Meet Lynn Aniello, 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 Lynn Aniello, a newcomer who’s running for the seat being vacated by Trustee Ray Doran.*

Here’s what Aniello had to say:

Qualifications/Experience: “I’ve been married for 29 years, and have three children. Two children have graduated college, and one’s a senior who’ll be entering college in the Fall. I’ve attended Board meetings consistently for 23 years. My experience for a school board seat cannot be spoken about briefly. I’ve had a good relationship and open communication with our administration, past and present. I’ve been appointed on many school district-appointed committees along with other community members in the past. As for my qualifications I feel very confident my involvement in school board affairs has prepared me for this seat. In addition my current employment in a school business office has further educated me on State aid, deadlines and federal funding.”

Reason for Running: “I’m running because I feel I have the knowledge, passion and dedication to make a difference.”

What Sets You Apart: “What sets me apart from the other candidates is my continuous involvement and dedication to students and the community for 23 years.”

Most Important Issue Facing the District/How to Tackle It: “There are many issues that need to be addressed, but at this time the implementation of the Common Core Curriculum is very important. The new curriculum is rigorous, and schools and parents must collaborate with each other in order to be successful in the Common Core Standards.”

What You Want to Accomplish/Continue as a Trustee/How to Fund It: “I’d hope to accomplish an increase of involvement in school district affairs from the entire community.”

Accomplishment in Life Most Proud of and Why: “My greatest accomplishment in life is my advocacy for students with special needs. There’s no greater satisfaction than when you work with the families and the school district to make a student successful and fulfill their dreams of graduation.”

Accomplishment in the Community Most Proud of and Why: “While I have many, I’ll say I’m very proud of the remediation of mold and ensuring the indoor air quality of two elementary schools in the 1990s."

How You’ve Given Back to the Community: “Active OLPH volunteer 17 years; I’ve sat on numerous school district-appointed committees; volunteer advocate for children with special needs for 15 years; SEPTA president; Albany Avenue PTA vice president.”

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?
“I’d encourage the return of students that are currently sent out of district to be educated at the expense of $5.9 million. It’s my belief this school district has quality staff, and the resources and the ability to teach these students, keep them closer to home and include them in our community. Hopefully taking the money from reserves will not be detrimental to our district. I’m not privy to how many homes will be taken off the tax roll. That’s for the Village to determine.”

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?
“It’s hard to make a comment on a budget when you have no involvement. If I were involved on the Board, I’d have started the process much sooner, and I’d have asked the District to investigate the ability to bring back our out-of-district students with the input of their parents and create a teaching environment that incorporates a social emotional learning environment.”

What's Your Take on the Continuing Contract Negotiations, Particularly with TAL? What Do You Think Needs to Be Done at This Point? Why?
“As far as I know, the District hires counsel to negotiate the contracts for all bargaining units. Hopefully the District would keep the line of communication open and can come to an agreement that’d be beneficial to the taxpayers and fair to all of TAL and all of the units.”

What’s Your Take on the New State Exams? For or Against? Why?
"The new State exams are a very serious issue. These exams are based on college readiness, and the stakes are very high. The District will be responsible to provide Academic Intervention Services to any student that doesn’t score a three or more on the assessment. The New York State Commissioner of Education anticipates at least 40 percent or more of the students not doing well on these newly implemented changes. This equates to providing AIS services to a large population at a great cost, so it’s imperative we concentrate on success of all students. If the Lindenhurst School District chose not to implement the Common Core Curriculum, then it would lose its federal funding which would have a negative impact on the budget. As far as changing a mandate, I’d work tirelessly with the Board of Education and legislators to stop the implementation of PARCC (NYS assessments will be administered via computer). At this time the Lindenhurst School District cannot afford to purchase such a large number of computers for our students to take the State assessments.”

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)?
“There are many mandates that the school district is obligated to adhere to, and unfortunately we’re unable to change them. However, the PARCC Assessment is a mandate that’ll be implemented soon, if not, already. The financial impact on this community to purchase hundreds of computers at one time would be substantial.”

*Clarification: Aniello was also previously interviewed for the trustee position to which incumbent and current candidate Richard Koehler was appointed in December. His 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. Newcomer Sean McNeilly is running against him.

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