Six running for two seats on the Massapequa School Board
Seventh candidate, John Lynott, pulls his name from the race
by Carolyn James

Gary Bennett

In what has become a hotly contested race on the Massapequa School Board, six people are running for two seats, each bringing a different and passionate perspective to the campaign. Incumbents Richard Krebs, the board's president, and Christine Perrino face tough opposition from Jane Ryan, a certified accountant and an expert in government finances; Gary Slavin, a financial advisor with Met Life, Gary Bennett, a retired investigator with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, and Leslie Dowell, a retired 20-year NYNEX employee. John Lynott, president of the Massapequa Soccer League, was running with Slavin, but has withdrawn from the race to deal with family issues.

The number of people in the race is indicative of some pockets of discontent within the district, primarily, taxes. With the difficulties many families are facing in an economy that has taken a sharp and quick downturn, the challengers said that the district and Long Island in general has to make some dramatic changes in the funding of education.

"All Long Island taxpayers and schools are facing difficult times," said Ryan, president of J.E. Ryan & Associates in Wantagh. "I know I have the necessary qualities in order to be an effective school board member and work for the children and residents of Massapequa." If elected, she said she would use her skills as an accountant who has experience in municipal budgets, to help the district lower taxes.

Leslie Dowell

Slavin said he knows the financial difficulties all Long Islanders are having. With school taxes making up the highest portion of property taxes, he believes that the best approach is to fight for equity in the state-aid formulas. He and Lynott outlined their approach in a position paper that they distributed in person to lawmakers in Albany last month. "We have a proven record of success in academics in Massapequa, and we don't believe that the way to address the financial issue is to dismantle a successful program by cutting staff and programs," said Slavin. "Our lawmakers in Albany have to recognize that academic success should be rewarded, not penalized by cutting aid and pushing through unfunded mandates."

Richard Krebs

State-aid figures have increased every year but have not kept up with the pace of increased in spending. As a result, while the dollar amounts from Albany have increased, the percentage of the total budget the aid supports has decreased in Massapequa, and throughout Long Island.

School officials point out, however, that the increase in spending is due in large part to the unfunded mandates heaped upon local taxpayers by the New York State Legislature.

In Nassau County, the state-aid increase per pupil increased 75.22 percent from 1990 to 2006. In Nassau County that increase rose 23.02 percent, while Massapequa saw a decrease of 16.92 percent. That shows, clearly, that Massapequa is not getting its fair share, said Slavin.

Bennett agrees that state aid is an issue but said unless both sides of the budget equation are addressed-state aid and spending-nothing will change.

"We can't go to Albany with our hand out and say we need more money when we have given out generous raises and continue to spend more money every year," said Bennett.

Christine Perrino

He criticizes the district for having too many administrators, and for offering salary increases that go well beyond the cost of living. And, while his presentations at school board meetings and community meetings have angered some who charge he "skews" the figures, he maintains they speak for themselves, and that the issue is not personal.

"I have respect for every staff member and every member of the board," he said. "We just have major differences in our approach to spending and budgeting."

Krebs defends what the district has done and its financial management, and said that while all the other candidates have good ideas, he and Perrino are the only candidates who have experience.

"Massapequa is at the bottom quadrant in terms of costs per student in Nassau County, and in the top quadrant in terms of academic results," said Krebs. That proves, he said, that the district has squeezed every last taxpayer dollar to make sure it is used most effectively. "We have proven what we can do, and while we always welcome new ideas, I still believe I have a lot to contribute on the board and to the community."

Jane Ryan

In his list of accomplishments during his nine years on the board, Krebs said the district has saved $8 million in energy costs by renovating buildings and replacing boilers. The district has completed major renovations on its elementary schools, Ames campus and high school. By reallocating funding from bonds that were retired or paid up, they were able to complete the work without adding to the tax rate, he said.

On the academic side, he said the district has expanded its offerings of AP courses and opened a college course section at the high school. In 2003-04, 1,069 students were enrolled (some taking more than one course) in these courses. That has risen to 1,876 this year, he said.

Watching the dollars has also prompted the board to bid out its transportation contract this year. With rising costs of fuel, the district knows those costs will increase dramatically, and want to be as competitive as it can to ensure that the district gets the most cost-effective contract.

Leslie Dowell said undoubtedly that the public is becoming increasingly concerned about school taxes and that while the current board has done a good job, more must be done to keep Massapequa affordable.

Gary Slavin

"We have to do a lot more with less and we have to look for new and innovative ways to save money," she said. "This is not an issue only here in Massapequa; it is a Long Island issue."

If elected, Dowell said she would work to reach out to other districts and form a consortium with the strength to fight harder for more aid to Long Island, and to stem the tide of escalating salaries. "What I have always heard at board meetings is that unless we meet the demand of these higher salaries, we are not going to be competitive," she said. "I believe that is true, but as Long Islanders we have to get together and every district has to recognize that as a group we might be able to agree on limiting salaries, cutting costs and eventually seeing a reduction in taxes."

Dowell is a resident of Massapequa for 20 years and has been active both in the school community with PTA and the Budget Finance Committee and as a member and officer of the Biltmore Beach Club. She is retired from NYNEX where she worked for 20 years.

Christine Perrino did not return phone calls for comment on her candidacy. She was, however, as a colleague of Richard Krebs, part of the team that completed the major renovations within the district and made changes that have resulted in Massapequa students reaching academic excellence. In 2005, when she last ran, she said she was proud of those accomplishments.

The election of trustees and the budget vote is Tues., May 20. The polls are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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