Current Island Trees Board of Education Vice President Carl Bonsignore is being challenged by first-time runner, Brian Kelty in this year's election. Board President Peter Ray is running unopposed. The positions are for a three-year term and for specific seats.

Election for board of education trustee positions in the Island Trees School District will be held on Tuesday, May 15 from noon to 9 p.m. at Michael F. Stokes School. For more information call 520-2100 or visit www.islandtrees.org.

Both candidates were asked a series of questions. Their answers are as follows:

Levittown Tribune (LT): Why are you seeking (re)election to the board?

Carl Bonsignore: As a resident of the Island Trees community, my involvement in numerous community projects and organizations have spanned over 25 years. My desire to continue to serve on the school board is to reaffirm and strengthen my commitment to the Island Trees community.

Brian Kelty: I'm running for Island Trees Board of Education because I want the next generation of Levittowners to be able to afford to live in Levittown. I am asking all Island Trees residents to get out and vote no on the budget. This will cause a reassessment of the budget numbers by the school board members. This budget needs to be restructured.

LT: What is the most important issue currently facing your district?

Bonsignore: The most important issues facing our district are common to most school districts: the ability to develop a budget that balances the educational needs of our children with the needs of the community as it pertains to its economic impact. We are further challenged each year by numerous unfunded mandates imposed by the state.

Kelty: I have been researching the financial health and the business practices of my district for the past eight months, devoting over 400 hours to this endeavor. I have discovered some glaring financial problems. The district had a 1.5 percent and a 3.5 percent student enrollment decrease in the past two years, yet the budget continues to balloon. In September, 14 new teachers were hired. This is no way to run a district. The expenditures listed for the 2006/07 budget year only list general support, instruction not including employee benefits, pupil transportation and community services. All other expenses are cryptically shrouded under the headline "undistributed expenses". When you add employee benefits, debt service, food service costs and depreciation to the first four categories, the total 2006/07 expenditures will reach approximately $51,400,000. This means we will have overspent and we will realize another net asset loss of approximately $1,900,000.

LT: If (re)elected what ideas/suggestions do you have on how to bring about any necessary changes to the district?

Bonsignore: During my 15-year tenure, we have successfully managed to provide our children with quality educational programs, state-of-the-art equipment and well-maintained facilities, while keeping expenditures down. In 1992, Island Trees was ranked as one of the top three highest taxed school districts among the 56 in Nassau County. Since then our ranking has steadily and significantly dropped into the mid 30s. This was not an easy task. It required making tough decisions, involving many hours of research and discussion. Once again, as a result of our hard work, this year our school district will be presenting to its residents, one of the lowest budget increases in Nassau County.

Kelty: Fiscal responsibility needs to begin now. At the Meet the Candidates Night, I promised all in attendance that, if elected, I would stop these procedures immediately. This is a misappropriation of funds. We need an immediate audit by the external New York State Comptroller's Office and we need a forensic audit by our external auditing company.

Island Trees resident Carl Bonsignore has served on the Island Trees Board of Education since 1992. He is a transportation superintendent for the New York City Transit Authority. He and his wife Joan have two children and one grandchild. He has been involved in the following community organizations: Dollars For Scholars (since 1987), Awards Committee & Fund-Raising: The Walk, Craft Fair, Car Wash, Moonlight Bowl, Levittown's 50th Anniversary Committee (1997), Even Good Kids Use Drugs & Alcohol (1994), High school/Junior Prom Committees (1993 and 1997), Boy Scouts Cubmaster and Troop Committee Chairman, Island Trees Little League (1981-1989) and an active PTA member (since 1981). School District Reorganization Committee (June 1989 to 1991), Gallow School Building Utilization Committee/Co-Chaired Committee and PTA Council Legislation Committee (1991).

Island Trees resident Brian Kelty, 49, and his wife Lisa have four sons. Two are currently enrolled in college, one is attending Island Trees High School and the other is in Island Trees Memorial Middle School. He is retired from the New York City Fire Department. He has coached baseball for Levittown Little League and Levittown South Wantagh Athletic Association for 13 years.