Another Resignation from Seaford School Board

Just over two months after the of Seaford school board member John DelGuidice, the district now has another vacant trustee position to fill.

Seaford Board of Education trustee Michael Sapraicone submitted a letter to district clerk Carmen Ouellette on Thursday stating that he would be resigning from his seat on Oct. 6. Sapraicone, who was first elected to the Seaford school board in 2006, said at Thursday's meeting held at that he was resigning due to personal reasons because of a heavier travel schedule he has been faced with recently. Sapraicone, a former detective with the New York City Police Department, is the founder and owner of Squad Security Inc. and Squad Security Ltd worldwide companies, which has offices in Manhattan and London.

“I just didn’t think it was the best interest of the community and the best interest of the school at this time for me to stay in my position as trustee,” said Sapraicone, who served as Seaford school board president from 2008-2010. “I think that anything anybody does if you can’t give it 150 percent then you shouldn’t do it and I just find that the little things I have on my plate right now with my five children, it is just not the time for me to give the same effort that I have.”

The Seaford school board has yet to fill the seat vacated by DelGuidice. Nine people expressed interest in the position and interviews were conducted during an executive session on Aug. 25.

Seaford Board of Education president Brian Fagan said the plan is to appoint replacements for both DelGuidice and Sapraicone at the board's Oct. 6 meeting. The two board appointees would serve as trustees until the spring and both face an election in May for a regular term if they choose to run.

Sapraicone will take part in the Oct. 6 meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Seaford Manor School and his resignation will take effect at the close of that night’s session.

Sapraicone arrived late for Thursday night’s meeting because of a previous commitment. The end of the meeting saw some fireworks when Sapraicone and audience member Lorraine DeVita got in a heated exchange. Sapraicone was critical of questions DeVita was posing to the school board’s attorney Chris Venator during public comments and the two proceeded to shout at each other moments after the meeting was adjourned and needed to be separated.

Prior to the drama that followed the close of Thursday’s nearly three and a half hour meeting, Sapraicone received a standing ovation after speaking about what serving as a Seaford trustee has meant to him the last five years.

“I know that that the board will go on and do great things,” said Sapraicone. “It’s important that we all stay together and come together as a community.”