There is so much that I want to say about the upcoming election for school board trustee in Great Neck on May 17.

But after careful consideration, I am sharing (with permission) the words of another person: Jeanette Brunelle Deutermann, an education advocate from another Long Island district. I think she says it better than I could. All I can add to her wise words is: Choose wisely on May 17. Re-elect Donna Peirez as trustee to the GNPS Board of Education.

‘Over the last decade, I have endorsed well over 300 BOE candidates from all across Long Island, with hundreds of those getting elected. I have interviewed these candidates, read their detailed surveys, and became well versed in the how’s and why’s of candidates running, and the communities that vote them in. This year we will see an unprecedented change in the how’s and why’s.
It’s important we all keep our eyes open, and recognize the differences between a candidate running who is fueled by the passion of helping children and serving on the board, and those that are consumed by the politics of the moment and are looking to add to the growing discourse that has infected all of us. Before you think to yourself “not me, them”, let’s get real. No one is excused. No one.
I want to be clear – there is no all-or-nothing litmus test for a good or bad candidate. Not all candidates endorsed by political groups are bad actors with nefarious intentions. Not all candidates endorsed by unions are “in the pocket.”

Not all candidates who support mask optional are one-issue candidates. Not all candidates who served in a district that followed state mandates agreed with those mandates. Wouldn’t that be easy if these simple tests were the full picture.

Instead, you have a very wide range of candidates who fall every which way along a very gray spectrum. It’s our job as voters to ask the right questions. While views on mask optional and school closures are certainly important, it is such a small fleeting piece of the influence of a BOE member.
While your politics may make you jump at the chance to vote for a candidate who shares your politics, take a breath. Decide if this is really the direction we’re ready to head with our schools – to be one more place for extreme partisan politics. Here’s a few tips on what I look for in a candidate:
-Do I know their political affiliation immediately when hearing them speak?
-Can I guess their political affiliation at first glance of their Facebook page or website?
-Are they talking about issues concerning children, or are do they mostly seem concerned with politically charged school policies?
-Have they always been involved in education issues in the district (notice I said education issues and not political issues)
-Have they been actively involved before their candidacy in the district’s committees, PTA, school board meetings, parent groups?
-Does their campaign have a positive supportive message regarding the district or a negative “take the school BACK” message?
-Are they fueling divides through their campaign or bringing the community together? (Be careful with this one – many seem to be using language of “bringing back parent voices” while making it clear there’s only one political side they will advocate for if elected)
As the late Dr. Joe Rella so wisely used to say, “you get the district you deserve.” So choose wisely. Humans naturally gravitate towards hate, anger, fear, chaos, and division. It is one of our inherent flaws. But ask yourself if those emotions are what you are voting for on May 17t, and if that’s what you want for your child’s world.’

Nina Gordon

Great Neck