Five candidates are running for two open seats on the Connetquot Board of Education in the May 19 election.
Incumbent trustees April Iannitelli and Jacquelyn DiLorenzo are facing challengers Jennie Keddy, Edward Barry, and Jaclyn Napolitano Furno for the two three-year-term trustee positions on the Connetquot Board of Education.
Some of the information about the candidates came from the recent “Meet the Candidates” event hosted by the Oakdale, Bohemia, and Ronkonkoma Civic Associations. Learn more about the candidates below:
April Iannitelli, a resident of Connetquot for most of her life, is seeking re-election to the Connetquot Board of Education. Iannitelli has three children who all attended Connetquot Schools and has volunteered within the district for over 25 years by “advocating for students, [and] supporting countless school events” through her positions on PTAs and the school board.
On the school board, Iannitelli is a member of committees including those relating to policy, and alcohol and drug curricula. Professionally, Iannitelli works for a multi-million-dollar global technology company as a director of procurement and fulfillment, overseeing a team of 12 employees. Iannitelli’s role involves using “data-driven insights to drive continuous improvement.”
Iannitelli also identified listening as an important skill of hers that allows her to build strong relationships in whatever capacity she is in. Other roles Iannitelli has worked in include substitute teacher and teacher’s assistant at BOCES.
“That experience gave me first-hand exposure to programs,” Iannitelli said. “I consider myself a loyal and fair person raised to treat all people with kindness while standing firm in my beliefs.”
Regarding district finances, Iannitelli said that relying on reserves is not sustainable and that the board went line by line through the budget process to find ways to limit the need to draw on reserves. With the social studies and English department heads, and math and science department heads combining positions, Iannitelli said each department head will have a support network.
“It’s hard to balance, and we have to get there,” Iannitelli said. “And unfortunately, it does mean cuts, and it does mean that we have to become inventive and more imaginative in what we’re coming up with our programs and staffing.”
Iannitelli supports the closure of the high school academy, which serves around 16 students, and staff from this program will be reassigned around the district. Iannitelli added that she spoke with the parents of students in this program, who expressed mixed feelings about the alternative learning program.
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