Contested races in all Valley Stream districts

In stark contrast to past years, there will be contested school board races in all three of Valley Stream’s elementary districts next month.

In District 13, Frank Chiachiere and Debra Evans are running unopposed for re-election to their seats. But Sean Douglas, who was appointed to the board last October to fill a vacancy, is being challenged by Bernadin Fleurima for a three-year term. It is the first time since 2007 that there has been a contested school board election in District 13.

District 24 has four candidates vying for three seats. Incumbents Paul DePace, Carole Meaney and Ian Wraith are all running for re-election. Joining them on the ballot will be Lisa Pellicane, co-president of the Robert W. Carbonaro School PTA.

Each school board seat has a three-year term. Because District 24 election’s are at-large, the top three vote-getters will win seats. District 24 has not had a contested school board election for at least five years.

In District 30, Margo McKenzie is challenging incumbent Trustee Kenneth Cummings. Cummings is a past president of the District 30 school board and the current president of the Central High School District board. McKenzie is president of the Shaw Avenue School PTA.

It is the only seat up for a vote this year in District 30, which has a five-member board, and the seat has a five-year term. The last contested election in District 30 was in 2009.

School board elections, along with the budget votes, are set for May 17.