Education

Mattituck-Cutchogue schedules ‘Meet the Candidates’ night

The Mattituck-Cutchogue Parent Teacher Student Association will hold a school board candidate forum next Wednesday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the junior/senior high school library.

Four candidates, competing for three seats on the Mattituck-Cutchogue school board, will be present at the event to answer questions about issues facing the school. Joe Pufahl, a past president of the Mattituck Lions Club who is active in many other community events, will moderate the discussion.

According to PTSA president Dawn Nish, each candidate will be given about five minutes to make an introductory statement and explain why he or she is running. Mr. Pufahl will then ask the candidates questions that audience members can submit anonymously on note cards. Each candidate will be given a chance to answer each the question.

Board president Jerry Diffley and vice president Charles Anderson are running for re-election and Laura Jens-Smith and Joan Ferris have joined the race.

In addition to the seats belonging to incumbents Mr. Diffley and Mr. Anderson, a third seat that formerly belonged to board member Debra Cahill, who resigned last year, needs to be filled.

The two candidates with the most votes will be elected to three-year terms that will begin July 1. The candidate with the third-highest vote total will assume Ms. Cahill’s seat and serve for one year, and will be sworn in right after the election.

Mattituck is the only school district in Southold Town with a contested election this spring. The election, along with the annual budget vote, will take place Tuesday, May 17, from 3 to 9 p.m. in the Mattituck High School gymnasium.