Farmingdale School Board Candidates Debate Issues

A challenger and two incumbent members of the Farmingdale Board of Education expressed their positions on hot-button education issues facing schools statewide in a candidate's forum Monday night.

Incumbents Russ Catanzaro and Tina Diamond faced off with challenger Michael Goldberg at the public forum at Howitt Middle School in a civil discussion before about 50 people.

All three talked about their experience: Diamond on the board and with a math background in business, Catanzaro on his expertise in construction and facilities maintenance and Goldberg as an accountant and businessman.

On one matter they completely agreed. In response to a question from the audience, all three said the board had done a good job with the proposed school district budget, which proposes a tax levy increase of 2.35 percent, well under the tax cap set for Farmingdale by the state.

The vote is May 21, the same day the district will choose two board members from these three candidates. There are a total of four propositions on the ballot.

Besides experience on the board, the differences between the candidates were hard to find:

Diamond was critical of unfunded state mandates and high-pressure testing that have angered parents across the state. She said the voice of districts like Farmingdale's must be heard by state lawmakers.

Catanzaro, seeking a fourth three-year term, stressed his 30 years of experience in the construction industry that he has used to benefit various district facilities improvements.

Goldberg pointed to his business background, an asset he said he will bring to the board's oversight of budget issues. He has three children currently in the district, all of whom were present at the forum.

All the candidates agreed that the district would benefit from greater parent involvement in district-wide issues. The forum was sponsored by the Farmingdale Council of PTAs.

(Patch will have more about the election as it approaches. For more information about the elections and district check the district website here.)