Salvatore Napolitano – Connetquot School Board
Residence: Ronkonkoma
Occupation: Retired banker
Previous Elected Office: None
Position Sought: Board of Education Trustee
Sal Napolitano is running for one of the two open seats on the School Board for Connetquot Central School District. The five-seat board is currently under the majority of union-endorsed trustees. If either one of the two seats on Tuesday’s ballot were to flip, control of the Board would also flip in that direction.
Sal Napolitano sat down with The Messenger for the purpose of this candidate spotlight.
Q: What is your professional background and how does it equip you for a position on the School Board?
A: I have an MBA in Money & Banking from Adelphi University. I was employed by Citibank for thirty-seven years, retiring as a Branch Manager. I have been on the Executive Board, in various positions, for St Joseph’s CYO, including sixteen years as Vice Chairman. I am currently the President of the Greater Ronkonkoma Civic Association. I have had children and grandchildren in the Connetquot School district since 1979 and served on many different committees through all these forty-six years as a resident. I have been a member of the Budget Advisory Committee, every PTA in the schools that my children and grandchildren have attended, the Armed Guards Committee, and the Superintendent Search Committee. I have helped with various Field Day events and Carnivals for the Middle Schools. Recently, I helped with a PTA fundraiser when the Wizards Basketball team came to play the staff members at Connetquot High School.
Q: In your opinion, what is the top issue facing the Connetquot School District (and/or the community at large as it pertains to school matters) today?
A: Right Now, the Budget and Taxes are taking Center Stage. With reduced State Aid increases and declining enrollment (over 1,000 less students in the last ten years – latest figures 2012-2013 vs. 2022-2023), with a forecast of continuing declines, we need to find better ways to hold the line on taxes while still maintaining an excellent field of study for all students. This year we saw a big change in how State Aid for Schools is being computed. Connetquot received about two-thirds of what they were expecting and that put a large hole in the budget process. That seems to have made things much more unclear as to where we will be going in the next budget process.
Q: Specifically, what is your top priority if elected to the Board?
A: Keep Connetquot affordable while making smart financial decisions. Keep the first-class education I have seen my children and grandchildren get. Currently, I have two grandchildren in Connetquot schools. I pride myself on my own education and believe that good education is the key to success in life. I have also mentored fifteen students whose goal was military service after high school. I have talked to them and tried to give them an idea about what they could expect, and while my service was over fifty years ago, they have come back from basic training, and in some cases technical training, and said most of what I told them was still true. I still keep in touch with many of them, as they have been serving all over the world. We still meet when they home on leave to update me on how their careers are going and have a slice of really good Long Island pizza.
Q: What would you say is your best or proudest accomplishment in your professional careers?
A: I was a father of three children in Connetquot for the years they went from kindergarten to twelfth grade. I was at just about every open school night, and I took an active interest in their education, whether it be reviewing their homework or test grades. All three have great careers, and I attribute that to being in partnership with their teachers and administrators for the years they were in school. Parents have to play an active role in their children’s education, they need to be involved and informed of what is happening in their children’s life as a student.
Q: What is your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic?
A: “If you are not 10 minutes early, you’re late”. This U.S. Air Force lesson I learned early in my four years of service. At an early age, I went to work with my father who drove a truck. I learned many of life’s lessons watching his work ethic and how he used his humor to communicate with the customers. One thing we need to do better is teach our students the basic skills of work while we are teaching them their educational lessons.
Q: What are your favorite ways of connecting with your community?
A: When my children were young and they joined St. Joseph’s CYO track, I was just going to be that parent that watched them and cheered them on. However, on day one, I was asked to help coach the younger children, grades K-4, and that started me on a forty-two-year career as a volunteer. I have continued to volunteer to help St. Joseph’s CYO and years later I joined my son-in-law to coach my grandson in track and basketball. With his move up to middle school sports, I found my new passion, my Community Civic Association. I joined as a founding member of the Greater Ronkonkoma Civic Association as Second Vice President. In time, some unusual circumstances led to my election as President. I enjoy the work we do to try to make Ronkonkoma better, and I also work with the Bohemia Civic and Oakdale Civic Associations on issues the three Connetquot Civics have in common. There are a number of issues we all work on together. One such Issue is what will be done with the Island Hills Golf Course now that developers want to build on it. We definitely need community and Connetquot School District input and we will work together to try to make sure the project fits into the community.
I enjoy bike riding, gym classes with my daughter and attending Veteran’s events where I get to see many of my Long Island friends.
Brian Burger – Connetquot School Board
Residence: Oakdale
Occupation: Executive for Mortgage Lender
Previous Elected Office: None
Position Sought: Board of Education Trustee
Brian Burger is running for one of the two open seats on the School Board for the Connetquot Central School District. The Board consists of five members, the majority of which lies with the union-backed trustees. If at least one of the two seats flip to a non-union-backed candidate, the majority of the Board would flip in that direction.
Brian Burger sat down with The Messenger for the purpose of this candidate spotlight.
Q: What is your professional background and how does it equip you for a position on the School Board?
A: After graduating high school, I attended Briarcliffe College. While in college I started working for a regional mortgage lender. In my twenty-plus years in the industry, I’ve held positions from sales to loan processing to marketing and Information Technology. Currently, I’m the Chief Information Officer. My day-to-day office is in Sayville. As the Chief Information Officer, I negotiate contracts, utilize problem solving skills, strategize financial matters, plan projects, and study laws and regulations. Continuing education is a must. I love working on a team and I believe in the power of communication across the board. I believe my skills as a financial negotiator, problem solver, communicator, and team player will serve the Board of Education and our community well. I hope to use my skills to navigate complex issues facing our district in the most cost-effective way possible.
Q: In your opinion, what is the top issue facing the Connetquot School District (and/or the community at large as it pertains to school matters) today?
A: I believe that the top issues facing the Connetquot School District are making sure our students receive a robust education while being fiscally responsible. The state has decreased aid for the upcoming school year with larger cuts on the horizon. The current board has proposed staff cuts of 20.5 positions (including 18 teachers) and a 3.29% tax increase for residents. The other top issue I see is that politics have divided our community. I do not believe that current events and social political topics have a place on the board. If elected, I would put my own political ideology aside and work with the other board members to make decisions that are in the best interests of the community as a whole.
Q: Specifically, what is your top priority if elected to the Board?
A: While there are many things, my top priorities as a board member will be addressing the financial situation immediately and providing a non-biased perspective to professional collaboration. I believe that I can provide better oversight over district spending. I would also work to bridge gaps in the community by working to maintain professional working relationships with all members of the board. I believe in listening to all sides and opinions and working together to find the best possible solutions to problems.
Q: What would you say is your best or proudest accomplishment in your professional careers?
A: I can’t say there is any one accomplishment. My career has consisted of two decades of continuous hard work to achieve greater goals and always raising the bar.
Q: What is your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic? Alternatively, is there a figure from whom you draw a particular amount of inspiration?
A: “The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one who gets the people to do the greatest things.” – Ronald Reagan. I believe that as a Board Trustee, it’s our responsibility to help others reach their highest potential. This includes students, administrators, staff, and members of our community. It should be every board member’s goal to have a positive impact on our district and the community members it serves.
Q: What are your favorite ways of connecting with your community?
A: My favorite way of connecting with our local community is by frequenting local restaurants, shops, and events. I remain an active member of the community through my memberships with the Oakdale, Bohemia, and Ronkonkoma Civic Associations; the Oakdale Historical Society; the Special Education PTA (SEPTA); and Connetquot Mental Health Advisory Council. I’m also a husband and father. My daughter graduated from Connetquot High School in 2023 and my son is in elementary school. My wife is a Teacher’s Aide at Sycamore Avenue Elementary School. Over the past decade we have become deeply rooted in Connetquot. I love spending time with my family and traveling.
The Messenger thanks Sal Napolitano and Brian Burger for taking the time for this interview.
About the Connetquot Central School District
The Connetquot CSD serves the communities of Bohemia, Oakdale, Ronkonkoma, and parts of Islandia, Sayville, and West Sayville.
The district serves almost 5,400 students from preschool up to twelfth grade with a student-teacher ratio of ten-to-one.
According to the 2022-2023 Financial Transparency Report, Connetquot CSD spends $29,816.89 per pupil, with the County average being about $4,000 less than that at the same ratio. The report also showed that 58% of the district’s teacher have 4-20 years of experience, compared to 14% with less than four years of experience, and 28% with more than twenty-one years of experience. The report classifies 31% of the student body as “economically disadvantaged” – a four-percent increase from 2021 – 18% as students with disabilities, and 4% as English-Language Learners.