RVC School Board Candidates Hold Public Debate

Incumbent John O’Shea and challenger Lynda Rubino squared off in a public forum Tuesday night at South Side Middle School for a spot on the Rockville Centre Board of Education.

The two candidates fielded a total of 13 questions from residents on various topics ranging from turf fields to the IB program.

Throughout the debate, O’Shea focused on the improvements the district has seen in recent years while he has been on the board as a trustee and said that he will continue to listen to the community when making decisions.

Rubino said, if elected, she wants to focus more on spending and fiscal responsibility.

On questions relating to the current quality of education, the school improvement bond, state testing, the IB program and capital improvements, Rubino questioned current spending without any specific referencing while O’Shea had a tighter grasp of the numbers involved with each category.

A majority of the forum went without any back-and-forth between the candidates, however, the third question saw O’Shea question Rubino’s credentials.

The question was “Do you support the budget -- yes or no? And if elected to the board, how would you affect the implementation of the school budget?”

Rubino said she was still looking through the budget information and hadn’t made a decision as to whether or not she supported the budget.

“At this point, I find it hard to believe that a candidate hasn’t made a decision whether to support the budget or not,” O’Shea said of his opponent. “... It just seems [like] an odd position to take, not to take a position.”

RELATED: RVC Board of Ed Adopts $100.7 Million Budget

The ninth question asked candidates whether or not they would support a “Princeton plan,” which was previously discussed by the district years ago.

The plan would divide the current kindergarten through fifth-grade experience into smaller segments across the elementary school buildings. Currently, the elementary schools are under the common neighborhood school plan, which uses geographic district lines to assign students to schools.

Rubino answered first, admitting that she wasn’t sure what the exact definition of the Princeton plan was. O’Shea said he was against the plan, unless of course the community unquestionably supported it.

While most questions were directed at both opponents, the last question of the night was directed specifically at Rubino. “If you believe our schools are our greatest asset, why did you not send your kids to the Rockville Centre Public Schools?”

In her opening remarks, Rubino said that her two kids attend Kellenberg Memorial High School and St. Agnes.

“Many people have asked me that question … The bottom line is my faith,” Rubino said. “My faith is very important to my husband and I, and I want faith to be a part of my children’s day from the beginning until the end of the day.”

Residents can vote for either O’Shea or Rubino at the district’s budget vote, which will be held in the South Side High School gym from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 21.