Unlike last year, when a triumvirate of residents attempted, but failed, to usurp the positions of three board members, this May's Syosset Central School District election will be uncontested.

Because of this, it appears that the board, credited in recent years for its stability and harmonious nature among members, should experience another seamless transition into the following school year.

There will, however, be one new dynamic - Syosset Council of PTAs President Maria Anderson is running in place of John F. Cullen, who is retiring from his post. Her 18 years of residency and volunteerism within the district make Anderson a suitable and popular candidate.

"I've been involved in the schools since my children were very little," said Anderson, whose children are both in Syosset High School. Describing her immediate value to the board, she said, "Every newcomer brings a new perspective."

Of course, she's hardly a newcomer. In addition to serving her current term as Council of PTAs president, Anderson has been the Syosset High School PTSA vice president since 1977, president of South Woods PTSA from 1993-95 and president of South Grove PTA from 1988-90. Furthermore, from 1997-99, Anderson served as publications chairman for the Nassau District PTA.

Anderson, a member of Syosset Groves Civic Association, is the recipient of the National Congress of Parents & Teachers Honorary Life Membership Award, and both New York State's PTA Distinguished Service Award and PTA Honorary Life Membership Award.

Returning for their second stints on the board are 21-year resident Ellen Meller and 15-year resident Anthony Alizzi, both of whom were originally elected in 1996.

Meller, with two children in the district, is a child care counselor for the Child Care Counsel of Nassau, Inc. She has chaired several committees for both the Syosset Council of PTAs and Syosset SEPTA, and is still a member of SEPTA and the H.B. Thompson Middle School PTA.

Alizzi, who has three children attending Syosset schools, is a certified public accountant, and is vice president of operations of the Depository Trust Company. Within the district, he is treasurer of the Syosset Scholarship Fund.

Alizzi has taken leadership positions in several local athletic organizations. He is director of the Syosset Soccer Club, treasurer of St. Edward's CYO and a SYAC baseball coach.

As the three candidates shared their goals and voiced their concerns for the districts, it became evident that certain issues will be critical to monitor in the upcoming years.

Meller, citing recent news, said that new safety standards must be implemented in the schools, and that the district needs new methods of identifying troubled teens.

"Unfortunately, one of the things we've been looking at a lot lately is safety in schools, considering what happened in Colorado," said Meller. She said that an attempt must be made to "create early identification programs in all schools to recognize kids whose problems could fester into bigger problems."

Another important need, according to the candidates, is to keep up with modern technology. Syosset already features state-of-the-art computers and equipment, but in today's technological era, it does not take long before things become obsolete.

"We have to continue to develop technology in the classrooms [and] keep creative ideas flowing," said Alizzi, praising the district faculty training programs which have taught educators how to use technology in their lessons.

Even though, according to Anderson, "Syosset is not keeping up [with technology], we're ahead," she also recognizes the fact that "technology grows faster and faster." Anderson said it is critical for children "to attack the learning of new technology until it is natural to them."

New standards by the New York State Education Department is also a concern. The state now wants all students to pass the Regents at the end of the school year - a task which many educators believe is impossible even with a strong education program.

Meller, who was a parent advocate on the Syosset School District Committee on Special Education, knows that the state's new challenges will be particularly difficult for the district's learning impaired.

"The special education department, I know, is trying to address the needs of students as much as they possibly can in terms of introducing curriculum earlier...[but] we're not satisfied with the way things are." Meller said that many educators "know that as it stands now, it's not going to work for a small group of kids."

Anderson said the situation must be monitored closely. "We have to be very careful that we don't leave children by the wayside," she stated.

Meller said that discussion on this controversy must continue so that the state eventually understands that it may need to ease off on some of its toughest demands.

All three candidates said they are pleased with the district's progress overall, pointing to the introduction of foreign languages into elementary schools, and an expanded science research program that begins at the eighth grade level. Alizzi also complimented the "solid rapport between the administration and teachers, and...parental involvement."

Board trustee terms last three years.

The school election will be held on Tuesday, May 18 from 6 a.m to 10 p.m. at Syosset High School, Robbins Lane Elementary School and H.B. Thompson Middle School. Though the board candidates are running uncontested, the school and library budgets are also up for vote.