By Howard Goldstein
In Bellmore, three candidates have emerged this year to run for the Board of Education. Here are their short biographies.
Ted Tanenbaum
Ted Tenenbaum, an attorney who has lived in Bellmore with his wife and family for more than 23 years, is seeking reelection to the Bellmore Board of Education.
Tanenbaum hopes to win his third term on the board, having previously served a board president and vice president.
He and his wife have three children, two of whom have graduated Bellmore schools and gone on to college and a third who now attends Kennedy High School in Bellmore
Tanenbaum is a member of the Bellmore Parent Teacher Association and has been the recipient of the Bellmore Elementary Counsel of PTA's Honorary Life Membership, the New York State Congress of Parents and Teachers. He was also a former member of the Shared Decision-Making Steering Committee, as well as the Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee for the Bellmore School District.
Tanenbaum is a partner in the law firm of Goldstein, Tanenbaum & D'Errico, LLP in Carle Place, specializing in civil litigation. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University and a Juris Doctor Degree from Brooklyn Law School. He is a member of the Bar of the State of New York as well as the District of Columbia.
He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Nassau County Police Activity League, Bellmore-North Bellmore Unit and currently serves as its vice president. He is also a U.S. military veteran who served as a medic.
During his terms of office, the Board of Education lists as some of its accomplishments: restructuring the schools into centers resulting in equality of education for all students; excellent test scores; initiation of a foreign-language program; all-day kindergarten; maintenance of an inclusion program for special-education students, maintenance of small class size.
"I believe the greatest problem facing our school district is the maintenance and improvement of our educational system without unduly burdening our taxpayers," he said.
"We must all work together for the outstanding public education system we now have."
Marion Blane
Marion Blane and her husband, Gary, have been residents of Bellmore for 18 years. They have three children: Robert, a 10th-grader student at Kennedy High School; Jaclyn, an eighth-grader at Grand Avenue Middle School, and Shelby, a third-grader at the Winthrop Avenue Primary Center.
A graduate of Mepham High School, Blane spent several years as a dental hygienist before joining her parents in a retail family business, which she now runs with her father.
Blane has been an active member of the PTA for 11 years, and has held many leadership positions, including president of the Shore Road PTA and president of the consolidated Bellmore Elementary PTA. She has been the recipient of PTA Life Membership and Distinguished Service Award.
Additionally, Blane has served as a parent member on the District Interview Committee, District Principal Search Committee, and Report Card Committee, as well as positions on the Grand Avenue Middle School PTA. Her involvement on behalf of the children of Bellmore has given her the opportunity to "be the voice of parents and children, and to work on behalf of the community."
"Making effective and financially sound decisions whether it be running a business, or on behalf of the PTA has given me the background, insight, and necessary tools to do the same for our schools and community," said Blane.
"I have dedicated time and energy towards the betterment of our school, for all children, and am now ready to continue doing so in the capacity of school board member, where I can represent the needs and concerns of the community."
Blane said, "In these economic, global and socially challenging times, it is important that we remain focused on academic and emotional well-being of our children. With the ever-increasing academic demands being placed on our children, and the ever-decreasing funds funds available to local school districts, now more than ever we need to be fiscally responsible in providing quality education for our students, while being mindful of the financial burdens our community is being asked to endure. I intend to be more than a school board member; I intend to be a well-informed, responsible school board member.
Leonard Burger
Leonard Burger has been a Bellmore homeowner for 26 years. He has served as president of a civic association for 12 years.
A believer in the phrase, "Bellmore is education," Burger will soon be sending his own children to district schools.
"Service on the school board is one of the most important parts of community life and I look forward to the personal satisfaction such service brings," said Burger.
Burger believes in interpreting the educational community in the widest possible sense. He feels it should include not only parents, educators and those working in the public school system, but the broader community, such as business owners in town and parents who chose other educational programs for their children.
Burger advocates small class sizes, high academic standards, fiscal responsibility and new ways to get all schools in the community a fair share of state assistance.
"'Bellmore is education' is not just a slogan. It represents the product of a generous community, all elements of which work together in support of a goal that is good for all of us--preparing children for a productive and fruitful life," he said.
Burger believes he can bring a fresh outlook to the board and, if elected, would be committed to enhancing student performance, and promoting fiscal sense and restraint.
