Valley Stream has a long tradition of caring for its children and doing what it takes to assure a quality education for every child. That tradition was nowhere more in evidence than at two recent events: Lights on for Education and the Authors & Artists weekend celebration of the high school district's 75th anniversary.
The authors and artists event was yet one more example of the strong and continuing history of Valley Stream education. The high school district's list of distinguished alumni is long and remarkable. Professionals and celebrated individuals in many fields owe their formative education to the Central High School District's teachers.
Lights on for Education was a combined display of the work of students from all the elementary school districts and the junior highs and high schools. The amazing quality of the art, science, history, social studies, dance and career-related enterprise going on in Valley Stream's schools would alone be enough to confirm that residents' tax dollars are being well spent.
But make no mistake, the boards of education are asking for more and more of those tax dollars every year.
This year, the high school district seeks a 6.75 percent increase; District 13 wants a 6 percent increase; District 24 says it needs 9.6 percent more and District 30 is asking for 6.8 percent more.
The average cost per pupil, arrived at simply by dividing the total budget by the number of students in the district, reveals that Valley Stream spends a lot of money on education. If the budgets are approved and enrollment increases as projected, the high school district's average per-pupil cost will be $14,400. In District 13, it will be $11,429. In District 24, it will be $13,600. And in District 30, it's $10,400.
We think residents should approve these budgets. With the ever-rising bar of state standards, school officials are putting more and more money into special programs to help students achieve well on state tests in both the elementary and secondary levels.
We endorse the budgets and urge every registered voter to go out and cast a supportive ballot.
That said, we also believe far too few people participate in the entire education process. Like too many other things in life, the great many abdicate their sovereignty over significant matters to the very few, and selfless and dedicated as those few are, it's too easy for them to develop a myopic focus on single issues. It's one thing to let experts decide the best pedagogical method for meeting state standards, and quite another to let a dozen or so education professionals and elected schools-centered representatives decide how much more money residents must pay every year to educate the children of their community.
While we strongly urge approval of each of the Valley Stream budgets, we just as strongly urge people to start showing up at budget hearings, at curriculum development discussions, at regular monthly business meetings. Whether a taxpayer has a child in school or not, it is everybody's business to know what's going on, and to raise a voice about Valley Stream education.
Board of Education positions
Trustee positions are up for election in all three Valley Stream school districts. In District 13, incumbent Karl Lunan is running unopposed for one seat, and James Tsaveras and Bonnie Gorham are running for the one other seat available. In District 24 the seats are decided at-large. Two incumbents and three challengers are running for three seats. And in District 30, Richard Eisenberg is running unopposed for the seat he already occupies.
District 13 endorsements
We endorse Bonnie Gorham for the board in this district. Gorham has been attending the school board meetings and knows what's going on. She's a past PTA member and has served on numerous committees. She's already involved in an active way in the district's leadership, and we think she's a natural choice for the board.
It's a tough choice, though. James Tsaveras is an engineer who grew up in Valley Stream and has children in the district right now. He's concerned with real issues and has the life experience with management and budgets to entrust with taxpayer money.
We wish Gorham and Tsaveras could both serve on the board, but with only one seat available, we think Gorham's the one. We hope Tsaveras stays deeply involved. The district can use his skills and dedication.
District 24
For two of the three seats available, we endorse the incumbents in the race, Anthony Iadevaio and Frank Nuara. Iadevaio is the current district president and has given 21 years to the needs and interests of the children in this part of Valley Stream. Nuara now serves as the high school board president and is a voice for reason and discipline on the board. We think the district is well-served by these two volunteers and we think they ought to be reelected.
For the third seat available, we endorse Lawrence Trogel. He attends every district meeting, asks probing questions and is fiercely committed to improving reading scores. We agree with him that reading levels and standards are keys to academic and, later, career success.
We applaud the candidacy of the two other challengers, Michael Belfiore and Ron Uzenski. We hope they stay committed to the needs of the students in District 24 and keep speaking out for what's best for the kids and the taxpayers.
District 30
Richard Eisenberg is running unopposed and needs no endorsement. Nonetheless, we think District 30 voters should come out in large numbers to say a resounding yes to his reelection. His contributions to the capital and academic interests of the district have been many and significant, and residents should feel great to have him continue to serve.
