Four candidates for the Farmingdale Board of Education gathered at Howitt Middle School on Monday evening for a candidate's forum sponsored by the Farmingdale Council of PTAs. The candidates were on hand to present their successes, reasons for wanting to be on the school board and to answer questions submitted by audience members.

Dr. Philip J. Acinapuro, Robert R. Guarino Jr., Charlie J. Russo and Anthony Vitale spoke before a sparse audience of only about a dozen. Each candidate was given an opportunity to provide a three-minute opening presentation, during which they stated their qualifications and reasons for running. Following the answering of audience-submitted questions, candidates provided a summation.

(Editor's Note: The board of education candidates are being presented here in alphabetical order.)

Dr. Acinapuro, who is running unopposed, has been a resident of the Farmingdale School District for over 50 years. He has been on the board of education since 1988, a member of the Republic Airport Committee since 1995, is a member of the Farmingdale Summit Council, a member of the AARP since 1988, of which he served as vice president for three years as well as being chairman of the scholarship committee. In addition, Dr. Acinapuro has been a member of the Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society since 1966, chairman of the Lobby Committee since 1991, is a member of REFIT and CSE.

Dr. Acinapuro said his reason for candidacy is that he wants to work toward the goal of making Farmingdale the best possible school district at a cost residents can afford.

"I believe in the public school system," he said at the forum. "There is some unfinished business to attend to. I would like to know if our legislators represent their party or the people of their community. I want to do everything possible to make the state of New York live up to its constitutional obligations in funding its public schools."

Dr. Acinapuro noted that he has served in education for 55 years, 47 of which were spent in Farmingdale. His professional experience includes working at Temple University from 1948 to 1952; working in the Levittown Public Schools from 1952 to 1955; as a reading supervisor in Farmingdale from 1955 to 1961; principal of East Memorial School from 1961 to 1966; assistant superintendent from 1966 to 1975 and as executive assistant superintendent from 1975 to 1988.

"I have served on the board of education since 1988 and I have seen Farmingdale develop programs that are outstanding, only to see them being reduced during the current budget year. I will do my best to see to the restoration of these same programs," he said, adding that the state needs to stop sending down unfunded mandates to school district.

"You hear people say that the children are our future," he continued. "Well we are the future of our children's future."

When asked what more can be done by the board of education to keep taxes in the community down, Dr. Acinapuro noted that Farmingdale needs to exploit the resources available in the community, such as Airport Plaza and the Liberty Site.

"We need to develop the Liberty Site and finish Airport Plaza," he said. "We should take every opportunity to exploit the wealth we have. Careful budgeting will also help keep taxes down."

Dr. Acinapuro also stated that there are ways to restructure building administration. "Reading and language arts should be handled by one person," he said, noting that this is another way to save money.

In his summation, Dr. Acinapuro said that when he first moved to Farmingdale in 1952, he intended to stay for only one year.

"I fell in love," he explained. "I have helped hundreds of kids in their lifetime. We have a good system, administration and board of education. I would like to serve one more term to make it close to 60 years that I have served in education. I want to continue to serve the community."

Guarino, who is currently a trustee on the board of education, is being challenged for his seat this year by Charlie Russo. He lived in the Farmingdale School District from 1959 to 1981, and again from 1987 to the present. His 8-year-old daughter currently attends one of the district's schools.

Guarino's professional experience includes being an operations supervisor for Bethpage State Park; an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Farmingdale State University; director of security at Hostos Community College; a police officer at the Houston Police Department and a local attorney. In addition, Guarino noted that he has supported the Farmingdale Breakfast Rotary for a number of years and has been involved with PTA activities. Guarino has been a member of the board of education for the past six years.

The candidate noted that his reasons for running this year are basically the same as his reasons for running six years ago.

"From my first term, my goal as a school board member has been to ensure quality and affordable programs that prepare our children for the future and are not too costly for the residents," he said. "I received an excellent education in Farmingdale and want to help maintain that excellence for our children. If our children are not properly prepared, they will not become functioning, contributing members of our community. If the schools are not strong, the economy of the community will suffer. I am concerned about long-term property values in my community."

Guarino further stated that he feels he has accomplished much as a member of the board of education, including the full day kindergarten program, which he feels is very beneficial to students.

"The board of education needs to do a balancing act," he explained, nothing that trustees have a fiscal responsibility to the community while making sure that the program is met within its schools. "Looking back, we've done a very good job of it, but it's an ongoing process," he said. "The work is never done and that's why I look forward to another term - to continue that work."

During the forum, Guarino was asked what he felt could be done to help keep taxes down. He said that school board members should, which he believes they are, be held accountable for the decisions they make. He also noted that they should go over the budget with a fine-tooth comb and try to get money from other sources.

In regard to restructuring administration, Guarino noted that the current board has been exploring that possibly.

"I agree with Dr. A, reading and language arts should be together," he said. "We have to make sure that the administration that we have is there to better the program."

Most importantly, Guarino noted, is that students are prepared for what lies ahead of them.

"We have to look at education as a process. We need to have our children ready for what the future holds and the community can't fully hold that burden," he said. "We need to provide an excellent education at a cost that is acceptable to the community. For the past six years, I believe I have been a fair, considerate and equitable trustee of our educational system. Bringing full day kindergarten and a true 6-7-8 middle school with improved services to better prepare our children are evidence of my commitment to improving our school district, and thereby, the community. Additionally, we have improved the fields and buildings, created a safer and more enjoyable environment for our students and community members. We have also reduced administrative positions and costs. I look forward to serving many more terms."

Russo is a first-time candidate to the board of education. He is challenging Robert Guarino. Russo has lived in the Farmingdale School District for 10 years. He said that if given the opportunity to be on the board of education, he will serve as a voice for the community.

"As a trustee on the board of education I would have the opportunity to utilize my business and civic experiences to help serve the community by enhancing the excellent educational process enjoyed by the students and citizens of Farmingdale," Russo said. "I would strive for building an educational process that responds to the child and is supported by the educational community and the tax-paying community in unison."

Russo has two children who currently attend Farmingdale's schools, one in elementary and one in high school. His community activities include being president of the Viceroy Civic Association, which, during his tenure as leader, began a scholarship available to Farmingdale students based on community service. In addition, Russo noted that he has assisted and been involved in PTA activities.

Russo, currently a senior manager in an international corporation in Connecticut, was asked at the forum of his availability if he were to become a school board member.

"While I do have much responsibility," Russo explained, "I do have flexible hours." He further noted that he can communicate with his office via e-mail or other methods. He also said that he feels his professional experience will help him as a board trustee.

"I have 27 years experience working within major corporations. Currently, I hold a senior manager position in a major international corporation, overseeing the managerial and fiscal reporting for all profit centers located in the United States and throughout the world," Russo said. "I have created a Business Process Review which is responsible for evaluating and developing efficiencies within the entire workflow by achieving more with the same resources."

When asked if he wished to make any changes in existing policies in the district, Russo stated that "in order to change a process, one has to fully understand the process and work with the educational community, parents and fellow board members in order to develop meaningful and effective changes that benefit the current excellent educational system." He added that in an effort to keep taxes down, he would suggest exploring what programs could be available to students through grants. He noted that most importantly, the board has to be sure to institute programs that are most efficient and beneficial to students.

In regard to possibly restructuring building administration, Russo said he would work closely with fellow board members, the superintendent, teachers and administrators to review the process and impact of the administrators.

Russo stated that if given the opportunity, he would be a community voice on the board of education.

"I strongly believe that my work experience would help me to work with my fellow board members to improve the educational process efficiently in an amount that would not over tax the community," he said. "A good home life is important. If parents are out working two or three jobs to afford their taxes, then home life is compromised."

Vitale, current president on the board of education, is a 27-year resident of the Farmingdale School District. He too is running unopposed.

"As a 15-year veteran of the board of education, I have and will continue to use my business, parental and civic experience to help maintain a quality education in light of the budgetary restraints and state mandates placed before us," Vitale said. "Now is the time to review, reassess and make changes that will enhance the educational bottom line for students, teachers and taxpayers."

Vitale has three children who attended schools in the district. He said that he is deeply committed to the children of Farmingdale and believes the district must maintain its program while being sensitive to the fiscal problems facing residents today.

"I look forward to continue serving the children of Farmingdale and working with legislators to get unfunded mandates stopped," he said.

In an effort to help keep taxes down, Vitale said that the board has a great responsibility.

"We have to keep a close eye on the budgetary process; watch where the money is going," he said. "We have to go to our legislators and see where the taxes go. Accountability is also a big issue, we have to make sure the community knows where the money is going."

In regard to what can be done to possibly restructure building administration, Vitale noted that this process is already in the works.

"A number of years ago, the public said that administration is too heavy," he noted. "We were able to cut it down then. [We have been looking] at that now and seeing what job titles they have, looking for any overlapping. By doing that, we could have more effective schools. We did start that, we're doing that right now."

Vitale, whose professional experience includes AICPA, National Society of Public Accountants, National Society of Independent Accountants, National Association of Tax Practitioners and a licensed realtor. In addition, he is a member of NYSSBA, Nassau Suffolk School Board Association, NSBA and the National School Board E-Mail Group.

His community activities include being the treasurer of the Farmingdale Breakfast Rotary Club, a member of Winning Beyond Winning and treasurer of the Museum of Italian Culture.

"This year, more than ever, we must be fiscally and educationally responsible. There's a lot of pressure on the board, [especially because of] what's happening in the state, nobody has to tell us that. Running a school district is more than ABCs. We must be accountable for all decisions and we must hold administration accountable. We're here to set policy and run the district in the most fiscally responsible way possible. My commitment manifests itself in how much work I do, which in turn determines how effective I am and how effective I can help the board to be. When a school system is strong, the community is strong."