Two incumbent candidates are running uncontested for positions in the Oceanside School District Board of Education.
Allenby Lyson, who joined the board in 1993, has lived in Oceanside since 1972 and currently has two grandchildren that go to school in the district.
"I've been interested in education practically all of my life," said Lyson. He joined the board after all of his four children completed their education— graduating from OHS.
Lyson, who worked in the banking field for "practically my whole life," said he opted to serve another term —after announcing he would leave the board -- because of the current economic downturn.
"I''m only running again because people have asked me to because they know my background is in finance," said Lyson. "I'm the cheapskate on the board and everybody knows it, I go after pennies and nickels."
Lyson said the board worked hard to ensure the proposed budget met the needs of the students, without adding additional burden to taxpayers.
"I'm not happy with my taxes, but it costs a lot of money to teach kids - to do it right," said Lyson. "I'm sort of happy with our budget because our cost of education is third lowest in the county for K-12."
Kimberly Grim Garrity, who has been on the board for 12 years and is an OHS graduate, has two children that go to school in the district.
"I really care about this community a lot," said Garrity. "I have a long history in it. I bring different viewpoints to the board as a working mother who does homework with her kids, pays taxes here, and had senior parents living in Oceanside."
She said she is especially tuned into problems for taxpayers, like her parents, who lived on a fixed income.
"We want to give all the children the best education possible," said Garrity, "without spending that extra penny - because as a taxpayer - I don't have an extra penny."
Garrity said one of her main priorities on the board has been to ensure that funding cuts don't translate to a drop in student services or to the maintenance of buildings and grounds, which she said fell into disrepair during the early 90's when the district experienced funding cutbacks.
ISLAND PARK CANDIDATE
Michael Hastava, who has served one 5-year term on the Island Park Board of Education, is running uncontested for a second term. A life-long Island Park resident and father of two children in the district, he said that he has enjoyed every minute on the board and is looking forward to his next term.
He is actively involved in activities and boards throughout the community, including the Island Park Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club of Island Park and Knights of Columbus, among others.
