Franklin Square residents will vote on whether to adopt a $25.7 million 2004-05 budget, an increase of $124.97 on the average assessed home value of $2,996 in Franklin Square. There are two three-year terms for trustee on the ballot, and both are contested. Incumbent Joseph Armocida faces Margaret Murphy, while Alan Lahti and John Randazzo face off for the open seat of retiring board member Ken Antoncich.
The Franklin Square Interschool Council of PTAs is hosting a Candidates Forum on Wednesday, May 12, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at the Washington Street School auditorium. The forum is open to all and questions from the public will be welcomed.
Joseph Armocida
Joseph Armocida, a 15-year resident of Franklin Square, has served on the school board for three years and has a daughter attending John Street School. Armocida is a vice-president and project executive for HRH Construction LLC and has been with the company for 19 years. In addition to serving on the school board, he has been active with the district for the past seven years on the Demographics Committee and the Construction Planning Committee. He was also chairman of the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee.
"We have a great district here, and I want to make sure we keep it up," said Armocida, who explained that his background in construction has come in handy with recent bond issues involving maintenance.
During his tenure on the board, Armocida said, the Franklin Square schools have made great strides, improving test scores while keeping increases in costs below the Long Island average. "We've been very conservative with our budgets, making sure we provide what the children need but remaining fair to homeowners," he said.
Armocida believes his dedication to the community, including volunteering for youth group activities with his church, St. Catherine of Sienna, and his participation in "Rebuilding Together Manhattan," an organization which rehabilitates homes for seniors and the less fortunate, is the best asset he brings to the table. "I've been focused in helping to maintain a high level of progress for this district and hope to continue to do so," he said.
Armocida also counts the close ties between the elementary schools and H. Frank Carey High School as a major source of pride for the current board. "We have a very good open line of communication with Carey, and they have stepped up when it comes to welcoming our kids into their hallways."
Margaret Murphy
Margaret Murphy, running for public office for the first time, says she was inspired by an editorial in last year's Herald to run for school board. "It was a little late for me to run last year, but I wanted to make sure I spoke up this year," said Murphy, a certified social worker who has lived in Franklin Square since 1990.
Murphy, whose two children attend H. Frank Carey High School and went to Washington Street School, said safety issues are her main focus. "Concerns about safety issues such as bullying, school crossing guards and playground monitors should be addressed," she said. "As a school board member, I will be responsive to the issues raised by the community."
Murphy is a founder and current president of the Concerned Parents of Sewanhaka Central High School District Inc., an independent, nonpartisan, community-based parent advocacy organization. She believes that the success of the Franklin Square Elementary School District has not fully translated to the high school level. "I will encourage my colleagues who sit on the high school board in efforts to make certain that success is mirrored in [Sewanhaka]," she said.
Murphy hopes to bring a fresh voice to the board and ensure that recent successes are built upon. "Our community has made a strong investment in our elementary schools, and this has resulted in academic excellence," she said. "The public deserves a fiscally conservative and responsive school board to address concerns for children's intellectual, emotional and social development."
Alan Lahti
Alan Lahti, a Garden City South resident since 1998, has two sons, one grown and one currently attending Washington Street School. Lahti is running for the school board for the first time, and cites the need for fiscal prudence as his main issue. "With a concern for the district parents, voters and all residents, I would recheck the budget with an eye toward assuring that the most is obtained for the least expenditure," Lahti said.
He believes that being a member of the school board would give him the opportunity to serve his community. "I have gradually become very involved in the community, and want to do as good a job as I can for the kids and the voters," said Lahti.
He is a lector at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, a member of the Knights of Columbus, a past junior vice president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 325 and a member of the Washington Street PTA, and he is involved in his son's Cub Scout pack, Little League and PAL soccer team.
Lahti said that while the district has been succeeding, he believes there is always room to do more, and he hopes to assure its future with progressive action. "I would not be averse to the district obtaining an initial consultation with a human capital assessment firm," he said, "for the purpose of the future and further maximizing of district potential."
Lahti is a senior title officer with Federal Standard Abstract Inc. in Flushing.
John Randazzo
John Randazzo, a partner in the family-owned Sandy's Party Supply Center Inc., explains that he is in the race for the children. "When it comes to kids, they come first," says Randazzo. "They are our future, and that's that."
He has lived in Franklin Square since 1974 and has three daughters, one in college and two at Carey. "I've been attending board meetings for 25 years," said Randazzo, who, after serving on the Demographics Committee, the Building Committee and the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee for many years, has decided to take the next step.
He said his plan is simple. "I want to maintain School District 17 as the No. 1 district on Long Island," Randazzo said with pride. He has been active with the PTA for many years and has won numerous awards for his public service.
"Plain and simple, there is no 'I' in 'team,'" said Randazzo, adding that he looks forward to deepening his commitment to the Franklin Square community.
