Board of Education President William Belmont presented to LHS AP Government and Politics classes on Dec. 16 to discuss the role of the Board in local politics. Government teacher John Cornicello organized these presentations to coincide with the curriculum and provide a primary source for students to see government in action. 

The day before the presentation, Cornicello’s classes researched information about the BOE on the Lynbrook School District website. Students learned about each Board member’s role, the structure of BOE meetings, and the goals of the BOE for the 2021-2022 school year. They were then asked to come up with questions, which were compiled into a list to present to Belmont the following day.

Belmont began his presentation by introducing himself and his title. Belmont explained that he has been a Board member for 15 years, and has been president for seven of those years. He emphasized that he can “only speak for [himself],” not the rest of the Board members. He then addressed how the BOE works together and summarized how a typical BOE meeting is held, including an explanation of the open mic portion of the meetings where community members can express their concerns. 

“It was a great presentation,” said senior Hunter Brenneis. “I found it really informative.”

Belmont also spoke of specific recent issues regarding turf fields and how the building of local apartment complexes affects the board. The biggest topics of discussion were in-school mask mandates and vaccination requirements. A plethora of students had questions regarding these topics, since they are so relevant today. Belmont explained how many of those decisions are left up to the state, and then the state decides whether or not it is up to the district to vote. He said that even if the state left this decision up to the BOE, it would be difficult to find a clear answer due to the issue’s divisiveness in the community.

Many students were pleased at the conclusion of the presentation and felt that they had learned about the BOE and gained a new perspective on current issues. Senior Elizabeth DiFiore said, “It was a great presentation, and it was really interesting to learn about the BOE.” Senior Dylan Stalter, likewise, enjoyed Belmont’s presentation. “It was extremely interesting to learn certain the ins and outs of the Board and how it operates,” Stalter said.