By JOSEPH KELLARD
During the 90-minute debate, held in the school auditorium and moderated by Grace Rozea of the Nassau County Region PTA, each candidate fielded questions written anonymously on index cards by members of an audience of more than 100 residents. While most questions centered on finances and academics, the issues raised ranged from income taxes and study skills to No Child Left Behind legislation and where the candidates' children attend school.
Among the financial issues debated were a proposed shift from property taxes to an income tax to fund school budgets, the Oceanside School District's hiring of an internal auditor, and per-pupil and special-education spending.
Neither candidate favors an income tax to pay school finances. "The income tax just adds another layer of taxation to an already overtaxed county," Schoell said. While Taylor too was anti-income tax, she also voiced concerns about the property-tax system, saying that it puts more of a burden on homeowners than businesses. "I think the property tax is the better way to go," Taylor said, "but the property tax's base proportion in the county is not fair."
Since the district will hire an internal auditor who will report solely to the board, the candidates were asked what "extra bonus" this hiring, which they both support, will bring to Oceanside. "I like that an auditor will report to the board," said Taylor, the comptroller and chief financial officer of the Oceanside-based Barad Audio Video. "I think it's a good thing."
Schoell concurred, saying that it is "extremely important, because that's another set of eyes" to watch the district's internal controls and business policies and procedures. Additionally, Schoell called for hiring a forensic auditor, who would randomly target specific line items in the budget for further scrutiny.
When the candidates were asked to comment on New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi's five-point plan for school financial oversight reform, Taylor said she was unfamiliar with the plan but assumed it was a response to the Roslyn school district's embezzlement scandal. She commented that it wasn't needed in Oceanside because of "our solid budget."
As on many issues, Schoell displayed detailed knowledge of the plan, and strongly supported it. "I am familiar with it, and it did come out of the Roslyn issue ... I believe the plan is really solid, and something that our school should implement fully."
Since Oceanside highlights that its spending per pupil is $3,000 below the county average, one questioner asked the candidates if they thought this was necessarily good, educationally, for students. Both women agreed that it was. When asked if they thought the district overspends on special education, Schoell said, "I don't think we're overspending. I think we are doing what is morally correct." Taylor said she believes Oceanside has a model special-education program, and said, "I don't think we are spending too much."
Another questioner associated families that move away from Long Island due to its tax burden with the salaries paid to school superintendents and top administrators, and asked if a cap should be imposed on their incomes. Arguing that the district needs leadership, Schoell suggested she would oppose this in Oceanside. She argued that Superintendent Dr. Herb Brown's salary falls within the medium range in Nassau County, and further indicated that he earns it, considering the dedication, experience, credentials and years of service that he brings to the district.
Taylor began her reply by saying that a cap was "not a bad idea," but went on to argue against it.
Both candidates fundamentally agreed on a host of issues, including increasing mentoring programs, focusing on education and prevention to combat gang activities, improving the use of data warehousing, and fixing No Child Left Behind legislation, claiming it is largely underfunded.
Focusing on academics, one resident asked what parents and the board could do to improve curriculum, since the curriculum committee has been replaced by Parents and Students Seminars (PASS). Taylor, who sat on the curriculum committee, said that since the change, there had been less parental involvement in curriculum, and that this needed to be improved. Said Schoell, "I don't think our district has ever stopped looking for ways to better the curriculum standards."
Another resident wanted to know how study skills could be improved. Taylor believes this is another important issue the board must address, arguing that there is an inequality throughout the district in how these skills are implemented. "Every school should have the same study skills," she said, "so that teachers in the middle school don't know what elementary school students come from based on these skills." Saying that she was instrumental in bringing study skills to the district, Schoell offered a partial solution for improvements on this and other academic issues: "We have to make sure our staff is well trained to deliver the curriculum."
With programs in Oceanside focused on gifted and special-education students, one questioner wanted to know how students who "get lost in the middle" can get better academic assistance. Schoell said she believes every child has strengths, and that the district needs to teach to them. She called for "giving teachers more time for differentiated instruction, and teach to a particular talent of a child."
Taylor said her son, Russell, a sixth-grader at School 2, is among the middle-level students. "It's an issue that really needs to be addressed," she said. "...The regular kids, some are falling through the cracks, and that's got to stop." Taylor suggested that she wants to see the district step up its after-school help for these students.
Taylor's eldest son, Justin, is a ninth-grader who attends the parochial Chaminade High School in Mineola. Taylor explained that Justin himself picked Chaminade over OHS because "he wanted a religious education." She thought it showed confidence that he would attend a school where he knew no one, and added that she was proud of his decision, but that Oceanside schools have served him and Russell well.
Each of Schoell's sons attended School 8. Michael, the valedictorian of OHS's class of 2002, is a junior at Yale, and Christopher is a junior at OHS. "I'm extremely grateful to this community that both my sons are able to compete as a result," she said.
The Oceanside school board election and budget vote will be held at Oceanside High School and Schools 5, 6 and 7 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on May 17.
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