Former Floral Park-Bellerose Trustee Douglas Vigo said in a letter to the community that it was an honor serving the community after 11 consecutive districts on the board.
“Although the names and faces may have changed throughout the years, the overall mission never did,” Vigo said in a letter that was posted to the school’s website. “Our mission is to keep pushing the district and our amazing children and staff to achieve so much more.”
Vigo spent two years as PTA treasurer and nine years as a Board of Education trustee where he served as trustee, vice president and president. Vigo has also served as a trustee for the Sewanhaka Central High School Board of Education for the last five years.
Vigo, who was first elected in 2013, did not seek re-election this year. His vacant seat went to Rosemarie Peltonen after an election. She will be sworn onto the board on July 7 for a three-year term.
The trustee thanked board members David Fowler, Laura Ferrone, Denise Dellacorte and Jenell Horan, who continued a mission that began more than 125 years ago in 1894 to push the district to new heights.
“I decided to run for a seat on the Board of Education because I wanted to give back to a community that I grew up in, to districts that I attended for both elementary school and high school,” Vigo said. “And to ensure that this generation of young students got as much out of the school districts as I did – lasting memories, a quality foundation for education, and establishing lifelong friendships.”
Peltonen’s current term will end in 2025, the same time as Trustee Michael Culotta, who was re-elected earlier this year.
The rest of the board is made up of President Laura Trentacoste, Vice President Beth Kierez and Jaclyn O’Donahue.
Trentacoste, Kierez and O’Donahue’s respective terms end in 2023, 2024 and 2024.
Vigo signed off his letter by saying how much the district means to him and wishing them luck in the future.
“The Floral Park-Bellerose School District will always be a special place, and I wish nothing but the best to the current Board of Education as they continue to work hard as part of that team to build lasting memories for today’s students,” Vigo said.