by Matt Hampton
None of the eight seats which across Elmont, Franklin Square and Valley Stream have a contested race, and only two faces will be changing.
In Elmont, board of education member Pamela Byer ceding her seat. The only candidate running to replace her is Patrick Emeagwali, who will take the position with just one vote cast. Board President Frank Ragona is running unopposed for his own seat, as well. Both Emeagwali and Ragona will be starting three year terms.
Down the street in Franklin Square, Helen Hoffman, Jerome Monaco and Pamela Margaroli have all decided to run again, and are doing so unopposed.
Valley Stream's District 13, which serves many families and children from the area, is also enjoying a run-of-the-mill election season, with Board President William Stris and trustee Jeanne Greco Jacobs running unopposed for the seats they already hold. There is a vacant seat in the district, formerly held by Bonnie Gorham, which will result in a one year term for Joan Gartner, the only person who has elected to run.
According to members who are already on their selected boards, however, just because the elections are already decided, doesn't mean there won't be any excitement over the coming year.
Ragona was quick to point out that every year presents its own challenges, and having a board that is familiar with each other, and how they work, will be a big help.
"What I foresee is a very cohesive board that will have the same agenda this year as last year," Ragona said. "To continue to provide the best quality education for our children. ... The challenges that we're facing this year are never ending unfunded governmental mandates, and we have to be very creative to find ways to continue to educate our children and be fiscally responsible to our taxpayers."
Joseph Armocida, president of the Franklin Square School board, said the lack of strong competition for the board seats is a little disappointing, but it doesn't have to represent a negative for the district.
"We have a good board, it works very well together, we each bring a different opinion to the board," he said.
Armocida, made it clear that the coming year is a big one for his district because of their search for a superintendent to replace the departing Dr. Thomas Dolan.
The board revealed in an April 21 meeting that they would be hiring an interim superintendent - Dr. Anthony Pecorale - to serve while the board completes their search.
"[Pecorale] is a retired superintendent, and has done interim work at other districts, mainly on Long Island," Armocida said. "The vote [to confirm] will be on May 6."
The search should get started in earnest sometime around January of next year, Armocida said, with the board hoping to have their candidate selected by March or April 2010.
School board elections will be held in every district on May 19.
