In an uncontested election last Tuesday, Gina Interdonato, a resident of Levittown for approximately 15 years, was elected to the Levittown Board of Education and Paul Granger was returned for his second term as a trustee.

Interdonato, a nurse by profession, is not new to volunteer work within the school district, having been an active PTA member since her daughter Erica, who is now a senior at Division Avenue High School, first entered kindergarten at Northside Elementary School in 1988. At Northside, Interdonato served on the Excellence and Accountability Committee, was 3rd vice president, 1st vice president, president for two years, and chaired several committees at the school. During this same period of time Interdonato was active with the Plains Association of Girl Scouts, serving as a leader and consultant for several years. She went on to serve the Wisdom Lane PTA from 1994-1997, where she held the position of vice president for two years. As her daughter entered Division Avenue High School in 1997, Interdonato became involved in the Division PTSA. She has served as president for the past two years, she was vice president for one year and chaired a variety of committees. In addition, Interdonato started the spirit squad, which oversees cheerleading events and fund raising, and served as president of that organization for two years.

While involved with the school district at the various schools themselves, Interdonato has also been active with the PTA Council since 1988. Among other things, Interdonato was instrumental in starting a nursing assisting program in the district, she co-chaired the attendance zone committee, served on the budget committee, food service committee, was a Senior Citizen Prom volunteer for many years, was an Esther Elliot Scholarship chairperson and representative for several years and has been serving on this year's citizen's advisory bond committee. Interdonato's most recent major accomplishment was organizing and establishing a chapter of Dollars for Scholars in Levittown, and serving as the first president of that organization.

Interdonato has been publicly recognized several times for her service to the community and her dedication to her profession. In 1994 she received Cooley's Anemia Foundation Award for increasing awareness of the need for blood donation; in 1995 Northside bestowed an Honorary Life award upon her; in 1995 she received an Award of Excellence from North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset for nursing; and most recently, this year she was the recipient of the Town of Hempstead's Pathfinder Award for her dedication to education.

When asked about her goals as a member of the board of education, Interdonato responded, "I think, first of all, is to make sure that every student in Levittown has the best education that the community can afford to give them; that we're always responsible to the taxpayer and to the community members who vote for us, keeping their ideals and their goals in mind; and certainly to have a working relationship with the teachers, the staff, and the administrators. I think those are all important issues and ideals that any board member should have." Interdonato believes that the length of time she has been involved in the school district, will help her in her attempt to accomplish these goals, because she is familiar with the inner workings of the district. In addition she plans on attending a board of education learning seminar in Albany over the summer, to become educated in the areas of board service that she is not familiar with.

Interdonato believes that the strongest assets that she brings to the board are her experience, her dedication to making a difference in the district, and the fact that she does not have any personal agenda since her daughter will no longer be a student in the district when she is officially sworn in as a board member.

When asked about why she chose to run for the board after board of education trustee Pat Parsekian announced she would not be running for a second term due to health reasons, Interdonato explained that when Parsekian became ill, she felt that there was a need for someone like Parsekian on the board, who has been involved around the district, serving with the PTA and on various committees. Another thing that she feels the board is in need of is a person who is not afraid to speak their mind and always keep the children at heart. "I think I'm that type of person and I think that I can really offer the board and the district a lot," said Interdonato.

As a board member, Interdonato plans to visit all of the schools in the district on her days off from work, not just for special occasions. She said that by doing this she will have the opportunity to speak with the students, the teachers and administrators firsthand and ensure that there is always open communication between the board and the rest of the district.

Becoming a member of the board, said Interdonato, is a little overwhelming, but she added that she feels as though she has a bit of an edge because she has been so active in the district for so many years. "I'm not coming from a place that I haven't had any contact with it, so I do know a little bit of what to expect, although with any new job or new position there's always the unknown, but with anything I do I always give it 100 percent. That's all I can do with this," Interdonato stated.

"I feel very lucky that my daughter has done as well as she's done and I really thank partly the district for that- the teachers, the staff, the schools I think have given her a tremendous opportunity as she goes on to college now," concluded Interdonato. "I'm also lucky in that I have a husband [Fred] and friends who are very supportive of me and I know that they'll help me do the right thing."