Only one name, Leigh-Ann Hess, will appear on the ballot to replace Diane Hausman on the Montauk School Board this year, but a late challenger, Tara Coleman, has mounted a write-in campaign.
The winner will have big shoes to fill: Ms. Hausman served on the board for 30 years and was its president for 20.
Ms. Hess has been on the board of the Montauk PTA for four years, and has been its president for the last two. With two children in the school, she said she feels as if she understands the “culture and environment.”
“Because of the time I’ve spent as a volunteer I feel like I have a good grasp of the issues,” she said Monday afternoon. “There are so many amazing programs that the school can continue to support and kids are blessed to be a part of.”
Citing her master’s of public administration and background working with nonprofits in communication positions, Ms. Hess said she could use those skills to facilitate communication between the board and the public.
“I can bring that element of communicating public policy to the seat,” she said, “and help to make sure that the people in the community understand the issues facing school and that board grapples with.”
One of the biggest projects the new member could be facing is the proposed renovation, also on the ballot on Tuesday. Ms. Hess indicated her support for the renovation project, and as PTA president, she has been meeting with Joshua Odom, Montauk superintendent and principal, to better understand it and share details with other parents.
On another front, she said, “I think it is going to be so important for our students to be able to utilize changing technology effectively and appropriately in order to meet the demands of high school and beyond.”
Ms. Coleman, a Montauk resident of 20 years, said she had not seen that Ms. Hausman had decided not to run until the filing deadline had passed, but that she had also been mulling over a run for school board last year.
“I’m transitioning away from being a preschool teacher,” Ms. Coleman said Monday afternoon. “I volunteer at the Montauk Food Pantry and I see this as another interesting way to get involved with the community.”
Ms. Coleman raised both of her children in Montauk and while they were in the district was active in the PTA and coached girls lacrosse in both Montauk and East Hampton. In addition to working as a preschool teacher she taught both first and second grade in Oyster Bay and New York City respectively and has two degrees in education.
While she is not yet familiar with all the details of the proposed renovation project, she said that if elected her approach would be to familiarize herself with the board first, so she can better understand the way they do business. Not having children right now in the school gives her more perspective, she said. “I want to be a voice for the children and all of the community. For me there’s a benefit of not having children in school. It allows me to look at the big picture and I’m not looking for something to happen tomorrow or next month.”