Rockville Centre BOE candidates in the spotlight

It was a night of contrasts as three candidates vying for two school board seats took to South Side Middle School's stage on May 5. Under bright lights and with a camera rolling, they responded to audience-submitted questions at the PTA-sponsored Candidates Forum, moderated by a representative from the League of Women Voters.

Although each candidate — David Meoli, John O'Shea and Gregg Spaulding — said he supported the district's proposed 2010-11 spending plan, there were differences — primarily in the candidates' backgrounds, objectives and personal styles—that emerged during the hour-long question and answer session.

Of the three, Meoli has the highest level of education — a PH.D. — and he works in the educational world. O'Shea is a small business owner and says he understands the importance of the bottom line, while Spaulding is a member of a municipal union that has recently conceded to contractual givebacks to Nassau county and its taxpayers. Both O'Shea and Spaulding have four children in the district's elementary and middle schools, and both of them have been active as co-PTA presidents in their childrens' elementary schools.

Fiscal conservatives might look to O'Shea, who said he would try to change the way the school district's budget is developed, with increases each year and "nothing" to cut. Although he'd search for economies, they'd come from the back office, not the classroom, he said. O'Shea also pledged to find and eliminate wasteful spending and to improve transparency during the budget process as well as the way the board communicates with the public. He said money is the biggest issue the district faces and there is a difference between what we might want, and what we are able to afford.

Spaulding emphasized his history of working with members of the community frequently thinking "outside the box," as well as his accomplishments and his work as a civic leader. He said district facilities need to be evaluated, and board members need to work with state and federal legislators for relief or additional funding for mandates that effect Special Education and staffing. Transportation is another area that would benefit from scrutiny, he said, adding he would look into arranging additional money-saving cooperative agreements.

While saying he was also concerned about taxes, Meoli focused his remarks largely on the district's stated mission in the education of its students — saying it needs to be redefined and realigned to include updated language indicating the district is readying students for global citizenship. He spoke of the need for upgrading Special Education and professional development services. He added that economics are important — we need to be sensitive, efficient and find creative ways to serve district students while limiting costs, he said. Meoli also referred to the district's use of technolog, saying it should make use of many free websites and services that can help as it realigns its goals.

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