Because current Board of Education Vice President Patricia Mittler has decided not to run for re-election, her seat, a three-year term is up for grabs. Running for the seat are Frederick Scala and Stephen Siwinski.

Scala, who has one child attending the Jackson Avenue School, said he decided to run for the board because he feels it's time for people to step up and get involved in the education of their children.

Scala, who has lived in Mineola for eight years and works as a computer programmer, feels the board needs parental involvement. He feels his knowlege of technology will help the board because of the emphasis the board is placing on making sure students are educated when it comes to computer literacy.

Scala declined to add any additional information about his campaign.

Siwinski has lived in Mineola for the past 42 years and is a product of the Mineola school system, having attended the Jackson Avenue School. He currently has two children attending Jackson.

Siwinski is a licensed architect and says he will bring to the board over 20 years experience in the construction field. He feels this experience will be especially important during a time of physical expansion and growth to the district.

"A number of people asked me to run and with the time now, with the bond issue and the construction, I felt with my experience, we could do something," said Siwinski, who received his architecture license in 1986. "There's a big push for space in all the schools. I think we have to do it in a timely matter but we also have to do it in an economic manner."

Siwinski said since he went through the Mineola school system and has kids in the system, he feels he would like to give something back to education. "I get very involved with my kids," said Siwinski, who has been involved in the Mineola Athletic Assocation baseball program for the past four years as a coach and commissioner.

He is also involved in the Site Base Management Team at the Jackson Avenue School. Siwinski said one of the goals of the team is to get the community more involved in the school. "We try to get the parents more involved in the PTAs and we try to help the students as much as we can. It's all for education and bringing the student community together," he added.

Besides his experience in architecture and knowledge of construction, Siwinski feels he will bring to the board clear decision-making, sound judgment and being an architect, sound analytical problem-solving skills not just in the area of construction, but in all aspects of the education including budgeting and curriculum.

"I've seen what I've gone through. I see what my kids are going through. I just feel it could be a little bit better," said Siwinski. "I don't have an agenda. I call it as it is. I try to get a sense of the way the community is. I have a good pulse on the community...I think I can really help the board when it comes to decision making."

Either Scala or Siwinski will join Board of Education President RoseAnn Buglione and trustees John McGrath, Dennis Mortensen and Gia Lynne Hall, whose term is due to expire but will run unopposed.

The election date is May 16. Residents can vote in the elementary school in their area.