compiled by Liz McBreen and Jerry Burke
Three-year term: two candidates
Incumbent
Carole Rilling
Carole Ann Rilling is a retired English Teacher for the Garden City School District. She received both a Bachelor and Masters degree in English from the University of Albany. She is married to William Rilling, a lifetime member of the Lakeview Fire Deparment, and her daughter, Amy, graduated from the West Hempstead School District and from Union College.
The two issues that concern Rilling the most are high academic standards and fiscal integrity. She believes that a district must strive for student mastery in all subjects, and that scores on the New York State standardized exams needs to increase, as well as the number of students achieving New York State Regents diplomas. Rilling also feels that in spite of massive budget cuts by the state, a quality education must be ensured for students while the board of education remains fiscally responsible.
Rilling has been instrumental in bringing a full-day kindergarten Center to the West Hempstead district as well as a Summer Recreation Program, a nine period school day, increasing the percentage of students receiving Regents diplomas from 44% to 73% in the last four years, increased staff development and extra help time for all students mandated.
Challenged by
Walter Ejnes
Walter Ejnes has been a resident of West Hempstead for 29 years, and he is a graduate of the West Hempstead School District. His daughter Kelly is currently in 4th grade his son Jake is in 3rd grade. He has over 16 years business and management experience with extensive budgetary responsibility. He is well prepared to take on the task of representing West Hempstead's residents as a School Board Trustee.
As a member of the West Hempstead School Board, his number one priority would be to improve the quality of education in the school system. He feels there absolutely no reason that West Hempstead Schools should not be ranked among the very best on Long Island. He also wants to provide a safe and supportive education environment. Safety initiatives must include violence prevention measures, delinquency prevention initiatives, class-size reduction efforts, counseling programs, and reforms that meet the needs of under served children and families. He also desires to work towards developing trust that is currently lacking in our school system by promoting collaboration between the School Board, administration, educators, and parents.
Ejnes feels that education is a promise to our children, a promise that they will be equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow. As a School Board member, he wants to provide the community with a sense of pride in its schools and make a commitment to the futures of all West Hempstead's children. Ejnes would like to bring change and fresh ideas, and a new energy that is needed to bring our schools to a higher level.
Three-year term: Unchallenged
James Mariano
James Mariano has been a resident of West Hempstead for 25 years, and a trustee for the West Hempstead Board of Education since 1994. A recipient of an Award of Distinction from the New York State School Board Association, he served as Vice President of the board during 1995 and 1996, and President between 1997 and 2001. He is also a member of the District Safety Committee and a life member of the PTA, PTSA and SEPTA.
Mariano graduated from SUNY Farmingdale with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and has received Certificates of Achievement, Merit and Distinction from the New York State School Board Association. He has two children. Christine attends West Hempstead High School, and Stephen is a graduate of Adelphi University.
In his professional life, Mariano has served as Vice President at Cathedral Service Station from 1975 to the present, President of Chapel Automotive from 1985-1994 and President of Cathedral Real Properties from 1988-1994.
To have successful schools, Mariano believes that it is necessary to have people in leadership positions that are committed to the children of the community. He considers himself one of these people, and he intends to continue to use what he has learned to protect quality education and to ensure fiscal responsibility to the community.
Mariano intends to continue to provide, for all children in the West Hempstead community, excellent educational opportunities and a safe environment, at an affordable price, keeping West Hempstead a desirable place to live. Although these are challenging times, Mariano feels that the West Hempstead district is truly a learning organization where all children benefit from the educational programs it offers.
One-year term: Four candidates
(This will complete the final year of resigning board member Phillip Frank's three year-term, which began 2001).
Douglas Rodriguez
Douglas Rodriguez received an A.A.S. degree from S.U.N.Y Farmingdale and B.S. degree in computer science from New York Institute Of Technology. He was married in 1991, and he has two children. He and his family have been residents of WH since 1998.
His daughter is now in second grade, and his son just began kindergarten this year, so he was able to take advantage of the new Chestnut School kindergarten facility. He and his wife have been members of the PTA since 2000. As a parent of children in the school district, he has a different view than some members on the school board. Even though he is more familiar with George Washington & Chestnut School, he is looking forward to getting involved with all the schools in the district. By getting elected to the West Hempstead school board, he will be in a unique position of having a positive impact in children's education and managing the cost of that education.
One of his main goals is maintaining and improving. He feels it is necessary to control the cost and improve the quality of education. That is a difficult job for anyone, but Rodriguez knows it can be achieved by showing the community that West Hempstead's education is top notch and children do not need to leave our district to receive quality education.
By doing so, he hopes enrollment and state funding will increase. A positive side affect of maintaining children in the district is the cost reduction of transporting West Hempstead children to other schools, thus not subsidizing other schools to educate them. He feels that if state funds are allocated appropriately, WH can become one of the Nassau County's top school districts, if the community works together.
Davis Whelpley
Davis Whelpley is a retired Corporate Treasurer for a multinational corporation, and two of his children have graduated for the West Hempstead school system. His youngest daughter currently attends West Hempstead High School. Whelpley says that his older children both made career choices while attending WH schools, and they have been successful. Whelpley feels that his experience as an active parent and a long-time resident of the community gives him a great affinity for the schools in his community. He held a position on the school board from 1966 to 1970.
He believes that the current school system is strong, but that as a member of the school board he can utilize his skills and experience to make it even better. Whelpley has a long career dealing in budgets and financial planning, and he has volunteered extensively in the community, schools and church.
Whelpley currently works as a part time employee at the West Hempstead Public Library and is an active member of the PTSA, SEPTA and the High School Site Based Team. He believes that the strength of the nation lies in direct proportion to the strength of the public schools, and he thinks of giving back to the community as a moral obligation. Whelpley feels that in every large enterprise, there are areas that can be improved. He feels that he has the time, skills, experience and motivation to become a productive member of the school board.
Scott Snyder
Scott Snyder is running for the open seat on the board. He is a Technical Support Analyst, and he has one child who attends West Hempstead High School, and one in West Hempstead Middle School. one in the
Snyder has served as either president or co-president of West Hempstead SEPTA for the past eight years. During that time, it has evolved into one of the largest and most productive SEPTAs in New York State. and has also been on the Site-Based Teams of the George Washington and Cornwell elementary schools. He served as the Ways and Means Chairman of Nassau District PTA for two years, and Education Chairman of the West Hempstead Civic Association for one.
Snyder has been the recipient of the 1998 West Hempstead Education Association Award for "Outstanding Service to our Students," the Golden Circle of Leadership Award from the New York State PTA in 1999 and a Certificate of Merit from the West Hempstead School Board, also in 1999.
As a candidate for the board, Snyder is aware of the obstacles that face the district, such as building a new library, implementing an all-Regents program and solving the problems of space faced by the district. He believes he has the kind of experience that will ensure that his is a positive contribution to the West Hempstead School Board.
Jerrold Koznesoff
Jerrold Koznesoff is a Real Estate Appraiser, and he received a BBA from Temple University and MBA in Banking Finance. He also teaches continuing education classes in real estate. Koznesoff decided to run for the school board, because he has a vested interest in the education offered in the West Hempstead district since his son Jayk was born five months ago.
Koznesoff grew up in West Hempstead, and values the education he received there. He would like to see the district go back to the format that existed when he was in the school system. Every two grades had their own building, in addition to the middle school and high school. Koznesoff believes that this would foster a more unified community, and allow students and parents from all over West Hempstead to get to know each other. He feels that the current system, that is, having two separate elementary schools, causes the community to be segregated.
