(Editor's Note: Kenneth Auer, Sr. could not attend the forum due to recent surgery from which he was recovering. George S. Bruno Jr. had a previous engagement. The two candidates' biographical information that was distributed at the forum has been included.)

The Levittown Council of PTAs sponsored a Meet the Candidates forum at the Levittown Memorial Education Center auditorium last Wednesday, May 1. The candidates present, John Garvey, Ronald Kinberg, Diane Shapiro and Terrill Tom, were each given the opportunity to make an opening statement, answer questions given by residents in attendance and provide a summation.

Auer, current trustee on the Levittown Board of Education, has been living within the Levittown School District for 27 years. He said that his specific educational priorities for the district include preparing all students for the state mandated Regents exam, working toward lowering class size, maximizing the space available within the district and further enhancing extracurricular activities. His financial priorities for the district include giving the children of Levittown the best education that the taxpayers can afford.

Auer, restaurant owner of the Salty Dog in Levittown for three years, was a motorcycle police officer for the New York City Police Department for 16 years. His community activities include being a volunteer for the Levittown West Little League (LWLL) for five years, director of Umpire LWLL, president of LWLL, volunteer at St. Bernard's CYO Basketball Program, treasurer of the Levittown Baseball Diamond Club from 1986 to present, being named Newsday's Volunteer of the Year in 1990, Levittown Board of Education trustee from 1992 to 1995, secretary to the board of education from 1995 to 1996, president of the board of education from 1996 to 1998, member of the Levittown Kiwanis Club from 1993 to present and member of the Levittown Chamber of Commerce from 1998 to present.

Bruno, a resident of Levittown for the past 21 years, said that his specific education priorities for the district include ensuring that each student attending Levittown Public Schools receives the best education that will allow them to succeed in whatever career path they chose. His financial priority for the district is to guarantee the residents that the board of education will oversee the money the administration spends.

The candidate's professional experience includes working at the Immanuel Lutheran Elementary School, the Queens Vocational High School and six months at Queensboro Community College. His community activities include being a coach for the Levittown Soccer Club as well as other local community soccer clubs and leagues. He was a trustee on the board of education from 1996 to 1999 and served as vice president in 1999.

As a member of the Abbey Lane PTA, Bruno helped in the fundraising effort of Project Playground, fundraising and building of Safety Village, served as mascot during Abbey's Grandparents Day and helped in the Memorial Day parade, including times after his daughter had graduated. Bruno has also been involved at St. Bernard's Roman Catholic Church in Levittown and participated in the Abbey Lane and Wisdom Lane Girl Scouts. The candidate has been involved in the Division Avenue music program and said he is a major supporter of vocational education, both in and out of the district.

Garvey, a resident of the Levittown School District for 20 years, was a member of the Levittown Board of Education from 1987 to 1990 and again from 1991 to 1994. Garvey works as a Harbor Tug Operations Manager at Moran Towing and Transportation in Greenwich, CT and was captain of various tugs at that company from March 1988 to Jan. 2001, when he became operations manager. His other community activities include being a firefighter/AEMT of the Wantagh Fire Department since 1992, member of the Levittown PAL Board of Directors since 2001, member of the Levittown - Island Trees Youth Council since 2001, treasurer of the Long Island School Girls Youth Council since 2002 and director and/or coach of other local PAL lacrosse teams.

Garvey noted that his specific educational priorities for the school district include promoting the idea of the board president annually assigning one board member to be the liaison for each elementary school, since there are seven board members and six elementary schools, thereby striving to ensure that all children, parents and schools believe they are being treated equally. He also stated that additional assignments for the middle and secondary schools should be considered.

"I'm a firm believer in that we could provide a quality education for all of the children [and] I think that our children could achieve more. We have to take some of the existing programs and move them forward," he said. "I think that students have their idea of success and it's incumbent upon the administration and the board to try to push them further to see a greater success."

Garvey further noted that the advantages of early education should be realized, as well as early diagnosis and intervention of educational disabilities.

"I would propose to investigate the possibilities of expanding and enhancing our kindergarten programs," he said.

He also said that his priorities include investigating further expansion of the after school program to address the increasing needs of students and working families, investigate opportunities to assist administrators and teachers in expanding the computer, music and sports programs and thereby allow a great educational experience for more students; and foster a program which would increase student and parental awareness of opportunities at four year colleges.

The candidate noted that he does not feel the district should enforce a nine period school day as it takes away from important class time.

"We're going to go from a 45 minute class period to a 40 minute class period," he said. "We're going to lose 25 minutes of instruction per week. Over the course of a year that becomes equivalent to 13 days of instruction in that particular subject that we lose."

Garvey stated that his financial priorities for the district would include striving to fund an annual budget that will allow equitable capital to provide a quality education balanced to the needs of the taxpayers' ability to pay; investigate alternative methods for keeping the community (parents and taxpayers) informed of events and requirements in schools; maintaining public relations and creating an atmosphere which results in positive feedback, essential to the financial well-being of the schools; investigating the use of grants to further the extracurricular activities of the schools and investigating the costs associated with full day kindergarten versus the costs of delayed interaction associated with early diagnosis and intervention of educational disabilities striving to reduce remedial costs.

Garvey added that as a former member of the NYSSBA Legislative Network, he would strive to resume membership on that committee again thereby helping to influence changes in the state budget and state education formulas that directly affect the budget and taxes.

Kinberg, a resident of the Levittown School District for 33 years, is the current president of the board of education. He has had many roles in various Citizens Advisory Committees regarding school budgets, bonds and attendance zones since 1994 and has been a member of the Levittown Board of Education since 1996, completing his sixth term this school year. Kinberg's community involvement also includes being a member of the Levittown Community Council from its inception to the present and a charter member and first vice president of Dollars for Scholars.

Kinberg noted that his specific educational priorities for the school district include the continued implementation of the district's mission statement, "Success for Every Student," through: continuing the process of aligning course curricula with new learning standards; identifying and providing all necessary support for at-risk students; supporting staff development - particularly in the areas of the new learning standards and the use of computer technology in the classroom; recognition of the important role played by the vocational educational program in serving a significant segment of the Levittown community; and providing all students with an equal and well supported opportunity to enjoy a full, rich, educational experience while meeting the new graduation requirements.

His financial priorities for the district include, to the extent possible, the principles of accountability and control used by successful private companies must be utilized to manage what will be a $128 million (approximate) budget. He noted that the board of education must continue to seek savings and control costs; and must continue to seek economies without reducing programs or the standards of excellence to which local children are entitled.

"This year's election is both crucial and I would suggest easy for you, if you will, as we say in school, 'do your homework.' The operation of a school district is a collaborative effort," he said, noting that the board establishes policies and sets goals that are carried out by the administration, who also devises and implements strategies to achieve those goals.

"Teachers are on the front line," Kinberg noted. "They're in the trenches every day and if they are not informed, learning cannot take place." Kinberg added that school support staffs such as receptionists, clerical, grounds, custodial and maintenance staff all play important roles in maintaining smooth operations of a district.

"So far you have not heard me talk about myself and that's because no individual can or should claim credit for the significant improvements or achievements of these years," he said. "But make no mistake about it - the board of education has done its job. I and my colleagues Mr. Auer and Mrs. Shapiro have been a part of a team that has brought unprecedented success to the Levittown School District. Now I must urge you to do your homework. No candidate for the board of education should be allowed to run away from [his/her] record. I urge you to get to know the record for any candidate before you cast your vote," he said. "I believe you will find my record in this regard to be honest, honorable and totally devoted to the best interest of the entire district."

Shapiro, a resident of the Levittown School District for 28 years, is running for her fifth term on the board of education. She has been a member of the school board for 12 years.

Her professional experiences include being a clerk typist at West Hempstead HS, a permanent elementary substitute teacher, developer and head teacher at the Yours, Ours, Mine Community Center and a teaching assistant at Uniondale Elementary. Shapiro's community involvements include, aside from being a member of the school on which she has served as president (two years), vice president (three years) and secretary (six years - and she is the current secretary); being a member on the school board budget subcommittee and board goals committee, member of various district PTAs, PTSAs and SEPTA committees; chairwoman of the Levittown 2000 task force education and publicity committees; serving on the Levittown 50th anniversary committee, Levittown Community Council (of which she is a charter member), Nassau District PTA Legislation, Senior Citizens Prom Committee, Teacher Center Policy Board and Citizens Budget Advisory Committee.

Shapiro noted that her educational priorities for the district include supporting the district's mission statement of "Success for Every Student." She said that to her, the district's mission statement has several meanings, depending on how it is looked at.

"Every student has their own goal," she said, noting that helping all students reach their individual goals is the most important aspect of success. "Whatever it is that students need in order to graduate and be able to function in this world," she said.

Other priorities Shapiro noted included supporting commencement goals, maintaining a strong commitment to special education programs, vocational education programs, enrichment, advanced placement courses, music programs, Parent's and Teacher's Center; maintaining a strong commitment to services such as alcohol and drug counselors, social workers, psychologists and other crisis intervention team members; maintaining high academic standards; having staff development programs; encouraging shared decision making with administrators, teachers, parents and board members; keeping up to date with current computer technology; expanding senior citizen involvement with students; keeping up the successful student achievement on standardized testing, Regents and in day-to-day learning; and continuing to instill a love of learning in all students.

Shapiro noted that she feels moving into a nine period day is important, as students will be provided with more time to take classes they may currently not be able to fit into their schedules. She further noted that some students who currently take extra classes may not have a lunch period, having to eat lunch during music or science lab time and that an extra period could provide them with a lunch.

Shapiro's financial priorities for the district include efficient management of the district's money, balancing needs with ability to pay, aggressive lobbying for a fair share of state aid, looking for alternative ways to finance education, continuing the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee as well as the PTA Budget Committee, giving the budget committees more time to do their job and getting greater business involvement and support.

"I promise that I will continue to serve our school district and our children with the same energy and dedication that I have for the past 12 years as a board member," Shapiro said at the forum. "I think that my record shows that I have served all residents of Levittown fairly [and] I have never allowed my personal interests to affect my decisions as a board member. I have always been accessible to all, including PTA, residents, students and employees. My job is to listen to everyone. I have always tried to resolve issues before they turn into problems and think I have been successful in serving as a liaison between the community members and the district. People who know me know that I have a 'never say die' attitude. When something has to be done, I never hesitate to take on the challenge, as long as it will benefit the children and the community."

Tom, a resident of the Levittown School District for the past 46 years, has two children currently attending a district middle school, one in high school and one a graduate of high school. Herself a graduate of MacArthur, Tom spent one year at Nassau Community College and has professional experience as a lifeguard supervisor and senior lifeguard for the Town of Hempstead's Parks Department and the Freeport Recreation Center. She was also a census enumerator for the US Census Department for five months.

Tom has been involved in several community activities, including Girl Scouts of America (1990 to 1995), Levittown Red Devils Football (1990 to present), St. Bernard's Basketball League (1998 to present), Levittown PAL Lacrosse (1999 to present) and various PTA/PTSA/SEPTA committees, at Gardiners Avenue, Salk and MacArthur.

Tom noted that her specific educational priorities for the district include increasing test scores on all assessments so children meet or exceed state and local standards, providing a variety of extracurricular activities to enrich students' lives and keep them in a safe, supervised area and providing a wide array of course selections at the district's high schools, including AP courses so students can compete with the best from any district.

Her financial priorities for the district include providing the most effective cost budget which allows for the district to meet the high standards they have set for the community and continue to offer students the best education possible.

When asked what the district's mission statement means to her, Tom noted that every student's success is different. She said that by offering a wide variety of programs, such as enrichment and vocational, the district helps each student meet their individual goals.

"I am running for this position on the board...to be more involved in the education provided to our students. I feel it is important to meet every need of our students and that Levittown does this by having programs ranging from remedial classes to enrichment classes. As a parent, I know the importance of solid education," Tom said, adding that as a board member she will work to continue the programs the district offers, before, during and after school, in an effort to ensure that students remain in a safe and supervised learning environment.

"As a parent, I know how important it is that my children are spending their time doing something productive, healthy and safe," she said, noting the importance of after school programs.

"I am the only person up here who has no prior school board experience," she said. "However, I ask you to not confuse my lack of experience for ineptness or an unwillingness to learn. I look forward to the chance to hear your concerns, look into them and help make any necessary changes based on the school board's decision. I am a fair, open minded person who can change my mind when shown that my way of thinking may not be the best for everyone. I hope to have the chance to learn what being on the school board is all about."