Incumbents Unopposed In Huntington

By Jano Tantongco
jtantongco@longislandergroup.com

The Huntington Union Free School District has two seats expiring this year, with their incumbents seeking additional three-year terms unopposed.

Jennifer Hebert, 49, is completing her second term and has been a board member since 2011, also serving as its vice president.

She graduated from The Wheatley School in the East Williston School District in 1986. She then attended Tufts University in Boston, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1990, then her master’s in teaching the following year.

Before coming back to Long Island, she taught kindergarten in Massachusetts for several years.

Hebert now works as the director of St. John’s Nursery School in Huntington village.

She and her husband Jamie have lived in the town for 20 years and have three children, two who attend district schools.

She has previously served as PTA president and treasurer for the district, as well.

Hebert said she advocates for supporting gifted students, but also hopes to enhance support for those students who are not performing as well to ensure everyone leaves the district with a “solid foundation.”

“We’ve been making some really good headway on closing the achievement gap, and I would like to see us continue to do that,” Hebert said.

Also on the heels of completing a second term is incumbent Xavier Palacios, who was was elected to his current term in May 2015.

Palacios graduated from Huntington High School in 1988, subsequently earning his bachelor’s degree from Columbia University, followed by his Juris Doctor from Boston University’s School of Law.

He owns and serves as managing partner of the Mineola-based Palacios Law Group. In 2008, Palacios purchased and renovated a property in Huntington Station, where he established a satellite law office for his practice.

In his time at Huntington, he also volunteers as the high school’s mock trial team’s legal advisor to train students in courtroom strategies.

He and his wife, Laura, have three children, including a daughter who graduated from the high school in 2016, along with a first-grade and third-grade daughter at Flower Hill Primary School.

He also helped to found Huntington Matters, a leading civic group in the town.

Budget, capital fund proposals

School district residents will also vote on the proposed $126.21 million 223 budget, which represents a 2.53 percent increase over the current budget. If given the green light, the tax levy would increase by 1.35 percent, which is below the limit of 1.89 percent established by the state’s property tax cap.

Also on the ballot are two capital reserve fund propositions that would have no impact on taxes, with the first one approving $2.5 million to be released from the existing Building Improvement Fund for construction and renovations across the district.

The second proposal would create an all-new Building Improvement Fund for district-wide renovation and reconstruction projects. Existing monies would be used to create the new fund with $12.5 million.

A public budget hearing will be held at Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School at 7:30 p.m. on May 8.

The budget votes and election will be held on May 16 at Huntington High School from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

3 Vying For 2 Seats In South Huntington

By Andrew Wroblewski
awroblewski@longislandergroup.com

With two incumbents not seeking reelection, three candidates have emerged to fill the soon-to-be vacant seats on the South Huntington school board.

Andrew Bronson, an attorney and 15-year South Huntington resident; Sidney Joyner, a real estate broker and 13-year Huntington resident; and Thomas Teresky, an attorney and 29-year Huntington Station resident; are each vying for a three-year seat on the board.

Incumbents Jim Kaden and Lisa Brieff are not seeking reelection.

Election day is May 16.

Andrew Bronson

Bronson, who is married and has two sons who are enrolled in the district, said he would use skills he’s used as an attorney with big-four accounting firm KPMG since 2003 if elected.

He regularly presents to both large and small audiences, works closely with management and HR on personnel matters, helps create and review polices, negotiates daily and assists in annual budgeting processes.

The 50-year-old added, I’m “approachable, responsive, fair-minded, and a team player. I am always willing to listen and to learn from what others have to say.”

Bronson said he wants to manage class sizes, expand the number and types of electives and extracurricular activities offered and improve equipment and facilities. But, he added, Bronson wants to accomplish those things when the district is fiscally sound and the moves are financially feasible.

A regular at district board meetings, Bronson is also currently a member of its audit committee. He’s also coached sports, chaperoned school trips, participated in Autism Speaks and other walks and recently read to first graders at Oakwood Primary Center as part of KPMG’s Family for Literacy program to combat childhood illiteracy.

He’s a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, where he double majored in economic and psychology. He later went on to Emory Law School and is licensed to practice law in New York and Georgia.

Sidney Joyner

Joyner, who is married and has two children, one of whom is enrolled in the district, is a vice president and associate broker at Queens-based real estate firm Crosstown Companies. He’s been with the firm since 1999.

He said he’s a diligent and analytical person who “will provide diverse strategic planning tactics based on past experiences.” Joyner added that he works well in a team environment and puts an emphasis on listening in order to improve communication and ensure all parties’ needs are met.

If elected, Joyner said, he wants the board to ensure it can maintain programming for all students with the existing budget. He also wants to evaluate district reserves for stability, while accounting for immediate needs, like maintenance equipment and capital improvement projects. Joyner would like to contact various community groups and set regular meetings to keep residents up to date on district news and updates, he added.

The 46-year-old is a product of John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology in 1999. At New York University School of Continuing Education, he earned his real estate salesperson license in 1991, and the his real estate associate broker’s license in 2003. He also attended the United Way BoardServeNYC Training Program in 2010.

In the community, Joyner has been involved in the Huntington Library Foundation since this year; the NAACP Huntington Branch since 2012; BOOM!Health since 2012; Weeksville Heritage Center since 2010; and National Urban League Guild since 2012.

Thomas Teresky

Teresky, a father of three with one son who graduated from the district in 2011, and a daughter who is currently enrolled, is a retired NYPD sergeant and now works as a private practice attorney in Huntington.

He’s been involved in PAL lacrosse and Huntington Bulldogs Football.

He previously served on the board from 2005-2012 and said the experience he gained during that time would help him contribute to the board if elected again.

Teresky added that he wants to focus on special education, state testing and keeping taxes down if elected.

Vote set for $162.79M budget proposal

South Huntington school district officials will also ask voters to cast their say on the $162.79 million budget proposed for the 2017-2018 school year.

The proposal calls for a 2.38 percent, or $3.79 million, increase from the previous year’s budget.

It also calls for a 1.41 percent tax levy increase, which is in line with the district’s state-issued tax cap. The year-over-year increase in the tax levy is $1.56 million.

A public hearing on the finalized budget is set for 7:30 p.m., May 9 at the 60 Weston St. district office.

Polls for both the budget and school board election will open 3-10 p.m. at Walt Whitman High School.

4 Candidates, 2 Seats In Harborfields

By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com

Four candidates are looking to fill two open seats on the Harborfields Board of Education.

The candidates, newcomers Christopher Kelly; Lauri Levenberg and Anila Nitekman, and incumbent and board Vice President David Steinberg, are seeking a three-year term on the board. Nicholas Giuliano, incumbent and board president, is not seeking reelection.

Election day is May 16.

Christopher Kelly

Kelly, who seeks a seat on the board for the third time, said he sees declining enrollment as a threat affecting the district’s budget each year.

“We have a lot of active students with a lot of different needs and the challenge is delivering on these needs and enhancing the program that we have to meet these challenges,” Kelly, 46, said.

He also wants the district to plan ahead. He said district officials must balance the school budget each year, but also plan ahead.

We need “to plan for the variety of needs that the students have and to deliver on them for not just next year and the year after, but for the long term.”

As a market data business advisor working for Bank of America in Manhattan, Kelly said he advises equity trading businesses. His ability to manage large budgets and high demands, along with wanting to support a great education, would be a good addition to the board, he said.

Kelly, a resident of Greenlawn for nine years, has lived within the township his entire life and graduated from Huntington High School in 1989. He went on to earn a bachelor’s in business administration from George Washington University in 1993.

He lives with his wife and three children, with a sixth grader at Oldfield Middle School, a kindergartner at Washington Drive Primary School and a three-year-old who is not yet enrolled in the school district.

Kelly was the chair for the PTA’s Get Out The Vote Committee and has been coaching soccer through Northport Youth Center Soccer League for seven years.

Lauri Levenberg

Levenberg is a first-time candidate for the school board who wants to become more involved after attending board meetings.

The most important issue facing the district is finding a balance between providing the best programs for students while remaining fiscally responsible to the community, Levenberg, 48, said.

She also wants to see an increased presence in Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) fields and for the district’s guidance department to work on specialization.

“We have kids in the district who need help transitioning from special education to whatever their lives will be when they leave, whether it’s career or whether it’s further education,” said Levenberg, a 22-year Greenlawn resident.

She lives with her husband and two children. One of her children graduated from Harborfields High School, and the other is currently a sophomore at the high school.

Having children in the district gives her the benefit of perspective, she said.

“I’ve seen the district through rough financial times and good financial times and I’ve seen everything from kindergarten through 12th grade, as far as what they offer, and what the programs are,” she said. “I think that I have a lot of good experience in what has been done and what needs to be done.”

Levenberg earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech pathology from Hofstra University. She earned the degrees in 1990 and 1993 respectively.

She’s currently a member of the district’s PTA, SEPTA and booster club. At Temple Beth El of Huntington, she serves as vice president of education and chairperson for religious schools.

Anila Nitekman

Nitekman, a first-time candidate for the school board, said her skills as an inventor and a business owner would be a great addition to the board.

Nitekman, who invented and sells food scissors that go by the name of Tiny Bites Food Shears, said she wants to bring “a different way of thinking with a fresh perspective” by using her business background to leverage the district’s public-private partnerships in order to “grow in an innovative creative way without having to tap into tax dollars.”

Nitekman, 44, who has two children, a son who is a fifth grader and daughter who is a third grader, added that she was “inspired to run for my children and for all our children to see what we can do that’s innovative.”

She cited budgets and “trying to do more with those same resources or limited resources” as key issues facing the district.

“That’s really where I’m looking to find innovative and long-term, self-funded opportunities for our administration that would allow them to enhance existing projects or develop new programs, resources and tools that have no financial impact to taxpayers,” the 13-year Greenlawn resident said.

Nitekman attended SUNY Oneonta and transferred to New York Institute of Technology Manhattan Campus. During that time she took an internship with New York Road Runners Club and was later offered a full-time position.

Along with her current business, Nitekman is also a member of the district’s fifth grade Moving Up Ceremony Committee.

David Steinberg

Incumbent and current vice president of the board, David Steinberg, has served on the board since 2014.

He currently works as the dean of students at Syosset High School.

Steinberg is also a member of the James Brennan Scholarship Committee, coaches travel soccer in Elwood and is the treasurer of the Syosset Scholarship Fund.

He’s lived within the Harborfields school district for eight years. He lives with his wife and three children, each of whom are currently enrolled in the school district.

Steinberg has earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and youth services from CUNY Queens College. He later earned a master’s degree in education and an advanced certificate in educational technologies from SUNY Stony Brook.

Vote set for $84.17M budget

District residents will also be asked to vote on a proposed $84.17 million budget for the 2017-2018 school year. The budget marks a $1.31-million increase from the previous year’s, and stays within the state-assigned tax cap of 1.68 percent.

A public hearing on the finalized budget is set for 7:45 p.m., May 9 at Oldfield Middle School.

Polls for both the budget and school board votes will open 2-9 p.m., May 16 at Oldfield.

As Northport’s Board Shrinks, 2 Vie For Seat

By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com

With the Northport-East Northport school board shrinking from nine seats to seven, a newcomer is challenging an incumbent for the open seat.

Newcomer Thomas Loughran, an East Northport resident and a federal litigation paralegal, and incumbent Donna McNaughton, a lifelong East Northport resident with six total years of experience on the board, will square off for the three-year term come May 16.

Incumbents Regina Pisacani and Jennifer Thompson are not seeking reelection and their seats will not be filled after last year’s approval to reduce the number of seats from nine to seven.

Both Loughran and McNaughton cite declining enrollment and the LIPA tax certiorari as key issues facing the district.

Loughran, 38, grew up in Northport, but for the past two years has lived in East Northport with his girlfriend and her two children, who are enrolled in the district.

The Northport High School grad earned his paralegal certificate from Hofstra University Continuing Education in 2013, and is currently studying at Fordham University to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Loughran previously volunteered for the Commack Volunteer Ambulance Corps for 10 years, worked for North Patchogue Fire Department for six years and the Melville Fire Department for five years.

He currently works as a federal litigation paralegal with Carle Place-based Sokoloff Stern LLP. He typically works with municipalities and school districts, he said, adding that the experience has given him the ability to lend a voice to school districts and make sure they “advance in the right direction.”

Loughran said his skills include thinking outside the box and negotiation with multiple parties.

He also wants more community members to attend school board meetings so that more people are involved.

McNaughton, 54, sees the district’s declining enrollment numbers as a way to “expand opportunities for students,” including offering foreign language classes or having a fixed science laboratory at the elementary school level.

McNaughton, a Northport High School grad, was elected to her current term in 2014. She also served on the board from 2009-2012, and was previously the board’s vice president.

She is married with four children, each of whom graduated from the district. McNaughton has been president of several PTA and PTSA groups throughout the district, and the Gifted and Talented Parents Association.

She is a founding member and current vice president of F.R.I.E.N.N.D.S., the district’s educational foundation, and for 10 years has been a voting member of the Northport-East Northport Community Drug and Alcohol Task Force.

The SUNY Farmingdale graduate is also a licensed dental hygienist, but currently works in childcare. She sees her work as a means to learn what the district has provided for not only her children, but for their peers and the children she provides care for.

$163.47M budget to go before voters

District residents will also be asked to cast their say on the $163.47 million budget proposed for the 2017-2018 school year. The budget calls for a 1.29 percent budget-to-budget increase, and sports a 1.57-percent tax levy increase, which is within the district’s state assigned tax cap of 1.67 percent.

A public hearing on the finalized budget is set for today, 7 p.m. at the William J. Brosnan School.

Polls for both the budget and school board votes will be open 6 a.m.-6 p.m. at three different schools within the district.

Residents who live south of the center line of Pulaski Road can vote at Fifth Avenue Elementary School; north of the center line of Pulaski Road and south of the center line of Route 25A can vote at Dickinson Avenue School; and north of the center line of Route 25A can vote at the William J. Brosnan School.

The Long Islander

School Board Budget Vote 2017

Incumbents Unopposed In Huntington

3 Vying For 2 Seats In South Huntington

4 Candidates, 2 Seats In Harborfields

As Northport’s Board Shrinks, 2 Vie For Seat

Long Islander News