Long Beach school board candidates square off

The three candidates vying for two seats on the Board of Education squared off at a candidates’ forum at City Hall on Monday. Incumbents Darlene Tangney and Gina Guma, and challenger Stewart Mininsky,* each began with three-minute opening remarks, and fielded a number of written questions submitted by residents.

The debate was hosted by the Long Beach Central Council PTA and moderated by Sarah Henris of the Nassau Region PTA.

The candidates discussed the proposed $122.1 million budget, and the $98 million bond to fund the district’s school preservation plan, approved by voters in 2009.

The candidates also addressed issues ranging from state testing and school programs to class sizes and property taxes. All touted their records, school and community involvement, and spoke about their careers, families and children.

Mininsky, a district mechanic who is retiring in June, said that the district is focusing on a “top-echelon” of students to the detriment of the greater student body, and that courses such as journalism, art and business have been cut in order to expand “costly programs.” He also said that the district provides administrators with perks and “devalues” the work of other employees.

Tangney, who was elected in 2009, and Guma, who was elected to a third term that year, are running as a team. Both said that for a second consecutive year, school officials delivered a budget that includes no increase in the operating budget and maintains all programs for students.

The two trustees took issue with Mininsky’s claims of waste and “frivolous spending,” and said that they have worked hard to hold the line on taxes and spending and have brought greater accountability and transparency to the board. Residents will cast their votes on May 15. Below are some excerpts from the forum.

Opening remarks: