By Andrew Hackmack
There are three candidates running for three seats in Valley Stream District 13. Incumbents Frank Chiachiere and Debra Evans are seeking re-election while Thomas Speranza is running for the seat formerly held by Cathy Subbiondo. All terms are for three years.
Voting will take place on Tuesday, May 20 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Howell Road, James A. Dever, Wheeler Avenue and Willow Road schools.
Frank Chiachiere
Longtime District 13 Board of Education member Frank Chiachiere is seeking his sixth term. First elected to the board in 1993, he is running unopposed.
Chiachiere, a resident of Malverne, said he grew up in a family where volunteerism was encouraged and that is why he has dedicated the last 15 years to public service. "I think we all have to give something back," he said. "Teaching and learning is what I know."
Holding his doctorate in educational leadership, Chiachiere was a Spanish teacher in Uniondale before moving on to the Half Hollow Hills School District. There he was the district supervisor of foreign language, then served as a middle school assistant principal before retiring in 1999. He teaches a graduate class in education at Stony Brook University and works for a company that recruits school superintendents.
Chiachiere said his knowledge of the educational system makes him an effective board member. "I understand the language that the superintendents and principals use when talking about best practices," he said.
He is pleased with the state of District 13. Class sizes are not too big, there is a strong reading program in place and a good leader in Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Lison, Chiachiere said. In fact, he cites her hiring as one of the board's greatest accomplishments during his tenure.
A recent accomplishment was the successful negotiation with the Valley Stream Little League to build a new baseball field at the Howell Road School. It beautified the grounds and gave kids a new place to play. "What a gift to the school community," he said.
There are some obstacles the board must work to overcome. "We are faced with a plethora of unfunded mandates," he said. "I think that is going to continue to be the biggest challenge.
Another, he said, is how to deliver a strong academic program in a time of stressed financial resources. Valley Stream 13 is not a "Gold Coast" district, he explained, so board members and administrators need to find ways to give students a good education at a reasonable price. "The challenge is how do we do that and not tax people out of their homes," he said.
Chiachiere is an advocate for exploring alternative ways to fund education. There may not be a better solution to the property tax system, but it should at least be discussed, he said.
The state budget process is frustrating, Chiachiere said, but fortunately local legislators have successfully fought for increased state aid in recent years.
For all but the first year of his board tenure, Chiachiere has also served on the Central High School District Board of Education. Chiachiere said it has been an honor and privilege to serve Valley Stream schoolchildren in both capacities and looks forward to continuing his board service.
Debra Evans
Compared to some of her colleagues, Debra Evans is a relative newcomer to the District 13 Board of Education. Currently serving as vice president, she is seeking her second three-year term and is running unopposed.
Evans, who lives in Franklin Square, said she is proud of what the board has accomplished over the last three years. She says that they have worked hard to give District 13 children a high-quality education. "We're very responsive to the needs of the students in providing new and improved programs and learning tools," she said.
District officials keep up with the latest trends and best practices in education, she said. Programs are constantly revised to best meet the academic needs of the students.
Evans said the board strives to maintain a level of academic excellence while keeping in mind the burden placed on district taxpayers. Unfortunately, she said, sometimes the buck falls on local residents for reasons beyond the board's control. "The unfunded mandates are the biggest stumbling block of any school district," she said.
However, Evans said she believes the board has done a good job of meeting these requirements at a minimal cost to local taxpayers. "District 13 has always been very conscious of finding ways to provide what is necessary," she said, "while maintaining its fiscal accountability."
If the district is planning a major project, Evans said the board tries to spread the cost out over several years, instead of one big budget hit. This summer, the parking lot at Howell Road School will be renovated, as money has been set aside over the past three years. "Now that we have the funds available, we'll go ahead with the project," she said.
Evans has two children who attended Willow Road School before moving on to North High. She was active with the PTA, served as a Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout den mother. This past year as a board member, she led a committee that created a time capsule to be opened 100 years from now. It is now buried behind the James A. Dever School.
Professionally, Evans is the senior associate director of financial services for Adelphi University. She said her job gives her a unique perspective. "I'm seeing the end result of the public school education system," she said. "I have to say, right now I think we're doing a pretty good job."
Evans said she always makes decisions in best interests of a child's long-term education. She said she initially ran for the Board of Education three years ago because she felt she could bring a different viewpoint to the group.
The board has a good dynamic, she said, which fosters debate and sharing of opinions. Virtually every decision they make, Evans explained, is well-thought out. "We have been an excellent team," she said.
Thomas Speranza
Thomas Speranza is set to become the newest member of Valley Stream District 13's Board of Education next year as he is running unopposed for a three-year term. He is seeking the seat formerly held by Cathy Subbiondo, who resigned earlier this year.
Speranza has been a substitute teacher for the last six years. He worked for three years in District 13 and three years in the Valley Stream Central High School District and Hewlett-Woodmere School District. As a substitute in District 13, Speranza said he taught at every grade level and in every subject area.
"I think that gives me a perspective that's very unique," he said, "and probably matched by few other people that are running for a board seat."
Speranza said he is running for the board of education for several reasons. He would like to see a higher level of student achievement and greater control on spending. He says Valley Stream's four school districts should consolidate purchasing functions into one, which would increase purchasing power and hopefully lower costs.
There needs to be a stricter compliance to discipline procedures, he said, to curtail student behavioral problems. Often discipline problems follow a child through their educational career if not handled properly early on, Speranza said. He also supports a stricter dress code.
He is in favor of toughening the guidelines to ensure that all students legitimately live within district boundaries. Parents should be required to show proof of residency every year, he said. He also said that if a student is found to be living in the district illegally, the district should bring a civil lawsuit against the parents to recoup tuition money.
Speranza said there needs to be greater communication between the many constituencies of the school district. He said there should be quarterly meanings attended by a representative of each of these groups, including the board of education, administrators, teachers and parents. The purpose would be to establish what each group's role is in creating a school environment that fosters academic excellence.
Students, too, have to be part of the discussion and part of the process, Speranza explained. He is concerned on a national level about student achievement, with the United States ranking even behind some third world countries.
He said the No Child Left Behind culture has created an atmosphere that forces every child to meet the same standards. But not every student will not be going to college and those kids have other talents. Speranza wants schools to foster these talents in children even at the elementary school level. "Early on," he said, "there has to be a better assessment of these students."
Speranza has lived in Valley Stream for the past 29 years. He is retired electrical engineer who has worked for 48 years in the public and private business sector. He served three years in the United States Army and another five years in the reserves.
District 30
Incumbent Elise Antonelli is running for a five-year seat on the District 30 Board of Education. There is also a four-term available to fill a vacancy, sought by Cristobal Stewart. Both are running unopposed.
Voting will take place on Tuesday, May 20 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Clear Stream Avenue, Forest Road and Shaw Avenue schools.
Elise Antonelli
After spending five months on the District 30 Board of Education, Elise Antonelli says she would like to be there another five years. She is running unopposed to retain her seat on the five-member board.
Antonelli was appointed to the Board of Education in December to fill a vacancy. It was also right about the time the board was beginning its superintendent search, which culminated in the hiring of Dr. Elaine Kanas last month.
"That was a very arduous process," Antonelli said, "but it was really a collaborative effort among the board members." She said she is looking forward to working with the new superintendent who starts on July 2.
In her five months on the board, Antonelli said she has learned just how much work goes in to running a school district. The board of education serves so many different constituencies, she said, including students, teachers, staff members and taxpayers. She said one of her goals as a board member is to reach out to all of these groups.
Antonelli said one concern of the community is for more diversity in the teaching staff, an objective the board will try and meet in the coming years. Other goals will be to implement a new math program and enhance instructional technology. "There are other districts that are way ahead of us in technology," she said, adding that a six-year plan recently adopted will go along way in providing more resources with only a minimal impact to the budget.
Overall, Antonelli said she is seeking another five years on the board to help make decisions that will benefit all students. She said her and fellow board members work very well together and come to a consensus on every decision, even it if means staying until midnight.
"We have a very collaborative board and it really comes from the top," she said, referring to Board President Maria Fletcher. "Ultimately, we make the best decisions because all of us have a chance to fully express ourselves."
Antonelli said she is never afraid to ask questions but knows how to be a team player. As a sales manager for U.S. Airlines for the past eight years, she also brings business skills to the table.
She has also served as one of District 30's representatives to the Valley Stream Central High School District Board of Education and has enjoyed that experience. The issues are different, she said, but the mission is the same.
Antonelli has one son who is a product of District 30, having attending Shaw Avenue School before moving on to Memorial and Central.
"I think we have a wonderful school district," she said. "I very much look forward to another five years, if I'm elected, and to welcoming the new board member."
Cristobal Stewart
With two children already in the district and another starting school in a couple of years, Cristobal Stewart says he has a vested interested as to what happens in District 30. He and his wife have been involved with the PTA and now Stewart is taking his service to the next level. "We're concerned that all kids in Valley Stream District 30 get the best education possible," he said.
Stewart is seeking to fill the remaining four years on the term vacated by Andrew Walters, who resigned in December. Jennifer DiGaetano was appointed to the seat, but she is not seeking re-election. Stewart is running unopposed.
He said he has considered board of education service in the past, having been one of several people who submitted a letter of interest when there were a pair of vacancies in December. Though passed over, he was pleased to have another opportunity to join the board.
Stewart describes himself as someone who is passionate about education. From both a policy and practice standpoint, he said he finds the field of education fascinating. Stewart is the director of tuition programs at LaGuardia Community College, part of the CUNY system.
He noted that there is a trend in education to collect as much data as possible regarding student performance and he supports this practice. Stewart said these numbers can be very useful in helping school officials make decisions about how to deliver instruction and boost student achievement. Though this data shouldn't be the be-all, end-all for every decision, teachers and administrators should not be afraid to use it where practical, he said.
Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent and as a board member Stewart would want to make this information more available. The community should constantly be assured that its money is being used in an appropriate and responsible manner, Stewart explained. "This is not a special sort of right," he said. "This is basic to our system. People work awfully hard to afford living in Valley Stream."
Stewart said it was a surprise among residents when it was learned that attorney Al D'Agostino was collecting a public pension from District 30 and other organizations. After this revelation, Stewart said the board has to work to earn back the trust of taxpayers.
There is a need for more open communication in the district, Stewart said, and he believes he can serve as a bridge between parents and school officials. He also said he looks helping the new superintendent get acquainted with the district.
Stewart and his wife have lived in Valley Stream for seven years and moved to the community because of the quality of education available. "Our number one concern coming from New York City was we wanted to raise a family in a community with good schools," he said.
It's a decision he has never regretted and believes with everyone working together, the schools can only get better. "We do good things in Valley Stream," he said.
