Constituents Question School Board Candidates

The three candidates running for school board seats in Long Beach, incumbents Dr. Dennis Ryan and Patrick Gallagher and challenger Ari Pine, fielded several written questions from some 40 residents at the district’s candidates forum at City Hall on Monday.  

Constituents asked about such issues as improving Long Beach’s college acceptance rate, oversight of bond-related construction projects, quality of education in proportion to tax dollars, the pros and cons of closing East School and the future of special education.

A recurring issue was the district’s implementation of a sixth-grade heterogeneous program in classes that includes students of varying skill levels.

“Do you feel the sixth grade heterogeneous model is working and why,” Maria Smith, the moderator from the Nassau Region PTA, read from a questioner’s index card.

Pine, an eight-year resident of Long Beach who is a commodities trader with two young children in Long Beach schools, said that he didn’t think the programs is a success, based on anecdotal evidence.

“I heard that children are coming home bored because they don’t have anything to do [to keep them challenged],” Pine said.

Ryan, a 33-year resident of Long Beach seeking his second term, said that based on talks with parents last week, he found a “significant majority” don’t find the programs is a success. “I would have serious concerns in terms of its efficacy at this point,” Ryan said.

But Gallagher reported a divided response among parents, some of whom he said were “extremely happy with the program,” and others who weren’t.

He suggested that with a new superintendent and a new middle school principal coming in July, the issue needs their input.

“I think there’s something to be said about taking some time and making sure,” said Gallagher, a lifelong Long Beach resident running for his fourth term.

If elected, what will be the candidates’ top priorities?

Pine would first reevaluate the curriculum. “It’s the issue that motivated to run in this race,” he said. 

Ryan said that instruction is his educational mission. “As a Board of Education, we made great effort to make our meeting focused on educational issues and educational dialogue,” he said.

Gallagher, a former high school principal, mentioned fiscal responsibility among his top priorities, citing the district’s proposed 2011-12 budget with a zero percent tax levy increase as an example.

“Fiscal responsibility is an ongoing and key responsibility,” Gallagher said. 

The school board election is on May 17. The top two vote-getters will win seats.