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Mostly Cloudy Pean takes reigns of District 30 board
Even though District 30 is in the middle of its search for a new schools superintendent, the Board of Education made another change at the top.
Carolyn Pean took over as board president at the July 5 reorganization meeting, succeeding Elise Antonelli who held the position for two years. Pean has been on the board for the past three years and served as vice president for the last two.
Since joining the Board of Education, Pean said she has learned a lot and is prepared for the role of president. She said she has gained an understanding of how a school district operates, and how to best use her opinion to contribute positively to the discussions. Her fellow board members — in a very respectful manner — helped her learn the ropes, she said..
Antonelli said that if it weren’t for the cohesiveness of the District 30 school board, there might have been some apprehension about making a switch in board presidents during a superintendent search. Although everyone on the five-member board has their own opinions and their own personalities, she explained, they still work well together and have a “team spirit.”
Pean agreed. “It doesn’t matter who is the head of this team,” she said. “Our main concern, the reason that we’re here, is to serve the community and the children.”
The superintendent search is going well, Pean said, and the board is on track to have Dr. Elaine Kanas’s successor picked by the end of July. Last week, a community advisory committee interviewed the top three candidates and presented its impressions to the board.
Kanas is leaving to become the superintendent of the East Williston School District. She has been with District 30 for the past four years.
When the new superintendent begins, Pean said she will spend a lot of time meeting with that person, but the whole board will share the responsibility of helping he or she get acclimated to Valley Stream.
One of the primary responsibilities of the board president is to work with the superintendent to set the agenda for each board meeting.
The District 30 Board of Education traditionally changes its president every other year. Antonelli said she enjoyed her two years as its leader, and during that time attended numerous training workshops. “I think it was an educational process for me,” she said. “I’m going to miss it. I’m prepared to hand over the torch to Carolyn who I’m sure will do a great job.”
She will continue to remain actively involved in the superintendent search. Antonelli will also join Pean and trustee Ken Cummings as District 30’s representatives to the Central High School District Board of Education this year.
Cristobal Stewart, who was recently re-elected to a five-year term, will serve as the vice president of the District 30 board.
Pean noted that since the superintendent search began, several candidates spoke highly of District 30. She said it was very humbling to learn that the district is so well regarded outside of Valley Stream. “I’m really honored to be representing such a great district,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to many more accomplishments in the future. We’re not done yet. We’ve just begun.”
