Four candidates are seeking election to the Glen Cove Board of Education, competing for two seats, those of Dr. Rodger Silletti who resigned from the board last year, and Vito Abbondandolo, who is not seeking re-election. The following information was supplied by the candidates.

Personal

I have been a member of the Glen Cove community for over 40 years. My wife, Elizabeth, is an ESL teacher at Deasy School. My children, Frank and Susan, graduated from Glen Cove schools. My grandchildren, Haley and Christopher, will be attending Glen Cove public schools in the near future.

Experience and Community Involvement

Prior to retiring as superintendent of buildings and grounds for the Glen Cove School District, I held many positions during my 41 years: cleaner, groundsman and head custodian for the high school. I have volunteered with the Booster Club, Masquers and the Civil Service Association. As a native Spanish speaker, I have served as unofficial liaison between the Spanish community and the school district. Currently I am treasurer of La Fuerza Unida. I believe that the honors I have received from the Glen Cove Teachers Association as Man of the Year and from the Glen Cove PTA Council as honoree for the Scholarship Dinner Dance are a reflection of my enthusiasm for the many groups that make our school district unique. My love for the school community of Glen Cove has not diminished with my retirement, which is why I wish to serve on the school board.

I have invested most of my adult life in the school district and wish to continue to support our children and community. Retired, I have the time to devote to this very important voluntary position. I have seen and felt the struggles of the district on austerity. We can surely find a way to support our children's education without overly burdening the finances of residents. I look forward to working with the new superintendent, the current board of education, the staff of Glen Cove, parents, students and the entire community to ensure that our district continues to strive for excellence.

Goals

As a member of the board of education, my goals would be to work with the administration toward an ongoing assessment and prioritizing of all district programs; To be accessible to the community to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for our children; To make sure that the budget process involves both the educational needs of our children and the financial realities of our community.

Profession

Attorney with his own law firm in Glen Cove

Member of the New York State Bar Association

Member of the American Bar Association

Education

Jericho High School Graduate

Boston University B.S.

Hofstra Law School J.D.

Community Involvement

Wide variety of pro bono legal work

Chairman of the Glen Cove NAACP Education Council

Mentor in the Glen Cove Youth Board Program

Participant in G.C. Voter Registration Drive

Member of the Coalition for Glen Cove

Founder of the G. C. Community Action Group

Goals

The Glen Cove Schools need greater parental involvement in the schools before we achieve academic excellence, which must be our goal.

The most important factor in students achieving success in the classroom is the level of interest, effort and time students put into their classes.

If elected I will go out to the community, as I have done in my campaign and meet people face to face, to encourage participation.

Priorities will be: Raising standards and accepting nothing less than the best from students; A late bus to get children home from after-school activities; Getting more participation from the minority community that has been without a minority board member for 25 years.

Mr. Fonrose has the endorsement of the Glen Cove branch of the NAACP.

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Glen Cove School District Participation

Resident of Glen Cove for 17 years.

Two daughters: Brigit, a junior at GCHS and Kim, an eighth grader at Finley Middle School.

Member Coalition for Glen Cove, 2000 to present

Coalition secretary, 2001 to 2003

Coalition vice-president, 2003 to present

Academic Excellence Committee Chairperson, 2003 to present

Member MPAPA, 2004 to present

Board of Education delegate, Middle School PTA, 2002 to present

Budget committee member, 2002 to 2004

Curriculum committee member, 2003-04

Cultural arts chairperson for Gribbin, Connolly and Finley Middle School, 1994 - 2001

PARP chairperson, Gribbin School, 1993

Regular attendance at PTA meetings, 1993 to present

Education

New York University, M.A., arts in education, 1982

Skidmore College, B.A. double major in elementary education and music performance, 1978, Phi Beta Kappa

Teaching Certifications

Permanent elementary certification K-6th grade: NY and MA

Permanent music certification K-12th grade: NY and MA

Lincoln Center Arts Institute, 1999

Professional Experience

Elementary music teacher, Cold Spring Harbor Central School District, 1997 to present

Leave-replacement music teacher, Elmont Elementary School District, 1996-97

Part-time music teacher, Locust Valley Central School District, 1995-96

Part-time music teacher, St. Paul's Nursery School, Glen Cove, 1994-96

Administrative Experience

Director of Hollis Woods Community Music School, Queens, NY, 1987-1993. Responsible for budgeting, scheduling of 200 students, hiring and supervision of faculty, parent education, fund-raising, recitals and teaching eurhythmics classes.

Experience and Training in Current Educational Initiatives

Needs of special education students, inclusion, differentiated instruction, cooperative discipline, character education, curriculum mapping, applications of technology, avid reader of journals, articles and books on education

Goals

As PTA delegate to the board of education and an involved parent of two daughters in the district, I have developed a detailed knowledge of the academic and financial strengths and weaknesses of our district.

I am concerned with our district providing the best quality educational experiences for our students by making the best use of limited financial resources. The board must continue to work with local legislators to seek state funding in line with community needs. If elected, I will bring my experience as an educator who knows the realities of working with students, parents, and administrators, and who has spent 27 years collaborating with others in a variety of educational settings.

Ms. Kotzky has the endorsement of the Coalition for Glen Cove.

Professional Experience

Program administrator of the Glen Cove Section 8 Housing Program which provides federal rent assistance for over 340 low-income families

Glen Cove Minority Business Enterprise and Women's Business Enterprise Equal opportunity officer

Owned and ran an art studio in midtown Manhattan for six years

Education

Pratt Institute Bachelor's Degree in fine art and Master's Degree in fine art in 1977

Taught Saturday classes in art at Pratt Institute for 9- to 12-year-olds

Glen Cove Community Involvement

Member of the board of the Melillo Center

Mentor in the Glen Cove Youth Bureau Mentoring Program

Former member of Glen Cove Equal Opportunity Commission board

Former coach for the Glen Cove Catholic Youth Organization basketball league

Former coach for the Glen Cove Junior Soccer League

Founding member and vice-president of the Hempstead Harbor Artist Association from 1980 to 1984; initiated a monthly art exhibition which gave local and regional artists the opportunity to showcase their work in Glen Cove

Personal

A resident of Glen Cove for over 20 years, married for 22 years to Ilene, a New York City teacher specializing in English as a Second Language. Ilene attended Brooklyn College and holds graduate degrees from NYU and CW Post. She was stage manager for Glen Cove Theatre II for 5 years.

The Moores have two children who are graduates of Glen Cove High School. Kate is a history major who will be graduating from Princeton University this spring and Jeffery is a sophomore at the University of Albany.

Goals

I am campaigning for a seat on the Glen Cove School Board to address and highlight the following educational issues: Improve student achievement on all state assessments. Increase parental involvement of all parents. Maintain academic intervention services. Ensure equitable access to technology. Uphold a safe, secure, healthy, nurturing, culturally responsive learning environment. Increase shared decision-making among all stakeholders to ensure accountability; implementation of the most effective and efficient allocation of resources. Disseminate policies affecting the school district to all stakeholders including: Parental Involvement Policy; Parent-School Compact; Discipline Policy. Maintain professional development for new teachers and experienced. Maintain partnerships with community-based organizations.

Mr. Moore has the endorsement of the Coalition for Glen Cove.

On May 4, 7:30 p.m. in the Glen Cove High School auditorium, the Glen Cove PTA Council will sponsor a Meet the Candidates forum. Four candidates are vying for two seats on the Board of Education. Representatives from the League of Women Voters will serve as moderators.

On May 17, City of Glen Cove voters will be casting their ballots on the 2005-2006 school budget and their choice for each of two vacant positions on the school board.