School elections show power of teacher unions, observers say
Long Island school board elections on Tuesday represented a return to a sense of normalcy, local election observers say: where the majority of wins went to incumbents and candidates endorsed by local teacher unions after quiet campaigns.
Those unions, long a powerhouse in these elections, saw victories for a total of 66 of the 80 candidates they endorsed on Long Island, for an 82.5% rate of success, according to a tally by the New York State United Teachers, the federation for teacher unions.
"On our end, it was business as usual," said NYSUT spokesman Ben Amey, noting that statewide results were much the same, with 85% of union-backed candidates winning.
Teacher unions have played a large role in school board elections, having big campaign chests and established ways to reach voters, said Michael Dawidziak, a political consultant for more than 40 years based in Bayport. Candidates and parents come and go in local school races, usually when their kids graduate from high school, but the unions are a mainstay, he said.
Dawidziak said he saw a return to the status quo in another way: The political divisiveness that defined Island school board races in recent years had lessened. In recent years, candidates who pushed divisive issues — criticizing the way they see race, gender and history taught — saw big losses, he added.
"By and large, the status quo forces won," Dawidziak said.
The great majority of incumbents seeking reelection were victorious, indicating a level of stability on the local boards, said Bob Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association. About 7% of challengers to incumbents won, he added.
"In those areas where a challenger to an incumbent was successful, it was due to local, grassroots issues such as a dynamic candidate or a local issue, not any widespread divisiveness," Vecchio said.
Babylon residents ousted incumbent board president Carol Dell'Erba Tuesday.
In the West Islip race, a student, high school senior Quinn Bedell, ran as a write-in candidate and won.
"We did door-to-door knocking, banners on billboard trucks, mailers, went to churches," Bedell said. "I just felt I could provide a different perspective — that of the students."
Farmingdale incumbent Sheree Jones was among the incumbent candidates who won after receiving support from the local teacher union.
"I think the community has spoken and chosen candidates committed to protecting public education," Jones said.
Islandwide, 124 districts held votes Tuesday on spending plans totaling a combined $15.2 billion, with property tax levies totaling $9.5 billion. All but two budgets passed: West Hempstead and Wainscott.
West Hempstead Superintendent Daniel Rehman said the school board will discuss its options in the coming days.
A district experiencing a budget defeat has the option of revoting on the same budget, revoting on a revised budget, or skipping a revote and adopting a so-called contingency budget that freezes taxes at the previous year’s level. The next opportunity for districts to hold a budget vote is June 20.
West Hempstead residents also voted down the budget last May. A trimmed budget won voter approval in a second try last June.
Voters in Wainscott voted 91-65 Tuesday to OK the budget, giving it an approval rating of 58.33%, but the district needed 60% approval since it wanted to exceed the tax-cap levy.
Wainscott Superintendent Deborah Haab said the district had no choice but to ask voters for an additional $1 million, due to an influx of new students, including several who required expensive special education.
"This was out of the district's control," said Haab, adding that the school board will consider its options. "Clearly the majority of the voters understand the situation. ... We were three votes short."
Elsewhere, Sag Harbor voters rejected a proposition to purchase property adjacent to Pierson Middle/High School. The district initially sought to acquire the Marsden Street property in a partnership with Southampton Town to build an athletic field, but those plans fell through.
The district then sought to acquire the property on its own by asking voters to approve a $6 million bond as well as to use $3.425 million from a capital reserve fund.
Sag Harbor school board president Sandi Kruel said Wednesday that district officials plan “to take a day or two to digest” the vote and then see what options might be available.
With Joe Werkmeister
Long Island school board elections on Tuesday represented a return to a sense of normalcy, local election observers say: where the majority of wins went to incumbents and candidates endorsed by local teacher unions after quiet campaigns.
Those unions, long a powerhouse in these elections, saw victories for a total of 66 of the 80 candidates they endorsed on Long Island, for an 82.5% rate of success, according to a tally by the New York State United Teachers, the federation for teacher unions.
"On our end, it was business as usual," said NYSUT spokesman Ben Amey, noting that statewide results were much the same, with 85% of union-backed candidates winning.
Teacher unions have played a large role in school board elections, having big campaign chests and established ways to reach voters, said Michael Dawidziak, a political consultant for more than 40 years based in Bayport. Candidates and parents come and go in local school races, usually when their kids graduate from high school, but the unions are a mainstay, he said.
WHAT TO KNOW
- Long Island school board elections represented a return to a sense of normalcy, local election observers say, with the majority of wins going to incumbents and candidates endorsed by local teacher unions.
- The unions saw victories for a total of 66 of the 80 candidates they endorsed on Long Island, according to a tally by the New York State United Teachers, the federation for teacher unions.
- All but two district budgets passed Tuesday: West Hempstead and Wainscott, where school officials are planning their next steps.
Dawidziak said he saw a return to the status quo in another way: The political divisiveness that defined Island school board races in recent years had lessened. In recent years, candidates who pushed divisive issues — criticizing the way they see race, gender and history taught — saw big losses, he added.
"By and large, the status quo forces won," Dawidziak said.
The great majority of incumbents seeking reelection were victorious, indicating a level of stability on the local boards, said Bob Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association. About 7% of challengers to incumbents won, he added.
"In those areas where a challenger to an incumbent was successful, it was due to local, grassroots issues such as a dynamic candidate or a local issue, not any widespread divisiveness," Vecchio said.
Babylon residents ousted incumbent board president Carol Dell'Erba Tuesday.
In the West Islip race, a student, high school senior Quinn Bedell, ran as a write-in candidate and won.
"We did door-to-door knocking, banners on billboard trucks, mailers, went to churches," Bedell said. "I just felt I could provide a different perspective — that of the students."
Farmingdale incumbent Sheree Jones was among the incumbent candidates who won after receiving support from the local teacher union.
"I think the community has spoken and chosen candidates committed to protecting public education," Jones said.
Regrouping in West Hempstead, Wainscott
Islandwide, 124 districts held votes Tuesday on spending plans totaling a combined $15.2 billion, with property tax levies totaling $9.5 billion. All but two budgets passed: West Hempstead and Wainscott.
West Hempstead Superintendent Daniel Rehman said the school board will discuss its options in the coming days.
A district experiencing a budget defeat has the option of revoting on the same budget, revoting on a revised budget, or skipping a revote and adopting a so-called contingency budget that freezes taxes at the previous year’s level. The next opportunity for districts to hold a budget vote is June 20.
West Hempstead residents also voted down the budget last May. A trimmed budget won voter approval in a second try last June.
Voters in Wainscott voted 91-65 Tuesday to OK the budget, giving it an approval rating of 58.33%, but the district needed 60% approval since it wanted to exceed the tax-cap levy.
Wainscott Superintendent Deborah Haab said the district had no choice but to ask voters for an additional $1 million, due to an influx of new students, including several who required expensive special education.
"This was out of the district's control," said Haab, adding that the school board will consider its options. "Clearly the majority of the voters understand the situation. ... We were three votes short."
Elsewhere, Sag Harbor voters rejected a proposition to purchase property adjacent to Pierson Middle/High School. The district initially sought to acquire the Marsden Street property in a partnership with Southampton Town to build an athletic field, but those plans fell through.
The district then sought to acquire the property on its own by asking voters to approve a $6 million bond as well as to use $3.425 million from a capital reserve fund.
Sag Harbor school board president Sandi Kruel said Wednesday that district officials plan “to take a day or two to digest” the vote and then see what options might be available.
With Joe Werkmeister
Craig Schneider is a Long Island native and Stony Brook University alumnus. He joined Newsday as a general assignment reporter in January 2018 after 20 years at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
