The public voted in May to give Roslyn School District Board of Education President Meryl Waxman Ben-Levy and Vice President Clifford Saffron three more years, and trustees unanimously voted Thursday for the pair to keep their leadership positions for another term.
“I can vote for myself, and I do vote for myself, and I vote for myself to communicate my absolute willingness to do this job to the best of my ability,” Ben-Levy said.
Saffron was elected in absentia during the reorganizational meeting and will be sworn into office at the next board meeting at 7 a.m. Aug. 10. Ben-Levy was disappointed to celebrate without him after being trustees together for more than a decade.
Both have served on the board for 12 years and both initially sought their seats after a multimillion-dollar financial scandal rocked the Roslyn district in 2004.
“It seems odd to me to be starting my fifth term in office without my colleague Cliff Saffron by my side,” Ben-Levy said. “For me, my focus is as crystal clear as it was on that first day in 2005 when I took this oath for the very first time. We have an amazing community, we have an administration that is second to none, and it is my pleasure to work with everyone at this table. It is an absolute joy to do this together.
“I know we’ve done good work together, and I know this year, and in the coming years, we will double down on all those efforts and continue moving forward, meeting the challenges, and exceeding all expectations for the children of Roslyn who we love so dearly.”
Superintendent Allison Brown took the oath of office for the second time as she begins another year as district leader, thanking the board for their support and dedication through her first year on the job.
“I’ve served with you and watched you grow into many different roles,” Ben-Levy said of Brown. “As we reorganize and as we start year two of your superintendency, I have never worked with an administrator who worked harder, learned faster, and had more heart in every single thing that came across the desk as you. I know that you will only get better, quicker, faster, smarter as the years go by.”
Ben-Levy also had a few kind words for board attorney Carrie Anne Tondo of Ingerman Smith, LLP when she was reappointed.
“I’ve worked with a lot of lawyers in my life, and there is no one like you,” Ben-Levy said. “There is no one who serves, albeit contractually, as whole-heartedly as you do. There is no one who crosses their t’s and dots their i’s with more concern than you do. There is no other lawyer I know who makes himself or herself as available on a moment’s notice as you do for the children of Roslyn. You do all the things you’re contracted to do and many more that no contract could define.”
