Readers Write: Two tireless kids’ advocates running for Port BOE

The Island Now

On May 21, Port Washington School District residents have the opportunity to elect two remarkable individuals to the Board of Education. Emily Beys and Deborah Brooks are passionate, tireless advocates for our children who will be ready to lead and succeed from day one.

Emily Beys, who is running for her second term on the board, has been the driving force behind getting more funding for Port’s schools from the state of New York.  As chair of the board’s Legislative Task Force, Emily lobbied for and helped Port schools receive an additional $1 million in state aid.  Emily has also been a leader in increasing transparency on the school board, helping to host community forums and reaching out to parent organizations for feedback in creating new policies.   

Deborah Brooks may be the most knowledgable, qualified person ever to run for the school board.  For six years, Deb has been at the forefront of the whole child education movement, working with our federal, state, and local elected officials and education policy makers to fight unsound, unfunded education mandates that negatively impact our children, our teachers and our schools.  In addition, Deb has been a pioneer in the student data privacy protection movement, striving to guard our children’s personal information.  If elected, Deb will ensure the educational stability of our children’s future and be a responsible fiscal guardian of our taxpayer dollars.

I hope my friends and neighbors in Port will join me in voting yes for the school budget and for Emily Beys and Deborah Brooks to be on the Board of Education.

Bill Bodkin

Port Washington

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