Meet Sean McNeilly, BOE 2013 Candidate

On May 21 Lindenhurst residents will not only cast their votes for or against the $145.7 million 2013-14 school budget - which includes a 1.99 percent tax levy, the use $1.1 million in reserves and the removal of 66-plus aides - the Board of Education approved on April 25, but they'll also be casting their votes in the BOE Trustee Election that day.

There are eight candidates this year - three of whom are incumbents with one incumbent running unopposed, two newcomers running against the remaining two incumbents and three running for a seat being vacated by an incumbent.

They met the public at the Meet the Candidates portion of the recent Lindenhurst Council of PTAs meeting and 2013-14 budget presentation by Superintendent Richard Nathan.

However, in an effort to keep voters informed, Lindenhurst Patch is presenting profiles of each candidate - in no particular order, using the same topics - in the days leading up to BOE Election and Budget Vote next Tuesday, May 21.

This BOE Candidate Profile focuses on Sean McNeilly, a newcomer who’s running against incumbent Richard Koehler who was appointed to the Board in December.

The appointment followed after former BOE Trustee Julie Bartolomeo’s resignation in October after an allegation by a parent at the October 3 business meeting, which resulted in an investigation by Suffolk Police and the subsequent arrest and charges against her husband, James, for providing alcoholic beverages to a group of Lindenhurst High School students at his home in Lindy in September.

Since Koehler wasn’t elected, but instead appointed to serve out Bartolomeo’s term - which will end in May 2014 - he must run again this May. And McNeilly has chosen to run against him.

Here’s what McNeilly had to say:

Qualifications/Experience: “I’m a lifelong resident of Lindenhurst, and I’m one of four children who all graduated from Lindenhurst Senior High. I was actively involved in clubs, athletics and volunteering to coach in youth programs while still in school. Receiving a partial scholarship for athletics and academics, I attended Bryant College where I majored in Business Administration with a minor in History. After college my wife and I decided to stay in Lindenhurst (she is a Lindy lifer, as well), and raise our family. Through coaching youth sports and volunteering as much as possible, I believe I have a great understanding of what can help our children. Currently, I am a small business owner, owning a local trucking company. As any owner will tell you; we wear many hats throughout the day. At any moment I’m an accountant, human resources manager, secretary, laborer, etc. I’m familiar with balancing budgets to ensure break-even and hopefully profits. I’m no stranger to contract negotiations or contract disputes. I feel my college background in business, and more importantly my real world experience, help make me qualified for a Board seat. The unbridled passion for helping kids I’ve demonstrated since I was 15 years old will make me even better at the position.”

Reason for Running: “I chose to get involved with the school board after attending some meetings last year. On one such occasion an organization I volunteer with was granted a meeting in executive session. During that session every one of our questions went unanswered or was answered by attorneys. The more meetings I attended the more I noticed things I’d like to change. I decided this year would be the year I ran for a seat on the Board. My children are eight and two, so I have at least 16 more years to be directly involved with the Lindenhurst School District. I was always taught to bring up solutions rather than dwell on the problem, so it became apparent that I would need to be the change.”

What Sets You Apart: “If elected then I believe I’d be the only candidate with children in elementary school on the Board. Being the voice of younger parents or first-time parents sets me apart from most of the members and candidates. I have a vested interest in the success of this District for the next 16-plus years. Hopefully my age, 31, will bring a different approach to solving problems and a renewed energy amongst the community. Being a true small business owner I have to think outside the box and use different methods to accomplish goals. I wish every account was a home run or that they paid on time, but more often than not they fall short, leaving me to use various approaches to meet my goals. I’m always forced to take on a holistic approach to everything and concentrate on the bigger picture. What I can promise to bring if elected is transparency and open communication. I’ll ask questions when presented with recommendations from the administration. I can promise my voice will be heard all year long. The goal would be to do what’s best for the greater good of our community while listening to taxpayers on what they want and need from us.”

Most Important Issue Facing the District/How to Tackle It: “Like I’ve stated before, the largest issue I want to tackle is transparency. I’d like to take the questions on issues and have them asked during the meetings rather than before or after. Keeping an open dialogue with the community, as well as all of the bargaining units, is essential to a successful district. That’s something I’ll strive to accomplish immediately. Managing the unfunded mandates from Albany will be something I’d enlist the entire Board and District to help me out on. This seems to be our most burdensome issue Island-wide, and will require a total group effort to achieve the change from top down.”

What You Want to Accomplish/Continue as a Trustee/How to Fund It: “The seat I’m running for is up again for re-election next May. If the community decides they’d like me to serve them for the first year, then I’ll begin working immediately on some of my ideas. Then hopefully they approve of what I’m doing and grant me another three. I’m excited for that opportunity and understand I have only a year to prove my worth to our community. In that time I hope to continue to be open and forthright on what occurs in our District. Some programs I’d like to see started are roundtable-like discussion groups or committees for various issues. I’d love to start one or two, and maybe the other Board members could start ones they are passionate about, as well. The committee I’d initiate first would be one to tackle the drug issue in our town. I think it’s time to be honest with ourselves and aggressively make changes or seek help. I’ve personally lost multiple friends and teammates to drug problems and worry about the future generations. This may not be a School Board issue, but it very much impacts our schools and kids, so it may be time to make it one. A second would be a committee or roundtable set up to discuss the issues concerning District employees who maybe aren’t backed by strong union leadership or might be overlooked. They’re our backbone, and we need to listen. In addition, by focusing on volunteers and giving back, something our town is absolutely heads above the rest at, we can better our District without seeking revenue or cuts. In addition, I feel the schools should rely a little more heavily on our youth programs. We have amazing people running these, and maybe they can share some of the burdens we face regularly.”

Accomplishment in Life Most Proud of and Why: “Out of all of the personal accolades I’ve received academically and athletically in high school and college, my proudest moments come when they’re not expected. Seeing my son and daughter growing up to be polite, respectful and hardworking is what makes me proud every day.”

Accomplishment in the Community Most Proud of and Why: “Coaching youth sports has given me more than I could ever give back. I love coaching the same green and gold I wore years ago. My proudest accomplishment doesn’t come when the superstar scores or makes a great play. It doesn’t come when we win a game or championship. It comes when the unexpected happens. It comes when all of the hard work is realized. We’ve all seen the kid on a team who wasn’t sure if he wanted to play. The kid who maybe was a little shy or unathletic. Maybe he had a disability to overcome or rough time at home. When that kid makes a play, scores a goal, wins anything, the look on his face, the feeling he gets, it’s priceless. That’s why I coach; for that moment. That’s what I’m proudest of in the community. That I can help foster and bring out that exact moment for the child, as well as his or her parent.”

How You’ve Given Back to the Community: “’I believe the good you do for others comes back to you, but if you do something good for some person and more than two people know about it - you and the other person - then you didn't do it for the right reason.’ This is a quote from George Steinbrenner which I adhere to. I’ve given back and helped as much as I possibly could, especially after Hurricane Sandy. I feel to list charitable efforts in order to make myself look better would only diminish what was done. I volunteered my time, money and energy for simple reasons not personal praises. A thank you was all I ever needed.”

How Will You Continue to Balance Preserving Program, Jobs and Reserves with the Reality of the Tax Cap and with How the Tax Rolls May Be Affected by Hurricane Sandy? How Would You Be Able to Provide Some Tax Relief Next Year?
“Like I’ve said a few times all I’ll be a voice of the taxpayers. Working alongside them we can come to these solutions together. It’s essential we maintain our programs in order to keep our kids safe and well-rounded. I’ve always voted in direct line with fiscal conservatives. I feel raising taxes should always be the absolute last resort. Throwing money at problems never works. By focusing on volunteers and youth programs, we can offset some costs. Many programs and contracts should be broken down and dissected to find cost savings everywhere. The easiest way to provide tax relief is to ensure that policymakers adequately fund their policies. I hope to be a thorn in Albany’s side until they decide to fund us for programs they mandate or get out of our way and allow us to educate our children the best way we possibly can.”

What's Your Take on the 2013-14 Budget, the Use of Reserves, the Tax Levy and the Upcoming Budget Vote? If You Were on the Board, What, If Anything, Would You’ve Done Differently Prior to Adoption and Why?
"Since I’m not a member of the school board I wasn’t privy to all the information they were. The budget does look educationally sound. However, I would’ve done a few things differently. Before excessing 76 of my neighbors and friends I would have asked some hard questions. Questions such as the processes to which these people were let go. I would’ve looked elsewhere and spoken to others beforehand. Also, I have an issue using reserves. By stripping our reserves we’re putting a Band-Aid on something for one year and one year only. Sachem school districts have been doing this for years and are now in big trouble. We have people that are banking on the sale of Bower school as a way to boost reserves, according to a recent meeting. This philosophy takes the negotiation power out of our hands if we need to sell it. Add in the fact that the property is South of Montauk, which could devalue it even more due to the recent disaster of Sandy. I feel using too many reserves would mirror what our government did with Social Security. They decided to take money allocated for that and use it elsewhere causing a false economy. Now the time is coming due and every election cycle we hear promises to revamp the program that was raided for purposes it wasn’t set up for. Being the parent of an eight-year old and toddler I’m worried about a decade from now, not just next year. I hope the Board can begin to think more on the macro side and less on the micro side. I would’ve scoured the budget for savings in any area possible before dipping into reserves."

What's Your Take on the Continuing Contract Negotiations, Particularly with TAL? What Do You Think Needs to Be Done at This Point? Why?
"Unfortunately, we community members are not privy to those negotiations. Since last year all we heard at meetings is that it cannot be discussed and they’re at an impasse. We’ve moved onto fact finding and have not moved forward at all. (So it seems to us outsiders) It’s been said by members of the Board that negotiations have broken down and this is why they’ve proceeded to continue without offering contracts. It seems like the only ones benefitting from this very long and arduous contract negotiation are the lawyers. Since I’m not involved in the talks or meetings I cannot speak as to what I would’ve done, would do or would request. What I can say is that I wouldn’t let communication breakdown. I wouldn’t attempt to vilify one side as greedy or the other as stubborn. We are in turbulent economic times where across the country people are being forced to compromise and that should apply to Lindenhurst, as well.”

What’s Your Take on the New State Exams? For or Against? Why? “Meet the Candidate night at William Rall showed me every candidate is against it, according to their answers. Based on the applause I feel like most of our community is, as well. As per the current State mandates there’s little we can change overnight. I’d fight unilaterally with the Board, taxpayers, teachers and administrators to make Albany listen to us. When a third-grader comes home depressed and exhausted, like my son, after a few days of these tests, something isn’t right. I’ll help stage letter writing campaigns, phone call sessions, and invite our representatives to come speak with us. I believe on June 8 there’s a bus trip scheduled to go to Albany, leaving from the Middle School, to march in protest to this issue among others. I hope we can rally for this change we all so desperately seek.”

What’s Your Take on Unfunded Mandates? What’s the Top Mandate You’d Like to Change? How So and Why? How Would You Work with the Rest of the Board to Get Legislators to Listen and Enact That/Those Change(s)?
“Unfunded mandates are a fiscal nightmare. We the school district of Lindenhurst have them forced upon us by Albany and are told we must adhere to them. We are forced to build a budget to include them with little or no help. Like everything else I’ve stated it’s going to take everyone working together to make a change. This is where we need to forget squabbles, contracts, party affiliation and the like in order to seek the change we wish to become.”

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