School News

Valley Stream school board candidates announced

Contested elections in District 13

Posted

There will be contested elections in only one of Valley Stream’s elementary school districts this year when voters head to the polls for the school budget and Board of Education vote on May 20.

District 13 has five candidates for three seats. All five names will be familiar to voters, as three incumbents are being challenged by two residents who also ran last year.

Sean Douglas, who is serving as the board’s president this year, is running unopposed. He was first appointed in October 2010, and won a three-year term the following May.

Vice President Debra Evans is being challenged by Patricia Farrell, a past president of the Wheeler Avenue School PTA and the Central/Memorial PTSA. Evans, of North Valley Stream, has served three terms on the board. Farrell ran for an open seat last year.

Frank Chiachiere, who has been a board trustee for almost two decades, will be challenged by Patrick Heaney. Both live in Malverne. Heaney came within two dozen votes of defeating an incumbent last year.

All board terms in District 13 are three years.

District 24 will have three candidates for three seats. Incumbents Paul DePace, who is serving as board president, and Lisa Pellicane are seeking new terms. DePace has been on the board for 30 years, and Pellicane is completing her first term.

Rounding out the ballot is Armando Hernandez. He would take over the seat held by Carole Meaney, who is not seeking re-election.

In District 30, Board of Education President Carolyn Torres is running unopposed for her second five-year term.