I think we've done a tremendous job in the schools, said the retired teacher, noting that recent tax increases have been lower than other districts, a ninth period has been added at the high school, and elementary school test scores have been on the rise.
Our elementary schools have done very well. Kaleko acknowledged that some work needs to be done at the high school, particularly in terms of maintaining stable leadership and turning around the football program. Otherwise, she says, things have been good at the high school, and other athletic teams have been winning regularly.
Kaleko has worked as a volunteer teacher, reading to advanced first grade students at the Lido Elementary School. Her husband served 32 years on the Long Beach school board.
I just want to improve what is good, everyday, for the children in the Elementary schools, middle school and high school. I want to bring the gifted to a higher level. I want Long Beach schools to be the best in Nassau County.
Roy Lester
Lester is seeking his second three-year term on the school board. He is a senior in a law firm where he specializes as a bankruptcy attorney
He is the head of the union representing New York State Employed Lifeguards, and competes nationally in the Swim Masters Kayak division. He is married with three children in the district.
During his tenure, he believes the school board has successfully learned to work together after several years of in-fighting. Through their cooperation, the board has helped keep tax increases down by being more responsible with the district's money. That practice, he says, needs to continue as he worries that tough times are ahead for Nassau County and New York State residents.
I'm more worried about the money than anything else, Lester said, noting that state aid has not increased despite increased state-mandates for schools. He looks forward to addressing the needs of the middle school and high school over the next three years, but cautions, You can't go to the store without money in your pocket.
I think in a lot of ways, the last three years speak for themselves, he adds. We brought stability to the district, not only from a business stability but finical stability and educational stability. In the last three years, we [school board] have worked together as a team. We might not have agreed at times, but we work together. Our budget increase, which is the real measure of how things are going, it's the lowest in the district. Educationally and financially, we have done really well.
CHALLENGERS
Joe Sinnona
Sinnona, a local Realtor, is seeking a school board seat for the first time. A graduate of Lasalle Academy, he holds a B.A. from Manhattan College, where he was an Education Major. He was a teacher at Junior High 141, Bronx, and has been an instructor at the American Real Estate School and for the Long Island Board of Realtors.
I'm doing this to put a spotlight on our schools, he said. So in years to come we don't find ourselves with high property values and no children in our schools.
He fears that Long Beach is becoming increasingly expensive to live in, while residents are not seeing a flagship, the high school, that they are proud of and decide to keep their children in the district beyond the elementary level.
I'm tired of paying too much and seeing little in return, he says, and believes other residents feel the same. He does believe that the schools, including the high school, are doing positive things that need to be highlighted and promoted more throughout the community, and beyond.
As a trustee I will work towards education reform, better relations with our teachers and administrators, be an active board member work with the city toward creating a recreational night life for our kids who are of the ages 14-17. I would want to work toward improving our students reading and math scores and I would like to work toward creating an alumni development and I would like to work towards lowering our taxes by offering tax relief incentives for our parents and seniors.
Patrick Gallagher
Pat Gallagher is a recently retired educator who spent 33 years in the Seaford school district as a teacher, chair of the Social Studies department, and a principal at Seaford High School. Gallagher has been director for the Wantagh-Seaford teacher center for 14 years.
Gallagher believes the school district needs to have a vision of the type of district it wants to be. It needs a plan, with set goals that educators, administrators and trustees will strive towards.
We need to have a plan, he said. At the high school, he said the district needs to connect the students back to the school and restore pride in the school.
If not, we'll continue to have new principals every few years. Gallagher believes that the high school can become a candidate for Blue Ribbon status as a premier school within the next few years.
He also wants to bring greater diversification and understanding to the school community. We don't have to love eachother, but we should like eachother. I like the fact that Long Beach is diversified.
He added, I would call for an immediate comprehensive district education plan in partnership with the community. I would ask for the Superintendent, with the approval of the Board of Education, to format a task force for the immediate implementation of a K-12 inclusion program. I would ask the new high school principal to develop a positive school climate plan to present to the Board of Education and the community. Fiscal responsibility by maximum utilization of its educational resources.
Mike Robinson
A 1994 graduate of Long Beach High School, Robinson has worked recently as a part-time teacher's assistant at Lido Elementary School. As a recent graduate of the local schools, he believes he can bring a different perspective than most candidates, and has the best understanding of the problems that exist at the high school.
Long Beach High School lacks leadership. It lacks structure. To end the tide of departing administrators at the high school, and elsewhere, Robinson says, We have to have people willing to commit to the district. We keep hearing about
