North Shore Board of Education President Andrea Macari and Trustee Brian Hanley are running unopposed to retain their seats in this year’s school board election.

Macari, a lifelong district resident and North Shore alumna from the Class of 1996, said she decided to seek a third term because she believes her experience has prepared her to continue serving the community effectively.

“I still feel like I have more work left to do as a trustee,” Macari said. “Learning how to be a good trustee takes years of training. Now with six years of service completed, I feel that I am even more equipped to serve the community well in my third term.”

Macari, who was elected board president in 2023, said she is particularly proud of the board’s collaborative accomplishments during her current term, including the development of the district’s universal pre-kindergarten program, the middle school’s Twice Exceptional Viking Navigators Program and expanded use of assistive technology for students receiving special education services.

She also pointed to efforts to improve board operations and community engagement.

“As president, I have made it my goal to improve collegiality among trustees and the relationship between the community and the Board,” she said. “I have also streamlined our meetings so that they are much shorter in length.”

A clinical psychologist, Macari earned her doctorate in clinical and school psychology and a master’s degree from Hofstra University, along with a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College of Columbia University. She has worked in private practice on Long Island, specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy, counseling and psychological evaluations.

Hanley is also seeking reelection and brings experience from his work on the district’s Legislative Action Committee, where he has served since 2021. A financial regulatory attorney, Hanley has previously said he hopes to use his legal and financial expertise to help the district navigate fiscal challenges.

Efforts to reach Hanley were unavailing.

Macari said one of the district’s biggest ongoing challenges remains uncertainty surrounding future tax revenue from local utilities and the proposed Propel project, which she said could affect district operations and community safety.

Source: LI Press