
Incumbent Vice President Margaret Ballantyne-Mannion and Trustee Patrick Talty are running unopposed for the Mineola Board of Education.
Residents will vote via absentee ballot in the June 9 election due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ballots will be distributed 14 days before the vote.
Candidates did not need to collect signatures in order to file, in keeping with social distancing regulations.
Ballantyne-Mannion is a Spanish professor at York College and earned a Ph.D. from Brown University in Hispanic studies. She has lived in Mineola since 1972, and she and her husband, Luke Mannion, have been active in the local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
She is currently running for her third term.
Asked why she is seeking re-election, Ballantyne-Mannion said, “Serving on the Mineola UFSD Board of Education is a way in which I can serve my community and put some of my professional expertise and personal experiences to work for all the children in our district.”
Talty has been on the board since 2017, when he ran unopposed with 755 votes. He replaced former Trustee Nicole Matzer.
“A school district succeeds when the community is deeply involved,” he said. “Mineola has made tremendous strides over the last decade because thoughtful, dedicated individuals committed their time to work with the administration and make the necessary decisions and investments.”
“The result is Mineola’s renaissance resulting in national recognition, including having our superintendent, Dr. Michael Nagler, named as one of four finalists for National Superintendent of the Year,” Talty added.
He said that it is due to this sustained effort that the district is able to weather the challenge that schools are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These efforts are paying dividends today as school districts across the nation face stiff headwinds while pivoting to distanced learning,” he said.
He added that he believes the board truly puts what is best for the district at the forefront of decisions.
“I am proud to work with my fellow trustees because we’re unselfish and bring no personal agendas to the table,” he said. “I am running for re-election because I want to remain part of this extraordinary collective that is steadfastly committed to doing what’s best for our students, faculty and taxpayers of our district.”
The board has laid out an ambitious set of goals for the next few years, said Ballantyne-Mannion.
“Going forward, the Board will be supporting the continuation of our innovative integrated curriculum development, college and career ready programs for all students, a dual language program (K-12), creative assessment measures, a growth mindset initiative, Full Day Universal Pre-K for all, and several capital projects,” she said.
“All of this was accomplished under the tax levy and without incurring debt,” she added. “It would be a privilege to be able to continue to be a part of this work.”
Talty said that the board’s specific goals include creating a new five-year capital improvement plan that addresses the outstanding items in the NEW Building Conditions Survey, developing and expanding programs that prepare high school students for secondary education and careers and designing a series of grade-level “learning pathways.”
“These pathways will allow students to earn micro badges as they demonstrate understanding of the components of the District’s Mission,” he explained.
Additionally, the board seeks to implement, monitor, expand and assess curricular initiatives including “Growth Mindset,” “Math Expressions” and integrating environmental awareness into the curriculum and participating in green initiatives, Talty said.
Ballantyne-Mannion expressed pride in the way the district has responded to the coronavirus pandemic. Mineola has been recognized throughout New York as well as in national publications for its smooth transition to online learning, she said.
“The transition was made purposefully and methodically,” she commented.
Talty said that the district will continue to develop a plan for the coming months as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health authorities continue to put out information on the situation.
Ballantyne-Mannion acknowledged teachers’ roles in shaping students’ well-being in this challenging time.
“I am so proud of the work our teachers have done to check in on the social and emotional wellness of our students, as well as the tremendous efforts they have made to give each student creative, challenging, and meaningful work (not busy work) throughout this time,” she said.
She added that districtwide efforts to maintain students’ social and emotional wellness are crucial as remote learning continues.
“The district has also used social media to promote a sense of community, connectedness and fun for students,” she said. “Going forward, flexibility, communication, preparedness and concern for students’ well-being will be the key to making any adjustments further situations might cause.”