Two candidates are on the ballot this year to fill two seats on the Riverhead Board of Education.
School board vice president Brian Connelly of Riverhead, whose term expires June 30, is running for a third term. Kelly Freeborn, a Baiting Hollow resident, is making her first run for school board.
The other incumbent whose term expires this year, Colin Palmer, decided not to seek election to a second term.
Trustees are unpaid volunteers who serve three-year terms. The terms begin on July 1.
Polls are open on Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at a resident’s local K-4 elementary school. Find your polling place here.
Both candidates have the support of the Riverhead Central Faculty Association, the school district’s teacher’s union, RFCA president Gregory Wallace said.
“They are both champions of public education and will tirelessly advocate for the students in Riverhead schools,” Wallace said in a statement.
Below are short profiles created using resumes and other information provided by the candidates. RiverheadLOCAL posed nine questions to the candidates by email; click the link at the end of each profile to read their written responses.
You can also learn more about the candidates by watching their three-minute pitch to voters during Tuesday’s school board meeting, which is available to view on the Riverhead Central School District’s YouTube channel. Candidates start speaking at 2:44:15.
Brian Connelly
Brian Connelly, 49, of Riverhead is seeking his third term on the school board. He has been a district resident for more than 25 years and is the father of one Riverhead High School freshman and one high school graduate.
He currently works for the New York City Fire Department. He holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Albany.
Read Connelly’s responses to RiverheadLOCAL’s questions here.
Kelly Freeborn
Kelly Freeborn, 48, of Baiting Hollow is seeking her first term on the school board. She has been a district resident for 25 years, a mother of one kindergartener at Riley Avenue Elementary School and stepmother to three Riverhead High School graduates.
She is currently the director of student services and assistant principal at the East Quogue Union Free School District, which operates a K-6 elementary school. She holds a masters degree in educational administration from Montclair State University and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and communications from Rider University. She has previously worked as an elementary school teacher and as an elementary school principal at schools in New Jersey.
Read Freeborn’s responses to RiverheadLOCAL’s questions here.
Read about the upcoming vote on proposed budget and proposition.
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