Sloan, Beys, Nadolne win trustee race

Sarah Minkewicz

Port Washington school board Trustee Christine Nadolne and President Karen Sloan were re-elected on Tuesday along with newcomer Emily Beys, defeating Port Washington resident Dave Sattinger in a four-way race for three seats.

Beys won a three-year term with 2,032 votes — the most of any candidate. Sloan was re-elected for a three-year term with 2,022 votes and Nadolne, who finished third, was re-elected for a one-year term with 1,651 votes. Sattinger finished fourth with 1,369 votes. 

The election awarded the top two vote getters with three-year terms and the third place finisher with a one-year term — the unfinished term of Trustee William Hohauser, who recently resigned after being elected judge.

“It feels great to be elected. I’m excited to be working with the board of education,” Beys said. 

“I look forward to being able to do more communicating with the community,” she added. 

Beys, who had run unsuccessfully for a town council seat last year, had said her leadership positions in parent organizations as well as the time she spent this past year talking to the residents of Port Washington provided her with the kind of perspective that would make her an effective school board trustee. 

“I am able to offer the current parent population perspective on matters that are important to them, such as class size, PEP, testing and AP classes and I can empathize with the community at large the financial strain caused by growing costs,” she said. 

Beys said she believes one of the school district’s and the community’s biggest challenges is centered around unfunded mandates. 

“The school district must follow the law and at the same time serve and excel in serving the needs of its students,” she said. 

Beys said one of her goals would be to find better ways to communicate and work with state officials to decrease state-mandated expenses and communicate more effectively with the entire community what these mandates are.

“Over the years, I have had numerous conversations with community members who have great ideas about eliminating programs or making changes that simply cannot take place because of the unfunded mandates,” she said. 

Sattinger said congratulated the winners and expressed optimism for the future.

“I would like to thank all who supported my campaign and voted for me for the Board of Education, and I congratulate Ms. Beys, Sloan and Nadolne on their well-earned election. While I’m disappointed I was not elected, I am also very optimistic, and will absolutely continue to speak out on issues here in Port Washington,” Sattinger said in an email. 

“I received over 35 percent more votes than I received than my last campaign,” he added. “The top incumbent vote getter received 1/3 less support in vote total, as compared to the top incumbent’s support last year. There is a message in those results, and I hope our Board and School District is responsive to the public’s desire for more input and transparency. Change takes time and can be unnerving. I wish to encourage others to share their ideas, speak out, and ask the important questions. How we are going to keep our fantastic schools strong in the face of annual budget deficits, that have eroded our reserves, and put our programs at risk?” 

Efforts to reach Sloan and Nadolne were unavailing.

Sloan said she was seeking re-election because she wants to continue with efforts to improve the school district.

“I’m very devoted to the school district and to the students in the school and I’m just loving the direction the school district is taking now and I still want to be a part of it,” she said.

Sloan said she dedicates her time to maintaining quality academic and programs that result in high achievement and meaningful opportunities for children, both in the classroom and in the greater community as an extension of their education.

“One of my biggest accomplishments is being able to help facilitate on the board and continue improving the school district,” she said.

Sloan has served on the Board of Education for nine years, including seven as president. She has also served as president of the district’s Parents’ Council as well as the Guggenheim Elementary School PTA and has held numerous volunteer positions both during and after her children’s years attending Port Washington schools.

Nadolne said she ran for a second three-year term because she wants to continue contributing to the school district. 

“I’m excited to run again,” Nadolne said. “I feel I’ve done a good job addressing concerns, most recently about should teachers be allowed to tutor.”

Nadolne said she believes one of the biggest challenges is people reacting too quickly and not reaching a reasonable conclusion

“I do find that globally there’s too many reactionary responses instead of getting people that know education to look at the problem,” she said. “Instead of really looking at the problem and finding a solution it’s done quickly.” 

She said she believes the current members of Board of Education as group offer a lot to the school district.  

“Doesn’t mean there can’t be changes. I’ve enjoyed working with them for the past three years,” Nadolne said. “We are great, not that we couldn’t be better but we are great.”

 

 

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