Four vie for two Lynbook Board of Education seats

What issues do you hope to address as a board member?

Ellen Marcus: The most pressing issues facing the district right now are the possibility of mid-year budget cuts and having various plans in place to continue some version of remote learning in the fall if that is required. I have the necessary experience to hit the ground running and continue the planning that the district has already begun for these scenarios.

Nazia DeFrank: With the new Centers for Disease Control guidelines, we have to not only wait for a solid reopening plan by the government, but we have to take it in our hands and make it come to life. This will not be an easy task, and a lot of people will not be happy, but we have to do what’s best for our kids and teachers alike. If we fail, I foresee two scenarios: More children will be homeschooled, leading to empty classrooms, and people will move out of the district because they will not be able to afford to live here.

Patrick Palleschi: The most pressing issue is Albany’s plans to cut state aid to local districts without alleviating the pressures put on us to meet certain unfunded state mandates. In other words, the state says we have to do certain things by law, yet they give us no money earmarked specifically for those certain things, and on top of that, they now plan on cutting funding to the general budget as well. This is a huge concern because costs will continue to increase as revenue decreases. We need to be creative and thoughtful about how we address these issues going forward so that the educational needs of our students are still being met without increasing the tax burden on our residents.

Julia Scholl: The issue of safety, remote learning and the emotional well-being of our students are issues that are important to me, and to the whole community. There are lots of “what ifs” for what school will look like in the fall and beyond. Now more than ever, our school board needs a person who can help empower the superintendent to manage the district through these unprecedented times, enable our wonderful teachers with the means to effectively teach and lastly, for our children to feel supported in a safe, thriving learning environment, whatever that environment evolves to be in the future.

Are there any courses that are not available that you would push for if elected?

Marcus: We will have more space and flexibility in scheduling once the extension at the high school is completed. We will have more music spaces and an innovation center. I am hopeful that the district will have creative ideas to utilize these new spaces. We will also have a school store, which will be used by the Career Development Program students.

DeFrank: I feel we need to up the courses on foreign language. Other districts have introduced German and Mandarin, and we are limited. We pay taxes equivalent to the top-rated school districts on Long Island, so there is no reason why our students shouldn’t have the same opportunity. We are introducing seniors to elementary-level Japanese courses. I like that we have coding classes in the high school, but this is something that really needs to be started at the elementary level.

Palleschi: Considering that I created and teach a course that offers Calculus III to high school students, I would have to say I would like to see that offered to any Lynbrook student qualified to take it.

Scholl: The Lynbrook School District offers a well-rounded number of courses for our children, and a fantastic array of athletic, music and art programs. Our schools put forth a valiant effort to meet the needs and wants of our children regarding course offerings within the budget. Over time, the interests of our children and the needs of our community may change. I am open to re-evaluating course offerings to help continue to improve the district and keep it current.

Why do you think your experiences make you a good fit for the board?

Marcus: I have served on the school board for 12 years. There is a huge learning curve when you are a new board member. It takes a few years of contract negotiations, budget planning and dealing with issues that may arise to truly understand the inner workings of a school district. I have the experience necessary to continue to help the district move forward at this time.

DeFrank: Before the pandemic happened, I got a call from a teacher who asked if I could be a part of Career Day. It was exciting for me. I got a call not too long after that from a senior asking me to speak at her women’s event at the high school. That really made my day. I didn’t realize how much I had to give with my experiences. I was also going out of town for speaking engagements and enriching the lives of so many and uplifting people with motivational speaking and my experiences, but I never did it in my own town. It opened my eyes and made me see how much I could be of an asset to the town I care for and love so much. 

Palleschi: I am a good candidate for the school board because of my desire to maintain Lynbrook’s high level of academic excellence and great sense of community. I have been a math teacher and football coach at Lawrence High School for the last 21 years. At Lawrence, I created and teach one of the few multi-variable calculus classes taught in the U.S. Before getting involved in teaching, I worked as a staff accountant at the public accounting firm KPMG. There, I audited academic institutions as well as financial entities. I am fully aware of the balancing act between a board member’s fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers and the educational needs of the students. I feel my background in both business and education make me uniquely qualified for a position.

Scholl: My life experience as the full-time working mother of four children makes me a good fit for the school board. As a parent in the district, I have a vested interest in Lynbrook schools’ ability to continue to provide quality education and create a vision for its future. Having a large family, I understand what it means to work within a budget. Nurses are practiced in discussing and agreeing on the allocation of resources for the hospital and our patients. I continually strive for the best possible outcome for the people in my care. I am not afraid to speak up for what I feel is right, yet I am understanding of the importance of working within a group for the greater good of our community.