By Nicole Falco
Debra Evans and Joseph DiSibio are contending for election to District 13's Board of Education. They are vying for the seat currently held by Dr. Marie Connelly, who is not seeking reelection. Trustees Dr. Frank Chiachiere and Cathy Subbiondo are seeking reelection unopposed in the district.
In District 24, newcomer Ian Wraith is seeking election unopposed. Wraith will fill the vacancy left by Henrietta Carbonaro, who announced plans to retire after 30 years when her term ends in June. Trustees Carole Meaney and Paul DePace are seeking reelection unopposed.
In District 30, Dr. Maria Fletcher is running unopposed.
Debra Evans
Evans previously sought election to District 13's board in 2003. Connelly won election with 38 percent of the vote compared to Evans's 35 percent. A third contender, James DeFranco, garnered 27 percent.
"I feel I'll offer a fresh perspective during the budgeting process," Evans said. "There may be ways that some things can be handled differently."
As senior associate director of student financial services at Adelphi University, Evans said she has gained insight into what students need at the primary and secondary levels to be successful in college.
"I see the students who come to us who are lacking in so many ways," Evans said. "I want to make sure we are doing the best we can for our students."
Evans is a graduate of Willow Road School and North High School. Her two children, now 32, also graduated from Willow and North. She lives in North Valley Stream with her husband, John.
Joseph DiSibio
After last year's budget was voted down, DiSibio decided it was time to learn more about the budget process. The North High graduate got involved with the PTA and even used his background as director of finance for the Huntington's Disease Society of America to help other parents understand the process, as well.
"I just felt like there was a great deal of miscommunication going on between the board and the parents of the school district in regard to the budget, the cost realities of running the school district," DiSibio said. "My goal is just to make sure that the district, overall, is being run properly and parents understand what i going on."
DiSibio lives in Franklin Square with his wife, Ann Marie, who is treasurer of the Willow Road School PTA. The couple's oldest child attends North. Their younger two attend Willow.
Ian Wraith
After years of being told he should run for school board, Wraith, who is running unopposed, said he finally felt the time was right.
"I want to get people more involved or at least hear their ideas," he said. "I know there are a lot of people who have ideas and the board is only as good as the ideas it gets from the community."
A Valley Stream resident for 11 years, Wraith and his wife, Alida, have a daughter at South High and a son at the Brooklyn Avenue School. He owns home improvement contracting business.
Comments about this story? NFalco@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208
