Coonan Touts History, Track Record on Malverne School Board

"I've been here my whole life," says Malverne School Board President Patrick Coonan, a lifelong resident and graduate of the Malverne school district. "I went to school here, lived through the integration of our district...I understand the culture and the community."

Coonan says his experience as a student, parent and taxpayer has made him an asset to the school board for eight years. He was first elected in 1997, then again in 2007 and on May 17 he'll go for a third when voters head to the polls.

While Coonan's is the only name that will appear on the ballot, Patch learned early Thursday , Don Pupke, is vying for his seat as a "write-in" candidate.

Despite allegations made by his challenger, Coonan said the district has made positive strides with him as board president.

He touted the recent reorganization of the districts two elementary schools. (In the past students in the same grade had been split across the two different buildings.)

"[It] provides better education," he said. 

Coonan also took pride in the passage of the bond in November to renovate the aging school buildings and athletic fields.

"We hadn't had a bond pass in 30 years. We made that happen," he said, adding that his challenger had come out 

Coonan also credited the board with the district’s “stable administration,” which he said has put Malverne on the map for rising test scores and award-winning sports, music and scholastic programs. 

He even addressed some of the nepotism allegations made on the "I Love Malverne But Want More From Our Schools," specifically regarding the employment of his wife and daughter-in-law in the school district.

"I didn't hire either one of them," Coonan said, explaining that he wasn't even a board member at the time. "My wife was hired by Phyllis Wright."

As for criticisms that the board doesn't hire enough African American faculty, Coonan said," Contrary to popular belief we try very hard to hire minority teachers and administrators."

Currently 17 percent of the district's faculty members are minorities and he said while the district has been trying to attract more African Americans, it comes down to a numbers game - a low percentage of black educators coming out of local colleges and a lack of financial resources to entice those already employed by other districts.

“We know it’s a problem,” he said, but explained that they will be forming an advisory committee to address it.

He said his track record speaks for itself when it comes to fiscal responsibility.

"The last three budgets have been the lowest the district has seen over the past 14 years without affecting performance," Coonan said.

Coonan has held leadership positions throughout his career in nursing and hospital management. He is currently the dean of the School of Nursing at Adelphi University, where he completed his undergraduate studies before obtaining his doctorate and masters of education from the Teachers College at Columbia University.

That said, Coonan stated that his greatest strength is his lifelong experience as an active member in the Malverne School District for the past 25-plus years as a parent of four students. 

"My write-in opponent has showed up only in past few months,” he said. "I wonder what a person's motivation is to get on the board if they're not involved in the school district. I don't think it's for the good of the kids. "

The vote for the school budget and school board seat will take place May 17 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Howard T. Herber Middle School.