Six candidates are running for three spots on the Patchogue-Medford Board of Education. The candidates are seeking a three-year term.

The school board election and budget vote are on May 21. The Patchogue-Medford PTA Council will host a Meet the Candidates Night on Thursday, May 9 at Saxton Middle School starting at 8 p.m.

Bryan Frascogna

“As a senior at Patchogue-Medford High School, I am deeply rooted in our community. Having attended Tremont Elementary and Oregon Middle School, I’ve experienced firsthand the journey of Pat-Med students. My commitment to education led me to pursue a major in chemistry education at St. Joseph’s University this fall.

Beyond academics, I am a dedicated two-sport varsity athlete, a weekly volunteer at the Neighbors of Patchogue soup kitchen, and the chief umpire on the local Little League board. My upbringing in a household of educators instilled in me a profound appreciation for the transformative power of education.

With my campaign, I wish to change the narrative of the school board by providing insight from a firsthand perspective to the district. As the ex-officio student member on the board of ed, I understand the challenges that students face every day. I aim to introduce student-centered policies and programs to the district that not only benefit our children, but also ensure their active participation and fulfillment. I hope to bring a fresh perspective and make school a place where students want to be every day.

I am running for the school board because I believe in the power of education and want to contribute to creating a positive and inclusive environment for all students. As a recent student of the district, I understand the challenges students face firsthand, and I want to bring a fresh perspective to the board. I am passionate about advocating for student-centered policies and programs that prioritize the well-being and success of every student. My goal is to ensure that every student feels supported and empowered to succeed.

If elected, my top priorities for the district are:

Implementing student-centered policies that prioritize the needs and voices of students, ensuring they have access to resources and support to thrive academically and socially.

Increasing transparency and communication from the district to the community, fostering trust and engagement among all stakeholders.

Providing support for teachers through professional development opportunities, resources, and recognition for their dedication to student success.

To ensure that every member in the district, from administration to teachers to support staff to students, feels they play a vital role in the success of the community and they should feel safe, secure and supported. It’s the only way to reach our full potential.”

Jennifer Krieger

“I am city born and raised, a Patchogue Village resident for the past 22 years. My husband and his family are lifelong residents. He was a single dad at the time that I relocated and my stepson is a 2006 graduate of Patchogue Medford High School. We are married 20 years and have two children who are now in eighth and 10th grades. I truly consider this amazing community my forever home and wouldn’t want to raise my family anywhere else.

My family and I are very active in the community.  My husband is involved in local village politics. Our children have both been inducted to the NJHS, are former Scouts, very involved in their school buildings and volunteer along with my husband and I for various parks and recs events throughout the year.

The kids began school at a local private school until we switched them to meet the educational needs of my son seven years ago. It was the best decision we have ever made for them. 

I have served on the River PTA and SEPTA executive boards. I am an active member of the children’s buildings’ PTAs and volunteer at events and school musicals. I also teach religion at St. Francis and was a former Girl Scout leader. I am a licensed social studies teacher, working as a TA at ESBOCES, where I also sit on my building’s DEI committee. I work there evenings testing adult English language learners. I have applied to NYS for my CTE license in business/marketing and am completing my K-12 special education certificate.

I decided to run for the school board three years ago, based on the recommendation of community members.  With my children becoming older and more independent, when I was approached it felt like the next step in the natural progression of my involvement within the district and community. Since then, I have worked tirelessly to achieve the goals we have set forth as a district and have sat on various board committees including finance, technology and instructional, as well as the district’s special education committee.

I believe that I am a versatile asset on the board.  I am an avid learner and not afraid to question if clarification or information is needed. I tend to play “the devil’s advocate” and take time to absorb all information, perspectives, and different opinions to see issues from all viewpoints.  I am known to be approachable, fair, and listen empathetically and point people to the proper channel for answers.  I am not blind to the issues that we face and look for creative solutions.  I think clear communication between the district and all its stakeholders is imperative.

This district has been on a consistent, upwards trajectory over the past decade. I am very proud of the work that we have collaboratively accomplished with the superintendent and during my short time on the board, all while maintaining a balanced budget and a secure financial standing. If reelected, I will continue to work tirelessly to make sure that all voices are heard and that each and every student’s individual needs are met educationally, socially and emotionally.”

Lauren Kuban

“I, Lauren Kuban, am running for the Patchogue-Medford school board because I firmly believe our district is in need of a positive shift in climate, one that will foster pride and confidence among parents in sending their children to school.

I have spent the last 15 years working as an elementary school teacher, a career that I have tremendous appreciation and passion for. I am a proud Patchogue-Medford alumna and when it came time to purchase a home for my own growing family, staying in Patchogue-Medford was an easy decision. 

I’ve worn several hats during my career as an educator, having taught both elementary and special education; however, the most important job I’ve had thus far has no doubt been my role as a mother.

Like most parents, I want my children to grow to be independent thinkers and problem solvers who will one day be able to compete in the ever-changing world we are living in.  Each and every one of our children deserves an education that not only engages them, but appropriately challenges them to reach their full potential.

My years in the classroom have afforded me a deep understanding of the challenges faced by both students and teachers and will assist me in being a positive, productive member of our school board.

Recently, the perception of what it means to send your children to school in Patchogue-Medford has been overshadowed by concerns regarding the treatment of staff, the overall well-being of students, and the lack of consistency and support many parents feel regarding their children’s academic needs. I am fully committed to being a voice for both parents and educators, prioritizing transparency and accountability, and working diligently to make our school district a place our community can take pride in.”

Marc Negrin

“My name is Marc Alan Negrin, and I bring to my community extensive experience and a strong commitment to education, board governance, and fiscal responsibility as a candidate seeking reelection as board of education trustee in the Patchogue-Medford School District.

I believe that my dedication and passion for our community make me a strong candidate for community participant, a decisive decision-maker, and collaborative team player.

I have served as a trustee for seven years, during which time I have also held the position of vice president for three years before assuming the role of president. My involvement in the Audit, Extracurricular, Instructional, Finance, Buildings and Operations, Safety and Security and the Social-Emotional Learning committees has equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of the various facets of school governance.

Through my experience I have gained valuable insights into the complexities of our educational system and the diverse needs of our community. I have built strong relationships with students, parents, teachers, and community members, and I am committed to representing their voices and interests in all decision-making processes.

I am running for re-election because I am deeply invested in the continued progress and success of our schools and our students. Over my past two terms, I have worked tirelessly to support academic excellence, equity, and inclusivity in our district. I am proud of the positive changes we have implemented together, but I know there is still more work to be done to ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive.

My dedication, experience, and collaborative approach make me well-suited to continue serving on the school board. I am committed to promoting transparency and accountability, fiscal responsibility, and working towards the common goal of providing every student with a high-quality education and the tools they need to succeed. Together, we can create a brighter future for our schools and our community.

My key priorities will center on addressing critical issues to ensure the equitable success and well-being of all students in our district. I am committed to mitigating the impact of financial aid cuts by advocating for sustainable funding solutions while ensuring minimal impact on our community’s taxpayers. This can be achieved through strategic planning, innovative solutions and efficient resource management that will safeguard access to quality education for all students.

In addition, continuing to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion will remain a top focus area. I will work towards fostering an inclusive and welcoming educational environment where every student feels respected, valued and supported. Social-emotional learning will also continue to be a key component, as I believe in equipping students with the necessary skills to navigate their emotions, build healthy relationships, and develop resilience in the face of challenges. Continuing to close the achievement gap for identified students is another critical priority. By providing targeted support, resources, and interventions, we can ensure that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential academically.

Lastly, my commitment to continued excellence in academic achievement will inspire me to collaborate with educators, stakeholders, and community members to uphold high standards, implement effective instructional strategies and support student success across all academic disciplines. Through these concerted efforts, I aim to support an inclusive, supportive and high- achieving educational environment that empowers all students to thrive and excel.”

Bernadette Smith

“I initially decided to run about seven years ago. At the time, I had just spent the past 10 years in leadership roles at various PTA units in my district and had become keenly aware of issues with a frustrating lack of appropriate communication coming from district level into the community. The demographics of our district had been rapidly changing, which had been creating a degree of contention within the community. There was a lack of equity for our special education students, English-language learners, and general education students that just needed an alternate path to graduation. I did not know how to fix it, but I wanted to be a part of the solution.

Now, after six years on the board, I have the privilege of supporting our superintendent’s vision to bring equity and inclusion down to the cellular level of our school district while also supporting the ever-growing social and emotional needs of our students and staff. We’re trying to build it into every aspect of the school community.

We started to improve communication to families by launching Parent Square—a multilingual communication service in all buildings to all families. We have improved our music and performing arts programming and brought music education down to the kindergarten level. We’ve expanded electives options at the high school and middle schools, expanded assistive technology services, and grew a whole new Career and Technical Education program to save the district money on BOCES tuition while expanding the number of students that we can support with their transitions directly to the workforce after graduation.

I am running now for a number of reasons, but mainly because we still have work to do to continue to move our district toward excellence for all of our learners. We currently have a cohesive, well-trained board made up of people who may not always agree on all things, but we ultimately all share the same vision of supporting our students to be civic-minded critical thinkers who are ready to be successful adults in 21st-century America, while continuing to prioritize a fiscally responsible budget. The new proposition for putting air conditioning in the schools should have better explained the state funding and if this funding is earmarked for this project alone or if the funds could be used elsewhere and if any air quality studies have been done so the voters could make an informed decision.

We are blessed to have a diverse staff of seasoned, well-educated, and well-trained veteran professionals at all levels of our district. It is crucial to have trustees with a solid working knowledge of all of the moving parts in a district the size of a small city.

If re-elected, some of my priorities for the next three years will be:

to improve communication between the Board and the community and find a way to increase participation at our business meetings.

We have some very large capital projects in the works, and if the bond passes, we will be beginning the process to further upgrade and improve air quality, security, athletic and performance spaces.

I will continue to advocate for proper and full funding from the state. Because of the policies and practices in our business office, we came through this budget season without needing to make some of the terrible cuts that neighboring districts did, but we’re still short of expected state aid. Our goal is to always keep any tax increase as small as possible while never breaking the tax cap.”

Howard Valan

“I am a 38-year resident of Patchogue. I have three adult children who all graduated from Pat-Med High School and have homes in the district, two grandchildren currently in our schools, and two more young ones who will be.

I was the director of the Maintenance Training School for the New York City Bus Department, where we trained new hires, incumbent employees, supervisors, and managers. In my 38-year career in public transit, I was a bus maintainer, supervisor, training supervisor, a superintendent in a depot, an instructor in the training school and ultimately its director. 

I have been a union rep as well as a manager. I have received over 800 hours of training in a vast array of subjects, including instructor development and techniques, computer skills, substance abuse, chemical safety, dealing with unacceptable behavior, effective supervision, and a slew of technical subjects.

I am a graduate of Engine City Tech’s 1,250-hour Diesel Engine and Drivetrain Course. I have an A.A.S. degree in electrical technology that I earned at night while working full-time to support my family. I was a member of the Tau Alpha Pi National Technical Honor Society, where I tutored other students and was on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll at graduation for being in the top 1 percent of graduating students of the City University of New York.

I worked online with my granddaughter on TEAMS during COVID. One of my daughters is a teacher in another district, so I know the challenges teachers face.

I am a former coach for several Medford Youth baseball teams, the Long Island Ravens travel team, and the championship Medford Babe Ruth League team.

I am running because there are concerns about school safety, professionalism, accountability, civility, communication, transparency and conduct, which the current board has not properly dealt with. All our plans and policies should be adhered to as written. The new proposition for putting air conditioning in the schools should have better explained the state funding and if this funding is earmarked for this project alone or if the funds could be used elsewhere and if any air quality studies have been done so the voters could make an informed decision.  

We need to effectively prioritize and manage our budget when school funding has become more tenuous. We have good teachers who are highly experienced. Many districts are laying off teachers and good teachers are becoming harder to find, so we should ensure that they are fully funded. I would like to foster more community involvement. We have good schools, but we can do better.

I realize that I am only one voice and part of a team whose diverse backgrounds, skills and opinions formulate the best way forward. I feel I can make a significant contribution to that voice.

As a retiree, I have the time to put into the job.

The U.S. News and World Reports website rated our schools 28 out of 100 for college readiness, which needs to be improved for students facing an increasingly challenging world. Success is achieved with hard work, which we must stress and what I am willing to do. Please come out and vote.”