The League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset held a candidates night on Monday, May 11, for the two candidates for the Manhasset Board of Education, incumbent William D'Antonio and Thomas Maimone. Speaking for the League, Joyce Fieldsteel of Port Washington, who acted as moderator, explained the ground rules. Each candidate would give a three-minute opening statement, then the floor would be opened up for questions, and then the candidates would give closing statements. The candidates drew lots to see who would begin the proceedings and Mr. Maimone won.

Ms. Fieldsteel introduced him, saying that he is a resident of Flower Hill, has a bachelor's degree from Lafayette University and a juris doctor degree from Fordham. He is presently a managing partner in his law firm. Mr. Maimone has been very active over the past five years with the Roslyn Little League. (When he began his coaching in baseball Manhasset did not have a baseball league of its own.)

In his opening statement, Mr. Maimone said that he has three children in the Manhasset Public Schools, a seventh grader, a fourth grader and a second grader. "Unless I'm elected," he said, "no board member will have any elementary school children." Mr. Maimone went on to say that he had grown up in Manhasset and graduated from Manhasset High School. Having attended school board meetings over the past year, he said that he believes the school district is at a "critical juncture," with a new school superintendent taking charge and a new assistant superintendent for curriculum being sought. Dr. Ranier Mellucci, who had been assistant superintendent for curriculum, announced his resignation this week. He has accepted the position of superintendent of schools in the Seaford School District. Mr. Maimone also drew attention to a critique of Manhasset's Language Arts Curriculum which was commissioned by the Manhasset Board of Education and conducted by Sean A. Walmsley, a professor of reading at the New York State University at Albany. In the report, Dr. Walmsley called attention to some areas that called for improvement in our Language Arts Curriculum.

Ms. Fieldsteel than introduced Mr. D'Antonio. A resident of Munsey Park, Mr. D'Antonio has a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of science from Lehigh University. He is a professional engineer. A member of the Manhasset Board of Education for the past six years, he is the board liaison to the Citizens' Advisory Committee on Finance and to the summer center program.

Mr. D'Antonio made joking reference to the fact that his alma mater, Lehigh, and Mr. Maimone's alma mater, Lafayette, are traditional rivals. He pointed to the achievements of the school board during his tenure and emphasized the fact that no board member can accomplish anything alone. One of the board's recent accomplishments, he said, was the redistricting of the elementary schools. Had this not occurred, Shelter Rock School would be the biggest elementary school in Nassau County. He also spoke of the passing of a $21.1 million bond issue which enabled the district to enlarge facilities at both elementary schools and build an auditorium at Munsey Park School which will be the main auditorium for the district. Mr. D'Antonio said he would like to help with the transition for a new superintendent in the district and agreed with Mr. Maimone that there are concerns about the district's language arts curriculum.

Ms. Fieldsteel then said the floor was open to questions. She asked the questioners to confine themselves to the issues and not make any personal or abusive remarks to either candidate.

SCA President Joanne Kinsey directed the first question to Mr. D'Antonio. "You voted against the budget in 1996, 1997 and 1998 and against the bond issue. Why?"

Mr. D'Antonio replied that the bond issue occurred immediately after a bond issue for a new library had been turned down by the voters and he believed the voters would turn down a school bond issue. "I was wrong," he said. "I knew we needed a bond issue but I didn't agree with the numbers."

Mr. Maimone said that he didn't think the library bond was relevant to the school bond. "The board dropped the amount of the bond from $30 million to $21.1 million."

Nancy Cole, a member of the Manhasset Athletic Advisory Committee (MAAC), brought up a question that has divided the school community in recent days. She asked Mr. Maimone whether athletes should be required to practice on certain holidays.

Mr. Maimone replied that "when varsity athletes make a commitment to a sport it should be honored, but there can be blackout days. We're dealing with a small group of students here," he said, "I think we have to respect religious holidays. I want to hear the result of the committee." A committee on extracurricular activities has been appointed by the school board to study the issue.

Mr. D'Antonio agreed that the question is being reviewed by the committee. "Let the committee do its job," he said.

Mary Houck, remarking that the evening's forum was the only opportunity the community would have to hear the candidates' views, asked Mr. Maimone for his philosophical view of the role of school board member. He replied that he is not a professional educator and would not go into a classroom and tell a teacher how to teach. "But I had my own opinion about teaching 'whole language' and the Walmsley report confirms my opinions. I have a seventh grader and when I was in seventh grade I understood grammar better than my son does. There needs to be tightening. As a board member I would make suggestions but I don't want to micro-manage."

Mr. D'Antonio said he believes that the public wants the board members to act as stewards of a public trust. "They want us to spend dollars well." In response to a follow-up question, Mr. D'Antonio said that he was not sure what the questioner meant by micro-managing. "In general, I let the educators decide," he said.

"I agree," said Mr. Maimone. "The administration and the teachers have the most input. The board needs to see that the administration makes the correct decisions. I think they should annually do a curriculum review. I think we fell into a hole with this language arts program. A group of students may have had insufficient instruction.

Mr. D'Antonio said that an annual curriculum review is an excellent idea. "As to language arts," he said, "the board heard complaints and that's why we engaged Dr. Walmsley. We recognized that the board members were not experts."

Vincent Syracuse asked the candidates to comment on the pros and cons of the district's inclusion policy. "It's a very difficult question," Mr. D'Antonio said. "From the social point of view, it's a wonderful idea. The difficulty comes when special education kids need special teachers. A regular class teacher may not be trained to help these children. An aide may be needed. Sometimes inclusion works, sometimes it doesn't. The jury is still out."

Mr. Maimone said that inclusion doesn't only help the special education student, "it helps the more proficient students become better human beings."

Anki Vinberg asked about special education for the gifted and talented and both candidates agreed that the present curriculum gives these students ample opportunities to achieve.

Donald Higgins told Mr. D'Antonio that, in view of the fact that he had voted against budgets and the bond issue, wasn't his opening statement "a bit disingenuous." Mr. D'Antonio replied that it is necessary to separate a dollar amount and an idea. "I knew what was necessary to do. I thought we could do it for less."

In summation, Mr. D'Antonio said that he hopes to achieve a smooth transition with the new superintendent, to complete the bond issue projects, to follow up on the language arts report and to act on the PRIDE survey. He also would encourage multi-year planning and budgeting. We have a marvelous opportunity in this new millennium, he said.

Mr. Maimone said that "Bill has put in a lot of time and effort. I respect that, whether we agree or disagree, but it's time for a change. I have children in the elementary school. I can bring in new ideas, new vitality. I grew up here and I want to give back. It's a critical juncture and it's time to address some issues that maybe should have been addressed sooner."

Ms. Fieldsteel congratulated those in attendance for "wonderful questions" and reminded them to vote on May 18.