By Mike Schnitzel
Eisenberg was first elected to the District 30 board in 1984, after he had lived in the community for about five years. "My oldest child was just starting at Forest Road School," Eisenberg recalled. "I answered an ad [placed by the Board of Education] and the rest is history."
Eisenberg also served on the Central High School District Board of Education from July 1994 to August 2002, where, as president during the 1998-99 school year, he oversaw the approval of a bond issue in October 1998. "He knew everything about all phases of that project," said Arlene Hinkemeyer, director of community information for the Valley Stream Central High School District.
Eisenberg was president of the board when Lawrence McGoldrick was hired as superintendent. "I'm proud to have been a member of the board that hired Larry McGoldrick," he said. "He's turned out to be a great community leader." Eisenberg had planned on retiring after 20 years on the board to "give someone else in the community a chance" to serve, he said, but he decided to stay an extra year to assist with the contract settlement with the Valley Stream Teachers Association.
"That was a measure of how extraordinary he was as a board member," said Dr. Maria Fletcher, who worked with Eisenberg on the board for five years. "I don't know that there would be very many people who would put their life on hold like that to see an issue through."
"It's always sad to see an outstanding board member and a good friend retire," said McGoldrick, "but after 21 years it's certainly well deserved. He brought a laser-like focus to issues brought before the board."
Dr. Marc Bernstein, superintendent of the Central High School District, praised Eisenberg's intelligence and commitment to the Valley Stream schools. Bernstein said he felt that the district was "losing a great resource to his retirement."
Bill Gauger, who worked with Eisenberg on the board for 21 years, found him to be not only a great trustee who always had the interest of the children at heart, but a great personal friend. "When I had a stroke nine years ago, he was in my hospital room, cheering me on," said Gauger. "When I was able to come back to board meetings, he was always there to offer me a ride home, because I couldn't drive yet. He's a true gentleman."
A lawyer by training, Eisenberg is now busy practicing law and running a real estate investment company, Cambr Company Inc., from an office on Ocean Avenue in Lynbrook. He and his wife, Penny, have three children, Jonathan, 27, and Jeffrey, 22, who are Valley Stream South graduates, and Michael, 17, who is currently a senior at South.
"[Serving on the board] is a big-time commitment to do the job right," said Eisenberg. "My colleagues who do it are just the best."
District 30 is now accepting applications at fill Eisenberg's seat. Anyone interested in serving on the School District 30 Board of Education should send a letter of intent and a resume to Madeleine Furst, district clerk, 175 North Central Ave., Valley Stream, N.Y. 11580, or fax it to (516) 285-9839.
Comments about this story? MSchnitzel@liherald.com or (516) 4000 ext. 265.
