynda Rubino is looking to oust incumbent John O’Shea and take his seat on the board. O’Shea, a one-term board member, hopes to keep his position.

Lynda Rubino

Rubino, 44, and her husband have lived in Rockville Centre for 15 years. Their two children, one in seventh grade and one in ninth grade, attend St. Agnes Cathedral School and Kellenberg Memorial High School.

“I don’t have children in the school district, but it really has nothing to do with that,” Rubino said. “I’m a taxpayer and I love this community. My husband and I have invested in this community and we’re committed to it. And I just want to try and make it desirable for everyone and make it available to people to be part of it because it’s such a great town and has been so great to my family.”

Rubino said she’s running for the Board of Education because she wants to learn more about the district’s budgetary process and then spread that information to the rest of the community.

“I think that my CPA background would be a great benefit and asset to the board as someone who understands financials,” she said. “And I’m really hoping to de-mystify the budget so they understand what is behind these numbers: why our taxes are what they are, what’s behind the budget numbers, why we’re paying what we’re paying and kind of make it simple for people to understand.”

Rubino said she also wants to bring more fiscal transparency to the district, working through how much the district pays to mandated and non-mandated services and contracts.

“I just want to make sure we’re using our funds in the most fiscally responsible way, while maintaining the excellent education that we have here in Rockville Centre,” Rubino said. “I can only say that what I’m trying to do is to make those numbers understandable to everybody and to make them understand where the money’s going and where they have a say.”

John O’Shea

O’Shea was first elected to the Board of Education in 2010, and is seeking reelection to his second term.

A member of the district PTA, O’Shea, 53, has four children in the district: one in Riverside Elementary School, one in the middle school and two in the high school.