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Fair A Q&A with East Rockaway's newest Board of Ed. members
The East Rockaway Board of Education is set to welcome two new members as Daniel DeMatteo and Joseph Kilgus are running unopposed for board seats. They will take the spots vacated by outgoing President Keith Gamache and Trustee Neil Schloth.
DeMatteo and Kilgus each recently took part in a Herald question and answer session, where they outlined their motivations for running and their visions for the board.
Herald: Why did you decide to run for the Board of Education?
DeMatteo: I was asked to consider running for the board by my running mate, Joseph Kilgus. I am a lifelong Rock, so when I found out we could both run together, I knew we would add a ton of value to our community. As an alumnus of Rhame Avenue Elementary School and East Rockaway High School, I felt this would give me the best opportunity to give back.
Kilgus: As a parent of three children in the district, I have seen firsthand what our children are going through during this tough time. They have had to adjust to homeschooling, not being able to socialize with friends, not being able to participate in sporting events etc. They are being deprived of so much and I want to help in any way I can. The school board is a place I can do just that.
Herald: What major issues are you hoping to address as a board member?
DeMatteo: Our short- and long-term goals include lowering the tax burden, doing more with less, focusing on community-based fundraising, implementing Covid-19 re-entry strategy and to take a “problem-solver” approach to the board.
Kilgus: I want to help create a solid Covid-19 re-entry plan for our students. I would like to review our district budget and try to figure out a way to do more with less. People are hurting financially right now and we need to figure out how to lower taxes in the district without depriving our children of all of the things they need to succeed. I want to help to restore the glory days of East Rockaway we had prior to Covid 19. Pride and tradition has must remain one the most important parts of the district.
Herald: How do you feel you will work with the other existing board members?
DeMatteo: I am a team player that can listen and offer high-level ideas and solutions. My ability to influence results coupled with creative thinking is one of my strong suits. I know we will work great together.
Kilgus: In my industry, as in most, teamwork is key in order to be successful. The three remaining board members are educators and I am not, so I’m looking forward to learning from them while bringing a totally different perspective and skill set to the table. I believe that together we can make great things happen for our children in the district.
Herald: Why do you think you would be a good fit and have the proper experience to serve on the board?
DeMatteo: I have over 20 years of industry business experience. Building businesses from the ground up takes financial intelligence, risk mitigation, leadership and a never give up attitude. Doing more with less is a specialty of mine. Maintaining a low overhead while maximizing profits will be vital on our path forward.
Kilgus: I am a lifelong East Rockaway resident. I grew up here, went to school here, met my wife here and choose to raise my family here. East Rockaway has given me so much and now it’s time to give back. I care about this great town and our school district and I will always have the best interest of our children and town at heart. I bleed the orange and black. The pride I share in our schools and the love for our town will be the guiding light for my time served on the board. I am a leader in my industry and on a daily basis, I am faced with problems that need to be solved. I need to solve that problem while keeping the client’s best interest, the deadline and budget in mind. This is achieved by using creative thinking, teamwork and problem solving techniques. All of these skills I believe will help me with my time served as a school board member.
Herald: What more can be done to address school safety, or do you believe what is in place is adequate?
DeMatteo: I plan to review all safety measures and implement new strategies where necessary.
Kilgus: While I believe our district has done a great job with school safety, like anything else there is always room for improvement. On top of basic everyday safety issues Covid-19 has created a whole new list safety concerns for our students. I am involved in numerous essential projects right now in New York City, and we have adapted new, innovative ways to conduct normal daily operations while keeping the safety of the workers at the forefront. I would love to be able to use the knowledge I have to come up with new safety procedures that would ensure the safety of our children.
Herald: Are there any course offerings that are not currently available that you would like to push for?
DeMatteo: I am new to the board, but my key focus will be on athletics, arts and science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, programs.
Kilgus: I would like to see more technology-driven classes offered to our children as well as more trade-driven programs. In recent years, the art of learning a trade has gotten away from us. I would like to see if it is possible to bring some of the pride in working with your hands back to the new generation.
