Schools
Seaford Community Meets School Board Candidates
Three trustee candidates take part in forum at Seaford Manor School.
Seaford residents had a chance to hear from the three candidates running for the school board during forum held Wednesday evening at .
The annual “Meet the Candidates Night” was moderated by the Nassau County League of Women Voters and featured incumbent Seaford trustees Brian Fagan and Richard DiBlasio as well as challenger Lauren Phillips. Fagan was first elected to the school board three years ago while DiBlasio is seeking his third three-year term. Fagan and DiBlasio were both selected by fellow board members as president and vice president, respectively at last July's reorganization meeting.
Videos of the opening statements provided by DiBlasio, Fagan and Phillips where they explain their platforms is attached to this article.
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The issues discussed during the forum ranged from the budget, the value of education, and qualifications for a board member, and potential cuts. Each candidate made an opening statement, answered questions in an allotted time, and gave a combined closing statement with the final question asked.
One of the first questions asked was, "Running a school district is a lot like running a business. How would you bring your business experience into being a board member?" DiBlasio answered by giving a brief overview of his business experience, which includes holding a B.S. in Business Management and Finance, chairing school board committees that reduced expenses and saved residents hundreds of thousands of dollars and helping to return over $6.4 million dollars to taxpayers from reserves.
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"I have experience with budgets," said DiBlasio, who emphasized how when he first got elected to the board in 2005 two board membes resigned and the assistant superintendent of business retired, so he had to build everything from the ground up. "I ask a lot of questions, and I am self-taught with finances within a school district."
Phillips, who has been an art teacher in the Farmingdale School District for the last 16 years, took a different approach, to the question and stated that running a business is not like running a school district. "They are not the same,” she said. “We need a good administration, and to be able to ensure accountability of our teachers.” It’s very important to get feedback from the community and parents, and to have full disclosure of what is happening within the district."
Phillips is also a self-employed graphic designer and art director. She graduated with an M.S in education from Queens College.
Fagan answered the question by stating, “a school district is run with one goal: to educate our children." Fagan also explained his business background, which includes having over 25 years experience in business management, finance, administration and operations.
"Delivering education and balancing a budget is a difficult dance, which is why it requires someone with experience in both educating children and finances to do so,” said Fagan, who has two children that have graduated from .
Another question asked the candidates if they belong to unions. Phillips and DiBlasio said they are members of unions while Fagan is not.
Phillips is a member of the Farmingdale Federation of Teachers, and is receiving financial support and sponsorship from the United Teachers of Seaford. She also said that she is receiving support from other organizations.
As a captain in the New York City Police Department,which he has served in the past 24 years, DiBlasio is a member of the Captains Endowment Association. He is however not sponsored or financially supported by the union.
The Seaford school board race is an at-large election with the top two of three vote getters getting elected. Voting for the school board election is scheduled for May 17 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Seaford Manor School and .
