Letter To The Editor: Vote For Mangiamele And Crossling

To the Editor:

I have lived in Ossining for 17 years this September. My eldest daughter is graduating this year after spending her entire school experience in the OUFSD district. I also have a son and a younger daughter who are still in the district and will be for some time to come.

In all of my years as an Ossining voter, there has been no OUFSD election more critical than the one we are faced with this year.

Two seats, five candidates, and a three-year term means voters must carefully consider their prospects and weigh each candidate carefully.

The pandemic is not yet over. There are still many uncertainties that lie ahead:

• Keeping our children and staff safe
• Ensuring we make decisions based on the whole child and equity initiatives
• Meeting state and national mandates - Covid related or not
• Trying to build and maintain a sense of normalcy after fifteen grueling months of pandemic learning
• Keeping in budget, mitigating taxes, all while meeting the needs of 5,000 students

I have sat in on board meetings, visited web sites, had personal conversations, and watched the multi-hour long debate while reviewing candidates.

Without a doubt we need to re-elect Katherin Crossling, our incumbent, a lawyer, a wonderful advocate for our children, and a reasoned and level-headed board member.

But then where do we cast vote number two?

I believe that Christine Mangiamele is worthy of that second vote.

As a district, OUFSD believes in diversity as a value and bringing voices to those who have none.

Presently we do not have any educators sitting on our school board, and it’s very, very clear to me after 2020 we absolutely need someone to represent teachers and educators.

Christine has a Master’s degree in Humanistic & Multicultural Education from SUNY New Paltz, and has even been a teacher taught in Ossining.

I believe Christine will bring a teacher’s perspective to our decision making around curriculum design, space needs and planning, programming and achieving our equity initiatives.

By talking to her personally in depth several times, and watching her on the debateI, I am happy to report Christine has patiently and thoroughly answered all of my questions. She has shown herself to be researched, thorough, and well versed when it comes to important issues of our district.

One important note: Katherin and Christine are not a ticket, but I am supporting both of these women. I feel these candidates are the best people suited for the job - and it’s a tough job at that. An election is not a popularity contest - it is serious and we need to vote for the candidates who are the most devoted, best suited, and will do the best job.

I encourage all Ossining voters to vote next Tuesday and to cast their votes in favor of Christine and Katherin.

Sincerely,

Justine Lackey
Ossining, NY