Board of education

Oceanside election no contest
      Voters won't be asked to make any difficult decisions about whom to elect to the Oceanside Board of Education next month. Two uncontested incumbents are looking to renew their three-year terms.
      Maryanne Lehrer, a trustee since 1977 and a resident of Oceanside since 1968, is looking to continue her role as legislative adviser to the board. She continues to hold the same beliefs she had in the last election, three years ago. I believe we can exceed the standards without sacrificing enrichment and activities.
      Her contributions to the school district over the past 24 years have been many. She takes special pride in her role in establishing the Oceanside Middle School 16 years ago, in maintaining a strong neighborhood school concept and helping create a budget that keeps the tax rate for the community among the lowest in Nassau County. The fact that the Oceanside School budget has one of the highest percentages going directly into instruction is also a source of accomplishment for the women who was characterized as the board hippie. The five different superintendents that have come through the district haven't phased her commitment to issues she began believing in approximately 40 years ago. If you do the right thing the first time, you save money down the road, she said.       
      Bob Transom, a trustee since 1998 and a resident of Oceanside since 1989, is looking to continue his role as construction consultant to the board. I want to keep the facility first-class.
      Lehrer has been involved with education since the early 1960s. She received her bachelor's degree in education from the University of Michigan, a master's in education from Brooklyn College and taught in public schools in Michigan and Massachusetts.
      Since then, she has become a representative for various educational organizations and lobbies local, state and national governments for appropriate funding for programs that will serve students at all levels of achievement and prepare students to meet and exceed the new Regents standards.
      As the owner of CCM Inc., a construction consulting firm that he has operated for seven years, Transom is confident that his experience has helped and will continue to save the district thousands of dollars. I believe my expertise in construction will help save the board a lot of money in capital improvements.
      Prior to his position on the board he co-chaired the buildings and grounds committee, which helps determine what kind of structural work needs attention from maintenance crews. When I was asked to be a part of the committee I kind of took the position and ran with it. As a result he was able to facilitate repairs and construction at some of the schools. He also was able to push through the installation of computer wiring throughout the schools by members of the maintenance staff.
      Currently project manager for the construction of a General Motors car dealership, Transom says he is well-suited to facilitate a smooth-running machine without putting the district into debt. There's not a district with as much cost containment. We're meeting our goals without debt, and that, he says, is due in part to him. I can see the fruits of my labor.
      According to Transom, there hasn't been a bond raised to do any construction work for the past six years because he was able to convince the administration to include the construction and repair costs into the yearly budget. If you bite the bullet up front money is saved down the road, he said.
      Both trustees feel compelled to provide the best possible environment for children to study and learn, and look forward to again bringing their expertise together to meet that goal.
      Transom, the father of three children in Oceanside schools, has a personal stake in the success of the district he's participated in since even before moving there. I have much to contribute and I lend a certain balance, he said.
      Lehrer, the mother of three grown children who all attended Oceanside schools, wants to continue giving back to a community she's lived in for more than 30 years. I believe I have a real contribution to make even though my children are no longer in the district, she said.
      Voting for the Oceanside school board and budget takes place Tuesday, May 15, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at all nine of the district's schools.