One of the major and more important concerns I have — and for that matter any Great Neck resident who votes in the May 16 school board election and bond/budget referendums — is whether any candidate for the board trustee has any affiliation or ties, including whether he or she is a parent of a child who attends or has attended a private school.
The reason for my concern is obvious and begs the question.
How does such a candidate pledge allegiance first to the care and quality of our children’s public school educational needs without having a conflict of interest?
The answer is quite clear. Simply put, that candidate, if elected, will be biased, place in jeopardy or/and prevent any policy to be considered by the board that obtains in favor of a whole body of plans to enhance and advance our children’s quality of education, from kindergarten and up.
In the case of Ilya Aronovich, a candidate running to replace Ms. Healy, his election portends future obstacles for two reasons.
He does not hide that not only does he have children in a private school but also that he serves on one of them, the board of the Silverstein Hebrew Acadamy.
In addition, he recently hedged on whether he would support the bond/budget proposals.
The situation is somewhat different but rings familiarly with Nicholas Kron, seeking Larry Gross’s seat.
In his opening remarks during the recent meet the candidates night, he stated that three of his four children attend or have attended our public schools.
He failed, however, to disclose that his youngest child attends a private school. An oversight? I doubt it.
An odd omission but not puzzling, considering any admittance would most likely cost him the election.
I have nothing against private schools. They definitely have good intentions and goals. And I respect freedom of religion.
However, being a parent is one thing; being a candidate is another.
I urge you to vote for Rebecca Sassouni to replace Healy and to vote for Jeffrey Shi as Gross’s replacement.
Don’t be shy about Shi. From what I have observed, he will be an excellent board trustee, dedicated and objective.
Bob Sobel
Great Neck
Mr. Sobol, your letter talks of conflict of interest but it does not ring true with me. Can a man not represent a women, without a conflict of interest? A black man not represent a white man without a conflict of interest? How about a Christian representing a Jew or vice-versa, without having a conflict of interest? Mr. Sobol, believing that one who does not attend public school cannot advocate for education correctly is a limited and bias approach. I am a father of four. Three that are currently in GNPS (middle and high school). I have never in “oversight” left out my youngest son. He is a 7 years old and still attends NSHA, and this does not cloud my vision for stewarding the GNPS into the future. I know GNPS intimately; I have watched and led my kids through ELA’s – pros/cons, Common Core, Regents, Sports, the plays, musical concerts and classes at Cumberland Adult Ed. I’ve watched and experienced our public schools up close and in action. I am a proud public school parent who supports the budget and the bond proposals. Your article paints with too broad a brush. The whole Great Neck community, for the most part, supports the GNPS. Those that don’t, approach their decision for their own reasons. There are many public school parents and empty nesters who also did not vote for the last bond proposal. The vote is not about a “what’s in it for me” attitude, it is about dialog, education and inclusion to counter misinformation. I reject Mr. Aronovich’s vision to sell public school assets and his denouncement of the bond. I would further suggest that you relook at the qualifications of the candidates running for the seats. I am running against Mr. Shi and I know that I bring 25 years of professional consulting, deal negotiation, real-estate management, entrepreneurship and creative problem-solving to the table. I am the best liaison for the community. I have the experience and I look to serve in a wholehearted way to grow the GN community. I am proud to be part of the GNPS and I believe that I am the most qualified to be a board trustee.