Valley Stream School Elections 2023: Incumbents sweep school board races, budgets win wide approval

The ballots have been counted, and voters have not only approved Valley Stream school district budgets, but re-elcted incumbent school board trustees as well, in landslide victories. 

District 24’s $37 million budget passed with 371 votes, 63 percent of the ballots. The proposed tax levy — the money collected through property taxes — increased by a little more than 1 percent.

In the two contested trustee races, incumbents won in a clean sweep. Incumbent Cynthia Nuñez was re-elected to her first full term, with 391 votes, defeating challenger Rachel Figurasmith with 134.

Armando Hernandez was re-elected to a fourth term with 382 votes, successfully fending off challenger Cristina Arroyo.

Melissa Herrera ran uncontested for her seat, and will remain on the board.

Voters also said yes to a ballot proposition asking them to authorize the use of $425,000 from the capital reserve fund to complete roofing improvements to William L. Buck and Robert Cabanaro School and flooring at Brooklyn Avenue School.

At Valley Stream District 13, the proposed budget — totaling $63.8 million — passed with 67 percent of the vote. The proposed tax levy increases by less than 1 percent.

In one of three contested trustee races there, incumbent Gerardo Cavaliere successfully fended off challenger Charles Sanky for his seat. Cavaliere got a fourth term with 798 votes, compared to 384 for Sanky.

Incumbent Patricia Farrell also secured her fourth term, fending off challenger Andrew Sgro with 63 percent of the vote.

Newcomer Anthony Grosso won a decisive victory against Qubilah Mackey-Matos for the open, contested seat currently held by Frank Chiachiere. Grosso won 887 votes, while Mackey-Matos obtained 411.

At Valley Stream District 30, the proposed spending plan of $44.7 million passed with 281 votes. There will be no tax levy increase.

Ingrid Wyllie Dacon ran unopposed, elected to a third term.

Also on the ballot were two propositions asking voters to allow the district to establish a new capital reserve fund not to exceed $10 million over eight years. The other proposition authorizes the use of $2 million from the capital reserve fund for the installation of air conditioning at all three schools. Both propositions passed.

The $149 million proposed spending plan for the Valley Stream Central High School District passed 65 percent of the vote. So did two propositions, including one looking to spend $6.75 million, and another $1.95 million.

For the smaller proposition, the district had hoped to replace hallway lockers, renovate hallway floors at some of the schools, and rebuild a garage and storage facility, among other things.

The larger proposition asked voters to renovate of the districtwide cosmetology department, and add a barbering suite at Central High School, as well as renovate two science classrooms at Memorial Junior High School.