By MIKE CAPUTO
With a 4-2 vote at its July 1 reorganization meeting, the board appointed Parisi to fill the vacancy left by former Trustee Diana DeVito, who abruptly resigned in June with two years remaining in her term.
"I thought I made some contributions while I was there," said Parisi, who was nominated by Board President Brian O'Flaherty. "I had a desire to come back to help and work with everybody to take the school district to the next level."
Parisi will serve through next June. To serve the final year of DeVito's vacated term in 2010-11, Parisi must appear on next May's school budget/trustee election ballot.
Like most recent school board votes, Parisi's appointment met with some opposition. Trustees Steven Jacobs and Al Semonella voted against the appointment, though they emphasized that they were opposed not to Parisi, but to the process. "I voted against the process, not the man," Semonella said.
Semonella said he was unaware of the board's intention to appoint Parisi until he received a fax earlier that day. He expressed his disdain that the full board had not discussed the appointment, given that there were other candidates worthy of consideration.
One of those who expressed interest was Anthony LaRosa, who lost to Trustee Walter Skinner in the May elections. LaRosa, who was backed by the East Meadow Teachers Association, did not hide his displeasure as he sat in on the reorganization meeting. He told the Herald that garnering more than 1,800 votes should have at least earned him a mention.
"I did a lot of work, and all of a sudden people are coming out of nowhere," LaRosa said. "Where were they on May 19, when a spot was up for anybody in East Meadow?"
Despite his no vote, Semonella was one of several trustees who warmly shook Parisi's hand after he was sworn.
Following the vote, O'Flaherty was re-elected president, while Abby Rothschild-Kaplan was voted in as the board's new vice president. Walter Skinner, who served as vice president last year, voluntarily stepped down and nominated Rothschild-Kaplan for the position.
Meet the new trustee
Parisi's history of involvement in the community goes beyond his time on the school board. He is the president of the Council of East Meadow Community Organizations, or CEMCO, a conglomerate of groups and individuals that meets monthly to discuss issues facing the community. He has been its president for the last 10 years and a member since 1989.
Parisi, 55, a director for the Citi corporation, has lived in East Meadow since 1982. He and his wife, Grace, have four children ranging in age from 20 to 12, all of whom have attended East Meadow schools. He is an assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop No. 362.
Colleagues and community members appeared happy with the board's choice. "Joe Parisi is impartial, fair and a wonderful asset to this school board," said Trustee Marcee Rubinstein.
"He has always proven to make intelligent and valid decisions," said Maria Smith, a longtime district PTA leader. "I welcome him with warm arms."
Parisi, who served during the lengthy contract negotiations between the district and the East Meadow Teachers Association, said he is prepared for the economic challenges ahead. "I think the environment in Albany and the overall economic situation is going to be one of the most important issues to deal with," he said, lauding the board and administrators for crafting a budget that preserved jobs and programs and kept taxes to a minimum. "I don't think the work is done, and I think the same kind of effort from last year has to continue."
The divisiveness among trustees over the past couple of years is something that Parisi said he hopes to alleviate. "The division that does exist is not good for anybody, first and foremost for the kids, and second the community," he said. "I am going to work with everybody, reach out to those with differing opinions and find a common ground."
Of the possibility of bringing the board together, Parisi said, "It can happen. It really can happen."
Comments about this story? MCaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
