Elmont school district

VOTING

6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Alden Terrace School, Clara H. Carlson School, Covert Avenue School, Dutch Broadway Elementary School, Gotham Avenue School, Stewart Manor School and the district’s administration building.

THE BUDGET

The district is proposing a budget of $85,838,433 for 2016-17, an increase of 1.24 percent over the current $84,787,214. The tax levy would stay the same at $54,719,298.

This amount is within the state’s tax cap of 0.25 percent, so a simple majority vote would be needed to approve the budget.

School taxes paid on an average single-family home would be $3,538, the same as the current figure.

The district still is in contract negotiations over teacher salaries, but the proposed budget calls for no reductions to teachers, staff, programs or services.

• District website:

www.elmontschools.org

THE CANDIDATES

There are three by-seat positions open. Incumbents Michael A. Jaime and Tameka Battle-Burkett are both running unopposed, while incumbent Leslyn Stewart is being challenged for her seat by Michael Cantara. Terms are three years.

Leslyn Stewart

BACKGROUND: Stewart, 40 is a registered nurse and has lived in the school district for 12 years. She has served on the board for the past 1 1⁄2 years after being elected to fill a board member’s unexpired term. She has a child who attends a district school. Stewart has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from SUNY Downstate and is studying for a master’s degree in public health, also from SUNY Downstate. She is also president of the Concerns of Police Survivors Metro New York Chapter, an organization for family members and co-workers of officers killed in the line of duty.

ISSUES: Stewart said that being re-elected to the school board would give her the opportunity to work collectively with the other board members to successfully provide quality education to students within the district’s tax cap, which she cited as the most important issue facing her district. “Working together productively has been a strong point and serves our district well,” she said. “I am dedicated to the work we do and the responsibilities we hold as I continue to support board policies and important board actions, upholding the interests of our students at all times.” Stewart also said she is appreciative to have served publicly in this way and looks forward to doing more productive work for Elmont. “It’s important to be able to impact the future interests of our children,” she said. “I believe heavily in raising the awareness of public education.”

Michael Cantara

BACKGROUND: Cantara, 41, is a pediatric physical therapist and is head of the physical therapy department at P.S. Q811 in Queens. He has a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy and a master’s degree in pediatric developmental disabilities, both from New York University, and a clinical doctorate in physical therapy from Stony Brook University. He also received the NYU President’s Award for Leadership in 1996. He has lived in the district for 12 years and has three children who attended or are attending district schools. He is also a coach in the New Hyde Park Little League.

ISSUES: Cantara highlighted property taxes as one of the biggest issues facing his district. “Nassau County residents pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation,” he said. “We need to ensure that this revenue is spent wisely and efficiently . . . I will insist that our budget is allocated appropriately with the highest standards of academic excellence.” He also said that, if elected, his goal would be to have Elmont rise to be the best district in New York and would strive to achieve that by following the teachings of Dr. Carol Dweck, who developed the theories of “growth mindset” and “the power of yet,” he said. “In my opinion, every person involved in the Elmont school district should be trained about this revolutionary method of teaching and focus on using it on a daily basis,” Cantara said. “This mindset focuses on praising effort and problem-solving skills, which research shows improve test scores and academic performance dramatically.”