Meet Your School Board Candidates

School Board Elections May 18

By Erica Jackson

Aside from being asked to vote on their respective school budgets on May 18, voters may also choose to place a ballot for school board members. All local district candidates, with the exception of Hauppauge School District candidates, are facing off against challengers.  

In Commack, incumbent Allen Leon is being challenged for his seat by Brian Bass, Jeffrey Egan and George Marine.  Incumbent Joseph Pennacchio is also being challenged. Janine DiGiralamo and Paulette Mancuso are vying for his seat.  Both open seats are for 3-year terms.

Brian Bass says he is running for school board “in order to preserve the quality of education offered to our children.”  He says he believes it is “of paramount importance that our children have the same privileges and opportunities that we had when we were students.”

Bass, who has lived in Commack for the past 17 years with his wife, Lori and two children, Jason and Eric, is a self employed attorney.  He has a BA from the State University of New York in Albany and graduated Cum Laude.

If elected, Bass says he will “seek to preserve and enhance our system of education, by making sure that the district’s administrative costs are in sync with the wealth of the community.”  

Jeffrey Egan says if elected, he “looks forward to tackling the challenges that lay ahead with public education in general and how those changes will affect the Commack School District.”  He said, “We all want the best education for our children, but we must now balance the cost of education with the increasing tax burden on our community. Commack School District must become as effective and efficient as possible in operating a one hundred and sixty million dollar budget with keeping the Blue Ribbon standards that we have built for our district. As a board of education trustee, I will do everything possible to help Commack School District achieve all our educational goals.”

Egan and his wife, Heather reside in East Northport. They have four children, Ryan, Connor, Brady and Shannon, who all attend Commack schools. Egan is the owner of the Changing Times Pub in Farmingdale and the Changing Times Ale House in East Northport. He is an adjunct professor at Farmingdale State College where he teaches entrepreneurship, small business management, and management theories. He holds a Masters Degree in educational management.

Janine  DiGiralamo believes that her affiliations with a number of school-based groups and community organizations has given her the experience and skills necessary to serve on the board of education. She said, “I have been extremely active at all levels of these organizations and have developed a reputation as someone who is hard working, organized and able to rally support and volunteers even when participation is low. Above all, I am honest, fair and loyal.”

If elected, DiGiralamo says she will “work tirelessly to network and lobby with state politicians to insure that Commack taxpayers are duly represented”  She said, “And I will make sure taxpayers stay informed by making myself and vital information consistently available to them so they too can take and active roll in protecting the education in Commack from becoming a casualty of the state’s budgetary blunders.”

DiGiralamo is a 46-year resident of Commack. She and her husband, Ben have two sons in the school district.  DiGiralamo is a stay-at-home mom who is a PTA volunteer. She holds a degree in computer programing and is involved in Tiger Cubs, the school-based management team at Rolling Hills primary School and ` Sawmill Intermediate School. She is a member of the Rolling Hills PTA Executive Committee, the MSIS PTA Executive Board, the Commack Middle School PTA Executive Board, the Commack PTA Council executive committee and she is a member of the Commack Parent Network. 

Paulette Mancuso says she would like to serve on the board of education because she “knows the upcoming years will prove to be financially challenging” and as a volunteer of many committees in the district, she says she has “gained knowledge of the operation of the district and the programs it offers.” She said “I feel that since I am so active in my community, I can bring much feedback to the board of education.”

If elected, Mancuso says she will work to relieve the tax burden on the community and address the social/emotional issues of the district’s students by finding new ways to deal with drug problems and social issues. She said she will also look to ensure that community members are fully informed about the districts revenues and expenses through financial disclosure.

Mancuso is a 20-year Commack resident with three children attending Commack Schools.  She is a respiratory therapist who is involved in Girl Scouts and the Montrose Drive Falcons Neighborhood Block Watch. She is also a member of the IH PTA, IH Executive board, the Burr PTA, the Burr PTA Executive Board, the CMS PTA, CHS PTA, the CHS Executive board, the PTA Council and Christ the King religious education program.

Allen Leon, George Marine andJoseph Pennacchio did not return phone calls as of press time.

In Hauppauge, incumbent candidates Ginger Todaro, Geri Ricter and Bob Schnebel are all running unchallenged.  Their seats are for 3-year terms.

Ginger Todaro, is seeking reelection in an effort to “ensure that all children have the opportunity to receive the very finest educational experience without sacrificing fiscal integrity.”  She said, “The road ahead remains challenging and needs proven leadership.”

As an 11-year member of the board of education, Todaro says she has worked with fellow board members to form a new reserve fund “that can anticipate building repairs without another bond.” She said the board has also expanded the LOTE program and “more students than ever before are entering educational competitions.”

Todaro and her husband, Jim, have lived in Hauppauge for 34-years. They have a daughter, Gina, who graduated from Hauppauge schools.

Todaro holds a degree in history from C.W. Post Collage and is the director of marketing and purchasing for the Girl Scout Council of Suffolk County.  She is also a member of the Hauppauge Educational Foundation.

Geri Richter, a programming consultant, who designs accounting databases, says she is running to continue to help the school district move forward “while it deals with dwindling state aid.”  She said, “I believe that my knowledge and experience in school district budgeting and finances, school legal issues and collective bargaining will be invaluable as the board looks for ways to negotiate tighter contracts, cut spending, sharing services and managing reserve funds.  We can then preserve and continue to improve the educational program of the district while maintaining its strong condition.”

During her six years on the board, Richter says she has actively sought to become proficient in school district finances.  She said, “while on the board, I proposed the formation of a committee to examine and strengthen the internal controls of the district and served on that committee for several years.”

Richter is the chair of the Hauppauge School District Audit Committee and a member of the district’s policy and public relations committees. In the past, she has served as president of the Pines PTA and was a Girl Scout leader.

Richter and her husband, Fred have lived in Hauppauge for 25 years and have five children, three of them are still enrolled in Hauppauge schools.

Bob Schnebel, a 12-year board member says he will continue to work to ensure that the district is able to provide its students with a proper education despite cuts in state aid.  He said, “School districts need to put the pressure on the politicians to deliver a state budget on time, eliminate unfunded mandates, and give Long Island our fair share of state aid.”

Schnebel, who has lived in Hauppauge for 28 years, with his wife, Sue, has three children. Two attend Hauppauge Middle School.

Schnebel is an executive recruiter and holds a BS in elementary education from Wagner College.

In Kings Parkfive candidates are vying for two, three-year term seats.  The candidates are incumbent Neil Johnson,Walter Lahmann, Jennifer Ryan,  Liz Barrett, and Thomas Locascio.

Neil Johnsonis the president of Universal Photonics. He holds a M.B.A. from Columbia University, a B.B.A. from Adelphi University, and an A.S. from Nassau Community College.

In his next term, Johnson says he hopes to “continue his membership on the board to provide balanced, effective education at the lowest possible cost to the community while maintaining the high standards that the district has worked very hard to establish.”  He said, “Educational excellence, financial conservatism and serving the community with the best possible educational system are constant goals we must continue to achieve.”  

Johnson and his wife, Patricia have lived in the district for 17 years. They have two children in the school district, Scott and Samantha.

Liz Barrett is a 34-year Kings Park resident who is running to “restore pride in the Kings Park Central School district, which once stood as the hallmark of the community.  She said, “Recently, our students have experienced the significant loss of valuable educational resources. This includes, the departure of administrators, cuts in teacher staffing, as well as support personnel.” To accomplish her goal, she said she will “identify the reasons behind the erosion of morale and ‘sense of community’ and then “take action to eliminate these impediments.” Most importantly, she said she will “exercise fiscal responsibility and reestablish a strong educational team.”

Barrett is an American Airlines flight attendant. She and her husband, Richard have three children in the school district. Barrett is member of the Park View PFA and William T. Rogers PFA. She has also been a Suffolk County Girl Scout leader and religious education teacher at St. Joseph’s Church.

Walter Lahmann, Jr,who is the CEO of Walcorp, Inc. of Northport and TunerWear, Inc., says that as owner and CEO of a $61,000,000 company that he started with $500 at the age of 19, he can bring top management perspectives to the school board. He said, “I would like to reduce costs without reducing the educational experience. He also wants to “make sure that the district’s children learn about the greatest country on Earth, how it was founded, the importance of its  founding documents and learn a sense of patriotism.”

Lahmann is a 14-year Kings park resident.  He has two children, who attended Centerport schools.  Lahmann has been a member of the LaSalle Military Academy, president of Fathers Club, Chairman of Beef-o-rama fundraiser, the Tri-Village Little League and the Babe Ruth League and an All Star traveling manager.

Thomas Locasciosays if elected, he plans to address unfunded mandates. He said, “Each year, our district spends thousands of dollars on programs that are mandated by Albany and Washington, yet we do not receive financial support to pay for these.”  He says he will make this a top priority and work with local officials to provide relieve for the school district. Locascio says he will also focus on pursuing state and federal grants to supplement the district’s budget and “allow for the district to offer programs, both academic and athletic that the community simply cannot afford to pay for in its school budget.”  

Locascio graduated St. John’s University with a BA in Political Science/Business. He currently serves as the Director of District operations for the New York State Senate.  He is a member of the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce, Order of Italy-Father John Papallo Lodge, Knights of Columbus- Father Seyfried Council, and the Kings Park Civic Association.

Locascio has lived in Kings Park for two years.  He and his wife are expecting their first child in September.

Jennifer Ryan says she is running because she wants to “help make sure education is not only maintained but enhanced while preserving the community by keeping Kings Park affordable.  She said, “I have a unique perspective to offer, a member of a multi generational family, I see the value of education and can make hard choices — like you, my neighbors.”

Ryan is a business owner who has lived in Kings Park for the past 45 years.  She is a mother of children who attended schools in the school district and is a member of the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce. She is also a Girl Scout leader, a member of the Smithtown Business and Professional Women's Network and has served on RJO and PTO as president.

In Smithtown, incumbent Theresa Knox is running to keep her three-year seat from Pam Farino and Richard Antonacci.  Incumbent Louis Liguori is unchallenged for his seat.

Theresa Knox says she is running for reelection for several reasons.  She said, “I believe in the value of public education to the community, to our future, to the individual child. There is no single topic. I am not running for superintendent, however, in the course of this term, the board will probably be appointing a new superintendent.  I believe I have a real understanding of the qualities a superintendent requires, of the expectations of this community and of a meaningful search process.”

Knox says in these hard economic times, many difficult decisions on the board had to be made. She said, “Efficiencies are always to be sought and the impact on the students is always to be part of the equation. I just read a quote in Newsweek from Hillary Clinton. Although she was talking about Foreign Policy, it represents my thinking, ‘We can’t just walk out of the arena and leave these important decisions to somebody else because it’s messy, it’s difficult, it requires compromise. That’s what you have to do...’  I feel I have the background and perspective to make decisions that represent the community effectively.”

Knox and her husband, John, have lived in the school district for the past 23 years.  They have three children, who have all graduated from Smithtown Schools.

Knox holds a BA in English at SUNY Stony Brook and has worked at Citbank in the Capital Markets Division in Dividend Reinvestment and Corporate Trust Department as a Senior Trust Officer. 

While her children were in school, she said she spent time volunteering for Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. She has been active in the Nesconset PTA and Smithtown High School PTSA.

Pam Farino says seven years ago she began attending school board meetings regularly. She says attending those meetings has prepared her to be a responsible, effective, and vocal board member. She said, “I have already been fighting for our children and taxpayers as an audience participant. I hope now I will have the opportunity to serve as a voting member of the board.”

If elected, she said she will work to “advance the district’s educational programs to meet the needs of the twenty-first century, aggressively promote detailed tracking of the needs of the district’s schools, lobby state legislators for relief and insist on responsible management for the district’s tax dollars.”  She said she will also “look to cut district spending as enrollment declines, but not at the expense of educational quality.”

Farino has lived in the district for the past 11 years. She and her husband have a daughter in 9th grade and a son in 6th grade.  She is a trustee of the Sweetbriar Nature Center and has served as Deacon for the First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown.

Richard Antonacci, a bank executive, says if elected, he will use “his 25- years as a business executive to promote budget prudence to ensure that taxpayer money is used to its maximum efficiency to maintain educational program excellence for the district’s children.”  He said, “As a member of the board, I will require more transparency from the school administration in an effort to budget expenditures more precisely and reduce excess.”

Antonacci, who holds a BA from SUNY Cortland, has lived in the school district with his wife, Ilka for the past ten years. They have two children, Zachary and Tess, who attend Great Hollow Middle School.

Louis Liguori did not return phone calls as of press time.