Education

Who’s running for your local school board?

FILE PHOTOS |
FILE PHOTOS | The 2013-14 school board and budget vote is scheduled for May 21.

A mix of familiar names and newcomers will appear on ballots across the North Fork in this year’s school board elections.

There are two seats up for grabs on the Mattituck-Cutchogue school board but only one candidate is running.

Incumbent William Gatz is seeking re-election and school board member Janique Nine is stepping down. No one else submitted a petition to run for the seven-member board.

Mattituck school officials said Tuesday morning that they believe this is the first time in recent history that the district is in this position and is currently seeking legal advice on how to fill the vacancy.

The Oysterponds Elementary School District, which also has a seven-member board, has the most candidates running in this year’s election compared to other local schools.

Three seats currently held by board president Dorothy-Dean Thomas, Deborah Dumont and Thomas Gray are up for grabs. The only incumbent seeking re-election is Ms. Thomas.  Orient resident Alison Lyne, who ran unsuccessfully last year, will appear on the ballot with Betsy Dzenkowski of East Marion and Orient residents Tom Stevenson and Charles Squire.

Two seats on the Greenport school board are up for grabs. School board president Heather Wolf and board member Tina Volinski are running unopposed to serve again on the five-member board.

Southold school board vice president Judi Fouchet’s term on the five-member board is the only one set to expire in May. Officials confirmed Tuesday that she will run unopposed.

New Suffolk school officials confirmed Tuesday morning incumbent Joseph Polashock will run unopposed. His seat on the three-member board is the only one up for grabs.

The 2013-14 school board and budget vote is scheduled for May 21.

Pick up Thursday’s copy of The Suffolk Times for more on this story.

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