04/15/2024
Fellow Huntingtonians,
Tom Galvin here again and I am pleased to announce that I am running for re-election as a Trustee of the Huntington Union Free School District School Board.
If you do not know me well, I would like to introduce myself, my qualifications, my interests within the community and the reason I can be valuable to you, your children, our school district and the Huntington Community as a whole.
I have spent the last thirty years in education and am currently the Chairperson of the Social Studies Department at New Hyde Park Memorial High School. I graduated from the University at Albany with a dual major in History and Political Science. I also have a Master of Arts Degree in Social Studies Education and a Master of Science Degree in Education Administration and Supervision, both from LIU/CW Post.
I am a Long Island native, having grown up in Centereach. I moved to Huntington from New York City with my family twenty-one years ago. I have two children. My daughter, Annika, graduated from Huntington High School last year and is presently a Freshman at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. I also have a son, Lars, who is presently a senior at Huntington High School. Both of my children participated in the Dual Language Program before moving on to Jack Abrams STEM school. They have been involved in many of the extracurricular programs our district offers, including Cross Country, Track, Crew, Tennis, Band, Arts and Stage Crew.
I was fortunate to serve as a Trustee of the Board of Education during an exciting and pivotal time for our district. As a Trustee, I was proud to be involved in our district’s successful response to COVID. During my term on the Board, our District has implemented and planned for numerous capital improvements to our school buildings, such as: new roofs, air conditioning throughout the schools, solar panels, boilers, and impressive renovations to our athletic and arts facilities. I have also been part of an increase in curriculum offerings that span all ages and abilities as well as responding to the increase in need for guidance and clinician staffing throughout our schools. All of these achievements have been done in a fiscally prudent manner. Tax levies have been below 1% since I have been on the board, with two of the last three budgets seeing only a .33% tax increase and two years ago a 0.00% tax increase. In addition, we have the highest bond rating of nearly any school district on Long Island with virtually no debt. Lastly, our schools are exemplary in terms of safety with a recent Workplace Violence Prevention Assessment proclaiming that “Huntington is light years ahead of the rest of New York State!”
As a Chairperson of Social Studies in New Hyde Park, I have helped to increase course offerings; served as a representative on a district-wide diversity task force; led my department’s remote learning initiative, written curriculum, and directed a nationally recognized Model United Nations Program.
As a parent and Huntingtonian, I have been active in our wonderful community primarily through working with children and their families. I volunteered my time as a coach at the YMCA, Cold Spring Harbor Huntington Soccer Club and Huntington Village Lacrosse Club, helped to establish a Huntington High School Model United Nations Club and continue to serve as an active member of the Huntington Booster Club. In addition, I am an avid musician, and my band has performed at several benefits, including events for Southdown and Flower Hill Elementary Schools.
My background has equipped me with specialized skill sets needed to effectively lead our community through the unprecedented times we witnessed. Like all parents of school-aged children, I am also grappling with the pressures of social media and changing landscapes; it is not easy! Every day my profession and involvement in the School Board requires me to help students, parents and teachers succeed in navigating this changing world. This has given me a unique perspective that I know distinguishes me from other potential candidates.
I have a deep affection for our town and community. When I was young, I always hoped that one day I would live in Huntington, and I now feel incredibly lucky to be doing so. My community involvement and the friends I have made here have served to solidify this view.
I hope I have given you some insights into my character and experience, and I ask for your vote so that I can have the opportunity to continue to give back to Huntington, which has given me so much
