Rockville Centre school-board candidates focus on budget, special education and program cuts at League of Women Voters forum

At a League of Women Voters–moderated candidate forum at South Side High School, three candidates for two open seats on the Rockville Centre Board of Education centered their remarks on the district’s budget pressures, special education obligations and program changes affecting elementary enrichment.

The forum, hosted by the Rockville Centre Council of PTAs and moderated by Ann Lieder of the League of Women Voters (Central Nassau chapter), featured candidates Krista Dorrego, incumbent Janet Brunner and Marybeth Joyce. Voters were reminded of the district’s election and budget vote on Tuesday, May 19, with polling from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at South Side High School.

“Every decision must prioritize students first, all students,” said Krista Dorrego, who described herself as a parent and PTA leader with experience in special-education partnerships and as co-president of the South Side High School PTSA. Dorrego repeatedly framed the board’s role as governance — setting priorities and ensuring compliance — rather than day-to-day management.

On special education, the candidates agreed on legal obligations and the need for fidelity to students’ plans. “All services that special-ed students are entitled to through their IEP are mandated services,” Janet Brunner said, adding that the board must ensure those services are delivered and that families feel heard. Marybeth Joyce said the board should use data and planning to reduce out-of-district placements and better match programs to student needs.

Budget and long-term fiscal planning were recurring themes. Joyce, who described a background in finance and consulting, warned that “the budget is not a one-time problem” and urged multi-year planning, reserve rebuilding and targeted oversight, noting that the district will be without its superintendent for business in the near term. Candidates discussed key drivers of cost pressure — health insurance, transportation and out-of-district placements — and urged the district to publish clear KPIs tying spending to outcomes.

Several audience questions focused on proposed cuts to the Stellar elementary enrichment rotation and to teaching-assistant staffing levels. Candidates acknowledged proposed reductions in Stellar frequency and stressed that small-group instruction and differentiation must be preserved, either by restoring staff or integrating enrichment into classroom practice. On class size and support for students without IEPs, candidates pointed to existing systems such as the district’s MTSS process and Branching Minds progress monitoring, while agreeing the board should evaluate impacts and consider redeploying funds if student outcomes decline.

Curriculum and program choices drew scrutiny as well. On the IB versus AP question, all three candidates said both paths offer value and that any change should be data-driven: how many students enroll, costs, outcomes and college-credit implications. Candidates also discussed the Princeton plan — a grade-aggregation rezoning model — calling it a significant change that would require transportation, capacity and community-impact analyses before proceeding.

The candidates differed most in emphasis: Brunner highlighted continuity, classroom experience and collaborative problem-solving during her three years as a trustee; Dorrego emphasized restoring trust through transparency and data-driven oversight; Joyce foregrounded a finance-focused approach to long-term sustainability and committee-level scrutiny of budgets and reserves.

The forum closed with two-minute statements from each candidate and a final reminder to vote on May 19. The district has said the forum video will be posted on the district website.

What happens next: voters will decide two open board seats and the budget on May 19. The candidates’ contrasting emphases on fiscal stewardship, special education fidelity and program priorities give voters clear policy differences to weigh when they cast ballots.