By ANTHONY BOTTAN
The candidates addressed a variety of questions and concerns, ranging from bullying to green school initiatives to healthier student lunches.
Ellen Marcus, who is running against Mimi Rosen for the seat left vacant by the departure of nine-year board member David Penso, said she thinks the school board's role is to work with the superintendent and filter questions from the community, while Rosen said that, if elected, she would act as a liaison to the community, advising the administration of its needs. "It's hard to pinpoint where change is needed on the board," Rosen said. "But lines of communication with the board need to be more open with residents."
Penso said he did not run for re-election because his daughter is graduating from Lynbrook High School, and his connection to the school will not be as strong as it has been.
Lawrence Lombardo, who ran for a board seat three years ago, is challenging incumbent Alicemarie Bresnihan, who has served on the board for 33 years. Lombardo said he is an advocate of green initiatives, like solar panels for the school, even it means spending a few more dollars. "If it's a matter of spending money but recouping it over a few years, we should do it," he said.
Bresnihan said that the school district is already using green cleaning products, and that the board already looked into solar panels and determined that the cost would be prohibitive, without much initial return.
Several residents questioned the academic pressure on students and teachers to meet the goals of the No Child Left Behind act. federate. The candidates agreed that the Lynbrook School District does a thorough job preparing students for statewide exams. "We have to be confident that we hired qualified professionals to help our kids in all levels of academic education," Marcus said.
Another concern expressed by parents was bullying in schools. Bresnihan explained that there are programs the district implements to address bullying, but Lombardo countered that the district does not enforce them. "I sat on the Character Education Committee, and I was impressed," Lombardo said. "But the thing is, there are policies, but no enforcement of it." He said that if he is elected, he would like to enlist more social workers to handle bullying issues - including helping those doing the bullying.
Rosen said that character education has been an important issue for the district. "The students have bought into the idea that character counts," she said.
Marcus said she would like to expand on the social and emotional learning initiatives the district has in place. "It's never too late to teach kids to empathize," she said.
Lombardo was the only candidate who supported term limits for board members, because, he said, new members bring fresh ideas to the table. "We need independent voices," he said. The other three candidates said that if the community thinks a board member is doing a good job, it will re-elect him or her. "The community has the ability to control who is on the school board," Bresnihan said.
All of the candidates said they were in favor of healthier lunches for students, and Bresnihan said that there is committee in place that is re-structuring student menus, offering healthier alternatives. Lombardo got a laugh out of the audience when he was asked if he felt the district should offer healthier alternatives. "I'm too far gone, but let's save our kids," he said.
Board President Catherine Papandrew, Vice President Tom Lynch, Secretary Robert Paskoff and trustees Dr. William Kayen and William Belmont are not up for re-election.
