Thursday, October 1, 2026
Three candidates are competing for two three-year terms on the Rockville Centre Board of Education, as incumbent Janet Gruner faces challengers Mary Beth Joyce and Christa Dorrego in this year’s election. The race comes as Trustee Tara Hackett has opted not to seek re-election, bringing an end to her nine-year tenure on the board.
Voters will have an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates at a forum on May 6 in the South Side High School auditorium, ahead of the May 19 election.
Janet Gruner: Incumbent
First elected in 2023, Gruner is seeking a second term on the board, and points to experience gained during what she described as a challenging but productive first three years.
A lifelong resident and graduate of the district, Gruner said her decision to run again is rooted in both personal investment and a desire to apply the lessons she has learned in office.
“I grew up in this town, I went to school here, I came back to raise my family here, I believe in our school system,” she said. “I’d like the chance to continue bringing that experience to help solve a difficult problem,” she added, referring to the budget.
Gruner, 48, described her tenure as largely positive, highlighting expanded extracurricular offerings, additional sports teams and the introduction of universal pre-kindergarten. She also noted her efforts to move the district beyond pandemic-era challenges and internal divisions, emphasizing collaboration and long-term planning.
The 2026-27 budget proved to be one of the most difficult issues of her tenure. Amid criticism over staffing cuts, Gruner defended her support as necessary to stabilize finances and avoid deeper challenges in the future.
“I truly believe that this is the right path forward,” she said. “If we are not making what I think is the hard choice now, I think we’re going to have similar problems next year, and the year after.”
Looking ahead, Gruner said, her priorities include building reserves, exploring opportunities to bring in more revenue and developing a long-term plan. She emphasized maintaining a well-rounded student experience.
“I really do try to weigh all of the things that I hear, and then do what I think is best for the kids,” she said.
Mary Beth Joyce: Challenger
Joyce, a finance professional and the mother of four young children, is running on a platform focused on long-term financial planning and communication with the community.
A village resident since 2022, Joyce said she chose to run after reviewing the district’s spending earlier this year.
“I didn’t approach this thinking, like, ‘Yeah, I really want to be on the school board,’” she said. “I came to this thinking I want to just participate as a parent and understand what’s going on so I can also tell my friends what’s going on.”
Joyce, 45, brings a background in finance and accounting, including experience as a chief financial officer, a consultant at the management consulting firm McKinsey, and roles in government and public accounting. She earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and a master’s in accounting from Notre Dame, and is a CPA and a CFA charterholder.
After analyzing the district’s finances, Joyce became concerned about its overall trajectory. “We are in a pretty tough financial position currently,” she said, citing high per-pupil spending and low reserves compared with similar school districts.
While she emphasized that instructional spending reflects community priorities, Joyce questioned sustainability without long-term planning, and said that the budget process revealed gaps in public understanding.
“It was clear that there was not enough common understanding to even have a productive discussion,” she said.
She advocates a multi-year financial plan that incorporates enrollment trends, rising costs and projections rather than year-to-year budgeting. Most spending aligns with peer districts, she said, though external tuition warrants review, and savings beyond instruction would likely be incremental.
“I’m running because I think there’s a very specific need I can fill,” Joyce said.
Christa Dorrego: Challenger
Dorrego, a Rockville Centre resident for over a decade and a finance executive with nearly 30 years of experience, is seeking a seat on the board citing a need for accountability, transparency and stronger communication at a pivotal time for the district.
Dorrego, 56, is co-president of the South Side High School PTSA and vice president of Special Education Partners. As a parent of two students, including one in special education, she said her experience navigating the district has shaped her perspective.
“I’m the oldest school mom on the playground, that's for sure,” she said. “But I think my seasoned situation also helps me. I think some younger parents who have not had children in the district for that long, they don’t understand the true curriculum, and they don’t understand the challenges that you face in, say, a middle school or a high school. So I think the fact that I am seasoned provides that experience, provides that knowledge and that value that I’ve seen it all.”
Dorrego is a co-founder and the managing director of Arnhold LLC, and previously had senior positions at a number of financial firms. Her strengths, she said, are in governance, risk assessment and compliance, and she pointed to the district’s current budget as a motivating factor in her decision to run.
She said that families have raised concerns about both financial decisions and classroom impact. “Families are worried about reduced programming,” she said. “There are questions about the student experience.”
Dorrego said she would prioritize stronger communication and rebuilding trust between the board and community. “I’m committed to restoring the trust, to open dialogue, steady and accountable governance,” she said.
