In their Own Words: Sachem School Board Incumbents and Possible Newbies Speak Up

With the hope of getting more people in the community to learn about those running for the Sachem Central School District's Board of Education next week on May 18, Sachem Patch asked those running opposed and unopposed to write their thoughts about the election and why people should give them their vote.

Tony Falco: Incumbent, President of the Board

My name is Tony Falco. I have been on the Sachem School Board for 24 years and I am seeking re-election for another three-year term. It has always been important to me to give back to the community.

I retired from the N.Y.C Police Department in 1990. For the past 38 years I have also been on the Board of the Sachem Youth Advisory Group (SYAG). My wife Margaret and I have lived in the Sachem School District for over 42 years and have had a good life here. Our four children graduated from Sachem High School.

The value of a quality education was always stressed in our home and they all went on to graduate from college and became teachers. Being a member of the school board has been both rewarding and challenging. Sachem has been through many changes over the years and some tough choices have had to be made. I have been through the years of superintendent searches, high taxes because of state aide cuts, staff layoffs and program reductions. I feel I can still contribute to the community being on the school board because of my experience.

My goals for the future include improving the academic accomplishments of our students, continuing to offer a wide variety of subjects and extra curricular activities, which help our students to develop, while keeping our taxes as low as possible.

One of my main goals is to continue to pull this community together as one. After the split of our district, the community was also divided, which has caused strong rivalries and resentments. We say at sports night, "We are Sachem." That means one district, with two high schools.

I hope the people of the district will continue to support me as they have for the last 24 years. 

Mike Matlat: Running for Falco's seat

For those who do not know me, please allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Mike Matlat and I have been a member of our Sachem community for 42 years.  I am seeking your support for the Sachem School Board. 

I am a graduate from Sachem High School class of '86.  I have a Bachelors degree in Business from Flagler College and a Masters degree in Secondary Education from Dowling College.  I am 42 years old and have lived here my entire life other than going away to college.   My parents, both of whom are retired, still live in Farmingville part of the year along with my two retired sisters and their families and a brother who moved as far away as Centereach.  I am married to my lovely wife, Terri, a middle school guidance counselor in Massapequa where she was born and raised.  We have 2 boys in Tecumseh where I went as a child and a little girl in pre-school anxiously waiting to attend kindergarten with her brothers, friends and neighbors. 

My professional career of approximately 19 years has been rewarding and full of valuable experiences.  I currently work for DJM Realty, located in Melville with previous positions at Keen Consultants and KPMG Corporate Finance where I held series 7 and series 63 investment banking licenses.  My business life as a real estate consultant has enabled me to travel the country negotiating and selling real estate. My job is to maximize value and limit liabilities. I have gone from waking up and feeding my chickens in a suit to a few hours later sitting across a desk from Donald Trump. 

I know I can improve things in our community and the children in it with a bigger platform. Of the nine board seats our District makes available, eight are held by North residents, only one is held by an East resident and I feel strongly that a shared vote and representation from all areas of our District is necessary. I feel passionately that our District and its taxpayers need to be represented, not by people with self interest but by board members free of conflict.  

I am pleased and thankful for the education and services our district offers. I want to be "A Voice For You" to make us all better.

Sal Tripi: Incumbent, Board Trustee

I am Sal Tripi and I am seeking re-election to the Sachem Board of Education. First, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the citizens of Sachem for allowing me to serve you as Trustee for the last three years. It has been a very rewarding and gratifying experience.

I have over 20 years of professional experience as a Sr. Director for one of Long Islands' largest corporations. I have a proven ability to execute in tough times. I have been a Sachem resident since 1993. I am a graduate of Dowling College with a Bachelor of Business and now live with my wife and two children in Holbrook. As a taxpayer and parent of two Sachem students I have a vested interest in its success. I love this community and would am asking you for the opportunity to continue to serve it.

Three years ago I promised to bring new ideas and changes to the Board of Education. I have continually worked to do this. Since taking office in 2007 we have had the lowest tax increases in all of Long Island.  This was accomplished while student achievement has risen. My goal as a member of the Board has always been to provide the citizens of Sachem with a school district that is open, transparent, efficiently run, and successful in challenging each and every student to achieve their potential while always being taxpayer sensitive.

The fiscal state of New York is going to continue to present some new and unique challenges to the next Board of Education. School districts across the state will be faced with significant funding cuts. The next Board will have to make significant changes in order to continue to be sensitive to the taxpayers as well as provide appropriate opportunities to all students. I believe I have the education, business experience to continue to be successful during this difficult time. I have a proven track record of success in difficult times and ask for your support. I promise I will continue to work for you!

I thank you for the past support and again ask for your continued support. Please take time to review my 3-year track record when considering who to vote for on May 18.

Teri Ahearn: Running for Tripi's seat

My name is Teri Ahearn and I am running for Sachem School Board.  I have been a resident of this district for almost 15 years.  I have three children who all attend Sachem schools.  My father is a Sachem resident, and my sister and her family also live here.  I have been an educator for over 20 years.  I have a dual Bachelor's degree in special education and general education.  I earned a Master's degree in special education, and I have an advanced certificate in School Administration.  I started my career as an elementary special education teacher, then I moved up to teach at the middle school. After ten years in the classroom, I became a dean of students, and then an assistant principal.  I have been an assistant principal since 2002.  

I decided to run for a seat on the school board because I feel I have the tools and expertise to help our community.  Having an education background gives me a certain advantage when examining school programs to look for areas to improve upon and make the most of what we already have.

We need to raise and educate the leaders of tomorrow- students that are prepared to excel in today's ever changing world.  Students need to have the foundation to prepare them to become life long learners.  Sachem obviously has the desire to keep the standards high.  More students are taking A.P classes and tests.  New programs are being looked into- such as programs to evaluate and align curriculum K through 12. This type of curriculum would help create students that have a broad based foundation of knowledge and a greater understanding of how one subject connects with the next.    I have worked on a similar program myself, so I know first hand how it can enrich education.  I have also done some cross content area curriculum writing designed to improve the educational experience for all students.  If I am elected to the board, I would support programs  that would maintain our high standards and help all students achieve.

 I am also very knowledgeable in the area of special education.  In addition to my assistant principal responsibilities, I am the special education liaison for my school.  I work with many students with disabilities on a daily basis- and I am up to date on individualized educational plan (I.E.P) mandates, section 504 issues, and many other aspects of the day to day school life of the special education student and their parents. 

From the financial aspect of a school board member's responsibilities, I bring knowledge to the table.   In today's economic state, we need people who know how to use the money we have to get maximum benefit - the experience that I have working with a school budget  would make me  a positive asset to the school board. I am also the programmer for my school, so the organizational experience that I have gives me a unique perspective on how schools run- and what they need to run successfully. 

In closing, I think it is important for me to say that I am running to give back to this community.  My family and I have reaped the benefits of living here, and it is only right that I do what I can to help.  It is important for our children to see us as people that take action rather than people who talk action.  I think that my experience, my background, and my desire to do what is best for this community as a whole will make me a successful school board member.

Mike Timo: Incumbent, Running unopposed

My name is Michael J. Timo, and I'm an incumbent Trustee on the Sachem Board of Education, running unopposed for a second three year term.  I've been a resident of this District for 57 years and graduated from Sachem, along with my wife Patricia, with the Class of 1969.  Married for over 36 years, we raised five children, all of whom graduated from Sachem, and attended college. 

I ran for the Board three years ago because I felt that my experience as a career administrator and municipal manager would be helpful as we watched our tax rates soar and our funding sources shrink.  I also felt that the administration three years ago was drifting away from some of the values and traditions which made Sachem such a special experience for me and my family.  Much has changed since then, and I share credit with those on the Board, who helped stabilize and improve our financial condition and who supported changes in administration.

Sachem students have excelled academically, as evidenced by remarkable improvement and achievement on our statewide assessment exams and they've experienced great success in their extracurricular activities.  Along with the announcement of James Nolan's appointment as our Superintendent of Schools, I have witnessed an improvement of morale, a return of pride and a renewed school spirit.  The Sachem family has reunited.

The future will bring many challenges.  We are already faced with continued cutbacks in funding, and increased expenses in health and retirement benefits for our staff.   Our upcoming 2010-11 budget proposal reflects a tax increase of 1.94%.   For many, any increase will be a hardship.  The Sachem Board of Education, with the input of our Administration must re-evaluate the cash management strategy that has been followed for the past several years.  Although this strategy has produced three years without increases and the current 1.94% proposal, we must look to dramatically reduce expenses to meet future budget needs.  The cooperation of our entire Sachem family will be needed to accomplish this task.

Although I'm running unopposed, I ask for the continued support of the residents of our Sachem Communities. I pledge to provide constant watchful oversight of your hard earned tax dollars and our accumulated assets to assure that we spend only what's necessary, and to communicate regularly to assure open and complete transparency.  As we navigate the challenges ahead, I'm committed and prepared to work on your behalf and for the benefit of the thousands of kids in our care.

VOTE MAY 18 ... LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD! Stay tuned next week on Sachem Patch for a voter's guide.