George Marine for Board of Education!

This is my first year as a Commack resident.  I moved from Garden City, where I held numerous community service roles including President of Special Education PTA for 5 years.  My husband and I went to great lengths to move here – all for the exceptional academic programs provided by Commack school district.

To my knowledge, none of the current Board of Ed members have real life experience with a disabled child.  As a former special education advocate, I have attended well over 120 CSE meetings for clients, and over 40 for my own three children.  This district provides one of the most exceptional programs for classified children. 

One must ask how board members can vote on contracts, salaries, legal expenses, state complaints, and much more without having at least one member with special education life experience as a parent? 

I truly commend Janine DiGirolamo and Catherine Kurtin for their outstanding community service.  Bravo!  Commack is very lucky to have both women and I personally understand how much time and effort goes into supporting a district via PTA executive board service – especially as a President.  However, if I had an opportunity to spend time with them, my questions would be about their experience and/or knowledge of 1) CSE meetings 2) IEP 3) NY State Complaint process 4) Attendance or knowledge of due process hearings 5) Special Education law IDEA 6) Knowledge of the most vital special education contracts 6) What makes this district superior to others from a special education perspective?

If none of the candidates had experience with special education, my point would be moot.  This is what sets George apart from the other candidates – he DOES have real life experience with special education.  His candidacy brings more to the table than others, in my opinion.  George has a son in special education and an honor roll daughter that participates in many athletic programs.  George brings true real life knowledge and experience from both sides of the spectrum, general and special education.

Like George, I am also passionate about safety.  Immediately after the Sandy Hook disaster, my old district implemented new security procedures in which NO ONE gets buzzed in unless they have parent identification card and a confirmed reason to be inside of the school.  If they were dropping off something, it was taken by the security officer who opened the door.  If everyone gets buzzed in, then why do we even have a buzzer at the schools?  Just take the locks off the doors. 

In the past year I have witnessed so many people including food and flower deliveries, outside contract workers, and even random solicitors get buzzed in freely!  They walk into the school and then explain to the female at the front desk why they are at the school.  Even if a security officer is there, how would our children and district staff be protected if the situation was similar to Sandy Hook?  It’s unfortunate, but this is the world that we live in today and one can never put a price tag on the safety of our children.  George recognizes how crucial it is to bring our security policies, systems, and procedures up to date to protect our district staff and children.

I was saddened to learn that the top salary of our exceptional security team makes $17 an hour.  Most earn an hourly rate of $15.  Our district only hires top notch security staff with backgrounds of high ranking police officers or similar profiles.  Who is going to protect our children during an emergency?  A security officer that earns $15 an hour or an administrative assistant that makes $55 an hour?  Clearly changes need to be made – George is the ONLY BOE candidate with an agenda to improve safety!

Like the other candidates, George has also spent countless hours in community service for programs, many of which he selflessly did not include in his candidate overview.  The single contribution that touched my heart was when he personally funded a program called “Peer Leadership” that was cut a few years ago along with other club programs.  While neither of his children were participants, George was moved by the parents who appealed to the BOE. 

George refused to allow a program that touches so many students be removed from after school opportunities, so he wrote a four figure personal check - simply for the children!

Rumors today reflect that the teacher's union is possibly endorsing another candidate for BOE.  It would have been beneficial for tax paying residents if the union representatives had a private "Meet the Candidates" to have an open dialogue about teacher issues and make an unbiased decision.  To my knowledge, this did not happen.  I have to ponder how a BOE member can make fair budget decisions when endorsed by the teacher's union.  I sincerely hope that I am wrong and welcome comments to educate me on how and why the union is involved in this BOE campaign.

In closing, I wish to thank you for reading to the end of this lengthy blog.  George brings a hybrid background of general and special education, safety, professionalism, finance objectives, and a demonstrated overall concern for our children to the BOE.  I encourage everyone to vote on May 20th.  This process is all about our children as tax paying residents - therefore I strongly encourage a vote for George Marine. :)