Meet the school board candidates in West Hempstead

West Hempstead residents Joseph Magaraci and Nick Hoh are looking to take the seat of Pamela Lotito, who will leave the board this June. The Herald met with both candidates to discuss their reasons for running, and how their skills could benefit the West Hempstead school district.

Q: Why are you running?

Magaraci: I want to make sure the children of West Hempstead have all the tools they need to be successful once they leave the school systems, including tools on how to succeed outside of the school.

Hoh: This is a good opportunity to be a positive influence in the community. I’ve held positions in my union for over 20 years in my career. I’m currently a political coordinator for the CWA 1104 union. I think I’m a good fit and can help out. I think the board is doing a good job, and I can add to it.

Q: What’s your background in West Hempstead?

Magaraci: I graduated St. Thomas the Apostle in 1977 and West Hempstead High School in 1981.  My wife is a lifetime resident of West Hempstead. We live in a house that her grandfather built. I am very active in athletics, and coach baseball, football and soccer in the youth divisions, which runs from ages 5-13. I am the founder of the West Hempstead Broncos football league, which I started 12 years ago, and have held three Relays for Life in West Hempstead.
I was very active in helping with Superstorm Sandy through the Island Park Relief program. I ran food and clothes drives, and brought everything collected to Island Park whenever anyone needed it. When I went to West Hempstead High School, Island Park was a big part of West Hempstead, and I knew a lot of people who lost a lot during Sandy.

Hoh: I’ve lived in West Hempstead since I was 7 years old. I’ve coached the West Hempstead Broncos with Joseph Magaraci, and I’ve coached Little League in previous years. I’m also the cubmaster for Pack #20 in West Hempstead. I’ve been volunteering there for three years.

What needs to be improved and/or changed in the school district?

Magaraci: We’re in the middle of a major change right now — the passed bond — to improve infrastructure of the schools. That was a major concern of mine. The athletic fields are in terrible need of help and they’ll also be done. Our school classrooms haven’t been updated in years, and this is all part of the bond. All of that work needs to be overseen.

Hoh: I think we need to make the public schools more competitive so we can retain the students all the way through high school so parents in the community feel less off a need to go to private school. A lot of my daughter’s friends are going to private school. I’d like to see that stop happening. The only challenge to that is doing it while staying under the budget cap. It’s something that has to be looked at carefully. The school board is already doing a good job at that, but I can add to it.

Why should people vote for you?

Magaraci: I feel I’m an independent thinker, and I’m going to bring fresh ideas to the table. My main concern is to make sure each child continues to get a proper education.

Hoh: One of the jobs I have through my union is to establish relationships with politicians. Any relationship that I have is something I could bring to the table, and I would fight hard to make sure our voices are heard in Albany.
Also, when people go to buy a house, the first thing they ask about is the school system. It could be an immediate deal breaker for them. So, building a strong public school system that attracts new people and new businesses betters the community is something I want to do, and I believe I see this big picture better than most people. Adding to my community, being a positive influence is something that greatly interests me.

What experience do you have that pertains to this job?

Magaraci: I would say management. I ran a 75-person window factory and was responsible for them and roughly 15 jobs that were active each day. I feel I can help keep everything together for the school district. I’m a good organizer, a good listener, and a good understander. I want the whole community to work together to make our school district a success.
Also, West Hempstead has given me a lot, and I want to give back to the community. That’s the reason I started the football league. I’m also vice president of the football parents club, and during the football games, I run the food shack. I love seeing children grow, and watching a student graduate high school and go onto college. It just makes me happy.

Hoh: Negotiations, not with contracts but with management. I feel that I can mobilize people around causes and bring the community together. For example with the bond referendum. I was one of the many people who rallied around that cause. It was a good investment in the community and now we have to execute it.