Q&A with newly-retired school board members

With new challenges looming around the corner, both Vicki Alspector and Marie Girace are setting sail to conquer new worlds. But not before taking some time to reflect on a past chapter of their lives as a trustee and president of the East Rockaway Board of Education, which they spent many years representating the East Rockaway school district. .

Q: How many years have you been on the board?
Alspector: “I have been on the board for fifteen years.”
Girace: "I have been a member for 17 years. I was appointed in 1993, elected in 1994, and served as president two times, 2002-2004 and for the last year, 2009-2010."

Q: Do you have any favorite memories on the board?
Alspector: “I got to hand diplomas to both of my daughters. The next best thing is the opening of the new wing at the high school and the library at Centre Avenue School.”
Girace: "The accomplishments that the board members and I achieved. There was the extension on the high school and adding the library at Centre Avenue School. The board's responsibility was to build the library. Also, bringing summer school into the district."
Q: What will you miss most about your time on the board?
Alspector: “I will miss the interaction with the other board members. I will miss the work — it was very interesting and a challenge. You get to use your brain.”
Girace: "I will miss working with a group of people who are dedicated to the well-being of children in the community."

Q: What accomplishments were you most proud of while you were on the board?
Alspector: “Certainly, I am most proud of the new wing at the high school and the technology band before it. Also, the increase in academics. When I was there, only 23 percent got academic regent diplomas. Now, the number who get these diplomas are in the high 80’s. We had three superintendents during my time, who were extremely helpful in moving the district forward. We do a lot with a very small staff.”
Girace: "I am most proud of getting things done without contention or problems. The experience of a board member can be very contentious, but I was fortunate to work with great people who get things done. This was a highlight because our board had a reputation for being contention-free. We had three great superintendents and we did wonderful work with the right management."


Q: What lessons or things will you take away from this experience?
Alspector: “The most important thing you can learn on a board is that there is always another side to the story. You learn to be a good listener and communicator. By being on a board, you become open to other possibilities because you have to compromise with people. People come with values. You learn to see from other people’s perspectives and make a better decision.”
Girace: "The ability to achieve consensus on important issues. [We] changed the way an organization is run."

Q: What are your plans for the summer?
Alspector:“ I am trying to start a small business. I have a product made that we hope to sell. Also, to spend a lot of time in Manhattan, taking in shows and walking around.”
Girace: "I just took a trip to Williamsburg. My husband is retiring at the end of the year and we will travel to Arizona in October. We will travel more after that."

Q: What are your long-term plans?
Alspector:“When my business takes off, I hope to be very busy. It is not like [being a board member] was a full time job. I will fill the gap doing other things and I make jewelry.”
Girace: "My long term plans are to become more computer literate and maybe go for some higher education. It has always been a dream of mine to go back [to school.]"

Q: Any advice for the new board members, Kristin Ochtera and Patti Nicoletti?
Alspector: “Those who do not learn from history wind up repeating it. The most important thing is to look at what went wrong and why as well as what went right and why. Listen to all five members before you make a decision so everyone is comfortable with the decision. There is a learning curve because it is a new board now, too.”
Girace: "Listen to all sides of an issue and reach a consensus with your fellow board members."

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