Read about Frankel, Gershon and Weiner for Syosset School Board.

The school board activities have become somewhat more transparent this year. This change has been too slowly implemented and at times appears unwelcome by the administration. As non-affiliated candidates and parents of children currently in the school system, we want to ensure that the community knows that the school board truly welcomes their questions, participation and involvement.

We envision a school board and administration that works together toward the common goal of ensuring that our students can enjoy the same, if not better, level of educational, artistic and athletic programs that Syosset is known for. We would like to rebuild the community’s trust that the administration and school board can work harmoniously while at the same time, engage in meaningful dialogue and respect differing perspectives.

With these goals in mind, we realize that in order to maintain this level of excellence for today’s children and the children in Syosset’s future, we need to be fiscally prudent in how we are allocating funds. Last year, the district utilized funds from reserves while teachers and administrators accepted a pay freeze. This allowed the district to adhere to New York State’s tax cap. For the 2013-2014 school year, the district is recommending utilizing approximately $8m (Feb. 2013 budget meeting) of reserves to remain under the state’s tax restriction. The district has utilized reserve funds for the past couple of years, while at the same time the reserve fund balance has actually increased. This shows the financial strength of the district. Even while tapping our reserves, the district has been able to increase our reserves account. We support this prudent use of reserves to stay under New York State’s tax cap. However, we are concerned that the district may not have the ability to increase the reserves as they had previously, while drawing from reserves at a seemingly increasing rate. Therefore, we need to take a long term view when it comes to utilizing reserves to ensure that this account remains at an adequate level. One way to hold down expenses is to negotiate with our vendors and service providers to keep our costs in check. We would not only recommend negotiating with new vendors, but we should re-examine our existing vendor relationships to ensure the district is getting the best value.

We each have children in the school district and believe we must hold on to programs, activities, and staff in order to maintain the level of excellence that we expect from our schools.  This is why we need to explore all other avenues for potential savings.

With an obvious interest in being effective members of the school board, we have explored what others have found to be essential qualities for an effective school board and we would like to share with you what we have learned.  For example, we share the belief that the school board must have a collaborative relationship with the community, school staff and the administration.  Along those same lines, we aim to build a trust and mutual respect with the administration. We share the belief that the school board must be able to obtain and monitor information from the district in order to make the decisions that will improve student success.  Lastly, we share the belief that we should maintain high expectations for ourselves, for the district and most importantly, for our students.

We are certain the three of us together will have the influence to create an open and receptive school board. Last year’s board of education election saw a tremendous voter turnout. In the process, the board and the administration’s credibility were questioned by the community. We aim to rebuild and strengthen that credibility. Since there are three trustee positions available in this election, we ask you to vote for each of us.

We welcome any questions, suggestions or concerns you have in regard to our goals and philosophies.  Please feel free to contact any of us.

Tracy Frankel: Tracy_Frankel@ymail.com
Rob Gershon: GershonforSyossetBOE@gmail.com
Bill Weiner: Bill_Weiner@ymail.com

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About Tracy Frankel:
Tracy_Frankel@ymail.com

I have been a proud member of this community since I moved to Syosset in 2004. As both a homeowner, mother of two children in elementary school, and PTA member, I have a vested interest in helping to raise the property values of our homes and elevating what is already an outstanding school district, while promoting fiscal responsibility. I know I am not alone in believing that our community’s success is intrinsically tied to the success of our schools, our teachers and our students.

As the daughter of two teachers, I am keenly aware of the pressures and constraints facing our teachers and our children on a daily basis, all of whom try valiantly to balance new methods, high volume and even higher standards, with the desire to promote well rounded and happy students. Growing up as an active Honors student, musician and athlete on Long Island, I can personally attest to the lifelong benefits our children can reap if we continue to strive to offer a broad range of programs in the sports, arts and academic arenas. I continue to enjoy supporting and attending Syosset sporting events, theater events and extra-curricular activities.

Professionally, I am a Partner with the law firm of Farber Brocks & Zane, LLP in Garden City, New York. I concentrate in the area of appellate practice and have substantial litigation experience in areas including property damage, construction and Labor Law. I advocate for a living and it would give me no greater pleasure than to advocate for our community. I achieved my Juris Doctor from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from the University of Michigan, with a double major in Psychology and Communications.
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About Rob Gershon:
GershonforSyossetBOE@gmail.com

I moved to the Syosset School District in 2003. My wife Pam, a school psychologist, and I were looking for a community with a top rated school district. We feel that we made the right decision in that our two children have been receiving a top notch education. We have been members of the PTA since 2004. I have been involved in community activities such as coaching baseball, football and volunteering at various school functions over the years.

I have a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, having majored in Political Science. Immediately thereafter, I attended Brooklyn Law School. I am a former Assistant District Attorney and have served as a Special Prosecutor three times. I sit on a Judiciary Screening Committee and I am the immediate past President of one of the Bar associations in New York City. I have also served as Bar Association treasurer and Chairperson of the Assigned Counsel Screening Committee. Currently, I am working as an attorney in private practice.

I am seeking a position on the Syosset Board of Education because I want to make sure that the quality of education is preserved while keeping an eye on the budget and expenditures. The value of a good education can never be overstated. Coming from a family of teachers (wife, brother, sister & father), the value of a strong educational district has been important to me for a very long time. I believe that my experiences as an attorney would be an asset to the Syosset Board of Education. Currently, there are no lawyers sitting as a Trustee. I ask that the residents of the Syosset School District support the independent ticket of Frankel, Gershon and Weiner as I know we will work together well and ensure that our educational system delivers all that the community deserves.
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About Bill Weiner:
Bill_Weiner@ymail.com

I have spent my entire life surrounded by people who truly love being educators. My father was a teacher, university professor, and the Dean of the School of Education at Fordham University.  My sister was a teacher for many years. My wife, Caryn, has been a high school teacher for over 20 years. Her father was an assistant principal who retired after 30 years in public education. 

In 2004, my wife Caryn and I moved into the Syosset School District with our two young children. This decision was based in large part on the strong reputation of the Syosset Schools. Our children are flourishing in the Syosset Schools and we couldn’t be prouder. In 2006, I joined the Birchwood Civic Association (BCA) representing about 1300 homes in East Birchwood. In the BCA, I was chairman of the Syosset Education Committee, attended Syosset Board meetings and reported on those meetings back to the BCA. I am now completing my second term as President of the BCA and have continued attending Syosset Board meetings. The BCA has been a strong supporter of Syosset Schools, giving generously to neighboring Robbins Lane elementary school, providing scholarships to worthy Syosset High School seniors, and inviting prospective Syosset board members to address our community. Also, as President of the BCA, I have been and continue to be actively involved with the Cerro Wire Coalition and its Alternate Development Committee which is determined to block the Taubman Corporation’s effort to put a mega mall on the old Cerro Wire property. This property is dangerously close to Robbins Lane elementary school and we are seeking an alternative, smart use of this land. 

My strong sense of civic responsibility has driven me to seek a position on the Syosset Board of Education.  Our community and children depend upon our excellent schools. I want to ensure the continued success and reputation our school district enjoys, while maintaining financial responsibility.

My own educational and professional background includes a BS in Business Administration, with a concentration in Management Information Systems from Boston University, and a MS in Information Systems from The American University. I am currently working for Standard and Poor’s Rating Services as a Senior Director of Application Development managing multiple project teams of engineers, developers and business systems analysts.