In the Massapequa School District three candidates are running for two board of education seats, to be voted on by residents on May 18.

Richard Sorvillo's decision not to run for re-election opened up his seat on the board which accounts for one of the openings. Board Vice President Diane Krakoff has chosen to run for another three year term. Facing Krakoff are newcomers Kevin Grennan and Mark Feinstein, who are running together. These three candidates will vie for the two board openings.

Krakoff has served on the Massapequa School board for the last four years. Besides being vice president she has co-chaired the building and grounds committee, chaired the AIDS Advisory committee, and co-chaired the student advisory committee as well as chairing the finance committee.

Grennan admits to having very little prior experience with the school district while Feinstein has been active in the PTAs, serving as treasurer of SEPTA for three years. He has also worked in the East Meadow School District for 10 years.

According to Krakoff, the biggest accomplishments of her time on the board include the implementation of new programs to meet the higher Regents standards. One of the board decisions that she relates as being a major coup in helping students prepare for the new standards is the implementation of the nine-period day, which will provide students with extra time for academic enrichment such as additional labs in math and language arts. Academic coaching programs and smaller class sizes are other board implementations of which Krakoff is especially proud. She points to the passing of the bond as being a huge success for her and the school board.

When asked what she would like to see accomplished if re-elected, Krakoff noted three issues. "The first one is I think we have to make sure that our students and staff are ready for the new requirements and new assessments and to do that we need to continue offering support programs and maybe implementing a few more different types for different students and the key to that is the appropriate staff development. Our teachers have to be prepared to know what the new standards are and the new assessments so they can have our kids ready to take this test." Her second concern, she said, was the bond issue and making sure that all the projects were completed on time and were maintained so they would not have to be brought up again in another 10 years.

Krakoff went on to speak about the need for community forums to get an idea of the direction that Massapequa expects the school district to move in. In speaking of her third goal Krakoff noted, "I think we need to develop a really solid communication plan, both internally and externally. A lot of good and positive things go on in our buildings and nobody knows about them and I think we need to communicate better with our staff, the parents, and the people that aren't involved in the schools. I think that they need to play more of a role in what we do."

The concern for the academic success of the students is one that was raised by all three candidates as was the need for greater communication in the district.

In regard to what he would like to accomplish if elected Feinstein stated, "One of the things is, I think, performance-wise, Massapequa is in the average range and I think we can do better than that. I think we need to focus on our achievements a little more." He went on to note, "In terms of parental and community involvement, that seems to be an area to work on because although the PTAs are active there's limited numbers of people that are really involved so there's a level of non-participation, which I think is important to try to deal with." Feinstein also stated that one of his goals would be to improve the culture of the buildings and try to develop cooperation and really push for excellence.

As far as his decision to run for school board now goes, Feinstein said, "There's a lot of changes now. There's going to be a new superintendent, new assistant superintendent and I think my educational background will be useful in picking some of these people and working with them and developing relationships." He notes that currently the relationships in the district are still strained following contract disputes and he believes that he can help to develop a rapport and a spirit of trust and professionalism that may now be lacking.

Grennan stated that he decided to run for school board because, "my kids are going to be entering the district soon and I think it's time that, with the change in the administration and whatnot, that I could help focus the district on perhaps increasing the academic achievement. I'd like to see that as a focus of the school district." He went on to say that he would like to see the students and teachers being given the tools necessary to accomplish their objectives. Echoing Feinstein's comments he said, "I'd like to see the community and the teachers and the staff in the school district reunited after what happened the last couple of years."

When asked what he could bring to the board that his candidates could not, Feinstein responded, "I would bring an experience of teaching in a large school district and what's worked and hasn't worked and nobody else can really do that and, I feel, that both Kevin and I can work with everybody. There is a sense of not everybody getting along with everybody else and I don't feel that's going to be a problem for me or for Kevin Grennan...so insight as an educator and a personal style that lends itself to getting along with everyone involved in the process."

Grennan chose not to comment on what made him the more qualified candidate for the position, stating simply, "I just want to help the school district focus on raising the achievement of the kids."

Krakoff admitted to knowing very little about her opponents when asked what she could offer the board that her opponents could not, and stated, "I think I bring a lot of experience. I've been involved in the school community for 18 years... I've been involved in district committees throughout the years so I think I bring all that experience with me and, I think, serving on the board the last four years, I've learned so much. I came in with a basic knowledge of the school system because of being involved but I think now I'm at the point where I do bring continuity and stability, especially with one board member not coming back."

The vote for school board candidates will take place, along with the budget vote, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18.