Monday, May 19, 2025
The Rockville Centre Board of Education has one seat open, and two candidates are seeking to occupy it. Donna Downing, an English professor at Molloy University, and the board’s current vice president, is seeking a second term, while newcomer David Putterman, a financial consultant and district parent, is seeking his first.
Downing cited progress made during her first term and the challenges ahead as her motivation to continue serving.
“We’ve made great progress during my first term on the board, but the work is not done,” she said. “As a college instructor, I know what comes next for many of our students, and I am the most qualified candidate for this important project.”
A longtime district parent, Downing emphasized her experience in education and deep familiarity with the Rockville Centre schools. Her four children are graduates of South Side High School, having also attended Wilson Elementary and South Side Middle School, and she has also served in leadership roles during a time of state-level shifts in graduation requirements.
Downing highlighted several achievements from her first term, including the expansion of free universal Pre-K through a partnership with the Village of Rockville Centre. She also noted the addition of WIN (What I Need) periods in schools, growth in co-teaching with special education staff and the creation of over 20 new middle and high school courses, including advanced placement offerings. The district also added eight new sports teams and clubs under her watch.
If re-elected, Downing said she plans to focus on implementing the district’s new three-year strategic plan, which she helped develop. The plan prioritizes fiscal accountability, expanded community partnerships — including with Molloy University, the Chamber of Commerce and local organizations like the BackYard Players & Friends — and improved communication with families.
“I will collaborate with parents and families to address our district communications, so that the important information you need is available, when and where you need it,” she said.
Downing pointed to the district’s reputation for academic excellence and inclusive education as key strengths, along with its growth in technology, computer science and artificial intelligence offerings. She also identified a need for the district in strengthening extracurricular opportunities at the elementary and middle school levels.
When it comes to the concerns about the district’s policy of allowing transgender students to use the bathroom aligning with their gender identity, Downing said that the district “must follow the law” and that it is the responsibility of board members to “listen and be responsive to concerns from students, parents, and community members.”
“With the uncertainty around state and national funding for education,” she said, “our board needs an experienced and steady hand, now more than ever.”
Putterman, the father of two children in the Rockville Centre school system, says his candidacy offers a much-needed perspective rooted in business and fiscal expertise.
“We have no one with a financial background who can make sure that we are most effectively making use of our taxpayers’ dollars and purchasing efficiently,” Putterman said. “I will fill that critical role.”
Putterman’s consulting specialty is health care insurance and employee benefits for large companies and municipalities. He emphasized that his background aligns directly with two of the district’s biggest budgetary pressures: health care insurance and transportation.
In terms of academics, Putterman praised the district’s recent strides in science and technology under superintendent Matthew Gaven’s leadership, specifically citing pilot programs like AP Cybersecurity and Integrated AP Computer Science as ways to prepare students for the “exponentially changing world.” Putterman contended, however, that more must be done to improve curriculum alignment, expand course offerings and raise academic expectations.
“We must ask the hard questions and demand excellence, and we must always advocate for continuous improvement,” he said. “Maintaining the status quo is not an option.”
He also called for a reduction in per-pupil spending, which stands at $42,000 annually, while maintaining educational quality.
Putterman emphasized his desire to help students and the district adapt to a changing world and prepare students for what lies ahead.
Asked about the district’s bathroom policy, he said, “Every student needs to feel safe and comfortable in our schools,” citing the “simple answer” of adding single-occupancy bathrooms and locker rooms.
“With uncertainty in both state and federal funding and health care insurance costs rising over 8 percent per year, it is crucial to have a board member who will take care of the balance sheet and provide flexibility to absorb any future expense increases,” Putterman said.
The election, on May 20, will include the Board of Education trustee candidates and the school budget, as well as the Rockville Centre Library budget and trustee candidates. Voting, at the Main Gymnasium at South Side High School, will begin at 7 a.m. and continue until 9 p.m. Absentee ballots must be received by the district clerk no later than 5 p.m. that day.
