Five vie for three seats on Lynbrook Board of Education

Five candidates, including the current president and vice president, are running for three seats on Lynbrook’s Board of Education. The Herald asked all five candidates why they chose to run, what some of the issues are in the district, and what they would like to see changed during their terms. The polls will be open in Lynbrook on May 19 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

What accomplishments are you most proud of in your time on the board?
I am most proud of the board’s ability to grow the district and add many new changes to move the district forward and create 21st century learners. We have added faculty, new classes, a tablet program for 6th grade, offer languages such as Japanese, and have a stellar music program just to name a few, all in light of a 2 percent tax cap.

What are the biggest issues facing the district that you want to solve in your term?
I think the biggest issue facing the district today is stability. We have had three superintendents over the last nine years. One retired, Santo Barbarino passed away and now, Melissa Burak is here. The Lynbrook Schools are finally moving in a good direction and we need to keep going strong.

What is your dream for the district?
My dream for the district is that we have such dynamic curriculum and programs that when the New York Times and The Washington Post want a quote on education in the 21st century they come to our superintendent for an answer. I want Lynbrook to be an educational leader, the gold standard.

What accomplishments are you most proud of during your time on the board?

I am most proud of working with administration to maintain and add programs while staying under the 2 percent tax cap in every budget year, along with the upgrading of Marion Street’s athletic facilities with the installation of a new turf field.

What are the biggest issues facing the district that you want to solve in your term?
We must make sure that we are able to maintain programs and stay under the  2 percent tax cap even in uncertain economic times while still keeping up with new technology, with programs such as the laptop and tablet programs created in recent years.

What is your dream for the district?
My dream is to maintain local control of educational issues without outside interference from the state and federal level.