By:Robert Remler
Valley Stream residents have the opportunity to influence the way education is done in their community on May 15, when school budgets are voted on and some of the school districts' Board of Education trustees come up for reelection.
This week, we focus on the candidates in Districts 13 and 30, so readers have an idea of who's running and why.
Next week, the Herald will look at candidates for District 24 positions, as well as a presentation of school budgets.
Richard Eisenberg in District 30 and Karl Lunan in District 13, are running unopposed.
In District 24, two incumbents are being challenged by three candidates. We'll profile these candidates next week. In District 13, two people are competing for a position that has become vacant because Nancy Viggiano decided not to seek re-election. Lunan was appointed to his position in District 13 this past year following the resignation of Al Chase.
District 13
Three candidates are running for two trustee position on the District 13 board. One position is available because Nancy Viggiano, the board's president, has decided not to seek another term. Mr. Lunan, running for the second position, is unopposed. Terms are for three years.
Karl Lunan
Karl Lunan, has lived in North Valley Stream since November of 1996 when he moved here from Queens with his family. His youngest daughter is in the fifth grade at Howell Road. The middle child attends North High School and is in the eighth grade. His eldest daughter is a senior at North High School.
He was appointed to a position on the school board last year, following the resignation of Al Chase. Lunan gives his time to the school board because he likes the community and working with children.
He thinks that the New York State standards are a priority for himself and the Board, as well as having as a priority preventing school violence. In the recent past there were issues all around the country concerning violence, he said.
He also thinks parents should look to the school board to make sure the interest of the children is being served. He is an advocate of parental involvement in the schools. "You can't just drop your child off on the doors of the school and expect the schools to nurture your child."
He is the assistant manager in the claims division in the law department for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Bonnie Gorham
Bonnie Gorham has been a resident of the District 13 community for 15 years with her family. She has been a member of the James A. Dever School PTA for eight years. She is currently the Association's immediate past president and has also served as chairperson of the Legislation, Intergenerational Reading Partners and Community Service Committees.
The Gorhams have two children attending school in Valley Stream. Their son is in the fourth grade at the James A. Dever school and a daughter is currently in the seventh grade at North High School. She said she has the knowledge and experience "to effectively work on behalf of the district's children to secure the educational success of the community."
"Among the many issues facing our district, including the continuing challenge to prepare students to meet rising educational standards, I believe that ensuring the safety of our children is paramount."
Gorham would like to see taxpayer dollars used to strengthen core curriculum areas, such as literacy, mathematics and science. "We must allocate funds to maintain lower class size and provide innovative teacher training." She favors maintaining cultural programs, such as music and art programs, that are already in place in the district.
"I believe that through a well-designed full-day program, young children can start to become life long learners."
Gorham earned a B.A. in psychology from Brooklyn College and a J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law. Admitted to both the New York State and federal Courts, she presently practices part-time in the area of appellate law.
James Tsaveras
James Tsaveras has been a resident in School District 13 for 35 years. He grew up in the district attending Howell Road School and Valley Stream North.
He is a graduate from New York Institute of Technology with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and works for a Valley Stream firm.
Tsaveras choose to run because of school safety concerns. He said the district needs "to keep up with the current times in this country and prevent Columbine from happening here." He mentioned a bomb scare at the James A. Dever School and has questions with sex offender notification as two additional reasons why he is running. He is also concerned with bullies who badger other children.
The district needs to keep paying teachers well in order to maintain "success with educating our children, " he said. He favors maintaining "the latest computer technologies" in all of the schools. He also said the district should allocate money for new books and for paying teacher salaries.
He advocates that parents should stay in touch with their kids and listen to what they have to say. Tsaveras, a Malverne resident, is a T-Ball Little League coach in his spare time.
District 30
Richard Eisenberg, president of District 30's School Board of Education, is running unopposed. Terms of office in District 30 are for five years.
Richard Eisenberg
Richard Eisenberg has lived in Valley Stream with his family for 21 years.
He has been a member of the Elementary District 30 Board of Education since 1984. He also served as president for two terms from 1990-92 and most recently again this past year.
Since 1992, he held the position of chairperson of the negotiating committee of Valley Stream's Joint Boards of Education.
He is running for re-election because he would like to continue serving Valley Stream. Eisenberg, currently District 30's president, said he hoped that his experience would convince voters that he can continue participating in District 30.
While District 30 is faced with increasing enrollment, the High School district is confronted with other challenges, he said. There, the concern is to "consolidate personal changes" with the growing number of younger teachers to insure success, he said.
Eisenberg soon expects to ask residents in District 30 to support a bond proposal. A building project is needed in response to the district's growing enrollment, he said.
That District 30 has had a full day kindergarten since the mid-1980's is something Eisenberg is proud of. He said that the program has "been very successful."
Eisenberg is an attorney with a practice on Long Island.
