Gina Piskin for Merrick Board of Education

I want to thank the entire Merrick community for coming out to vote and placing your trust in me for my 5th term as board Trustee. This election has been a very humbling experience, but with the help of so many people we got it done and I’m very thankful to you all.

To Jennifer Schatzman, you did it!! Your hard work and dedication to the campaign was tireless and it paid off. Merrick is fortunate to have you !!

Your dad is very proud of you. As is your mom Barbara Schatzman.
Congratulations!!🍾

My commitment to the Merrick schools is 17+ years strong.

PTA President 2 years
PTA Executive Board

Merrick Board Trustee 15 years
Merrick School Board VP 2 years Merrick School President 2 years

BMCHD Trustee 7 years
BMCHD Board VP 1 year
BMCHD Board President 1 year

Working hard for the continued success of our excellent schools.

Pleas Vote on May 17

Proud to say that I served as a trustee in the districts (Elementary and HS) that got schools opened during a pandemic with the PARENTS CHOICE
of what was best for their children. Our focus was to get the students back to learning in an environment that worked best for them and their families. Our teachers worked hard to teach in person and remotely at the same time.
We achieved this difficult task through Zoom sessions with administrators, teachers, parents and trustees. A collaboration that worked so well.

On September 25, 2020 our school doors were open and welcomed children for this first time since March of 2020.

IN PERSON
HYBRID
REMOTE

How many school districts did this? Not many.

Merrick has been and will always be a district that works hard to be it’s very best.

Please vote on May 17, 2022

Jennifer Schatzman and I are aware of the email that was sent out to members of the Bellmore-Merrick Democratic Club by the club. Please know that only messages, emails, posts or any other form of communication that come directly from Jennifer or me are ones that we support or endorse. We did not draft, approve or endorse the email that was sent.

We have not, and will not, support messages that characterize or label people in any way. We also do not condone or support any destruction of any candidates' signs, in any community, and we hope that people who are doing so are identified.

We truly believe that this community is strongest when we are united and focused on the best interests of all of our children.

VOTE FOR GINA PISKIN AND JENNIFER SCHATZMAN.

For the past 15 years I’ve been part of the team that gives students the opportunities to achieve this!! Facts matter! Results count!
This is how we are performing and what Merrick is recognized for. This is one of the reasons why people move here and why your house value is as good as it is. SCHOOLS are the cornerstone of a great community.
No drama. Just work to get it done. Facts matter! Results count. Let’s keep the focus on Education, fiscal responsibility and safety of our schools!
Proud to be a Merrick resident and school board trustee. 

VOTE. MAY 17
7am-9pm
Administration Building (back of lakeside school)

Vote for Gina Piskin And Jennifer Jennifer Schatzman

Vote for Gina and Jennifer on
May 17
Two women that are committed to keeping the m
Merrick Schools in excellent standings

Things you may not know about me, Gina Piskin

I have lived in merrick for 30 years with my husband wonderfully supportive husband Ray where we raised our 3 boys.

Our boys Alexander, Brandon and Jake attended Lakeside school and I was a parent there for 15 years straight. They attended M**S and JFK. At one point I had a son in the elementary school, middle school and high school all at the same time. (The best years!!)

We have two golden retrievers Cooper and Baxter. I love animals and nature.

I love to read and I belong to 2 amazing book clubs where we read wonderful books and discuss them so we can see how we each interpreted the book. The 1st book club I joined I only knew 1 person and that was 20 years ago. I’m still part of that book club and now I can happily say they are all my friends.

I wanted to understand the “stock market” better so I joined a “finance club” which we name “CLOSING BELLES”, with 9 very intelligent women. The clubs purpose for me was to have a better understanding of the market and how it works. I had to research a company and then pitch it to the group. Proud to say my pitch was successful.

SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT

I served on the PTA all my years at Lakeside and on the executive board for 9 years and served as PTA President for 2 and VP for 2

BOARD INVOLVEMENT.

When I became a board trustee I trained “in person” at School Board Fiscal responsibility class and School Board guidance class

Over the years I have attended numerous NYSSB and Boces classes and lectures to enhance my knowledge and to be the best trustee possible.

I have served as board President for 2 years and as VP for 2 years

I have served on the Bellmore Merrick High School board for 7 years. 1 year as President and 1 year as VP. 

MARCH ON ALBANY
I traveled with 2 other trustees for a 2 day “lobby day” where school board trustees “marched” to the capital and sat with our local representatives and discussed various concerns and needs for Merrick. This was an amazing experience.

I have served on our districts Audit committee for approximately 10 years. This committee is made up of 3 trustees. We met with the internal and external auditors and report back to the board and the public at the board meeting their findings. This has given me great insight to how the district is run and how checks and balances are so very important. I’m happy to report we ALWAYS get a clean report that we can present to the community.

As a trustee I have been a part of the process that has interviewed and hired :

Superintendent
Assistant Superintendents
Principals and AP
Law firms
Accounting firms
Architectural firms

School board trustees do not conduct the interviews for teaching positions

I was in support of being a district that was in the forefront of securing our schools with state of the art security systems building out our foyers, securing our window and doors, scanning those who entered the school, etc.

I was also in support in our BOND that secured the finance to upgrade our buildings with
Central AC
Parking lots
Playground
New much needed addition at Chatterton
Classroom upgrades……to name a few.

I understand the importance of Mental Health Awareness and support our school psychologist and guidance counselor’s in all ways possible.

As always, the Special Education program in Merrick is outstanding and is very important to us all.

PANDEMIC REENTRY PLAN

What I’m most proud of recently is our PANDEMIC REENTRY PLAN.
I was the High School Board President at the time.
During the summer of 2020 so many of us worked on this so our kids could get back into the classroom. Administrators, teachers, staff, PARENTS and trustees.  committees were formed and we all learned how to ZOOM.
We worked hours late into the nights trying to work out a way to get this done.

ON SEPTEMBER 25 2020
in the Merrick and Bellmore school districts we welcomed students back into the classroom with the PARENTS CHOICE.

FULL IN
HYBRID
REMOTE.

Not many districts can say this and not many districts can say they stayed open. Something to really think about. We can’t forget how hard and how important this was for our students.

These are some of the important programs, services, responsibilities, passions that I have been involved with. I’m sure there is much more but that will be for another day.

I hope you can vote for me on
May 17, 2022
so I can continue to serve the merrick
Community.

With thanks and appreciation ,

Gina.

Keep it positive. Be kind. Listen more than you speak and always follow through on your word.

Vote for Gina and Jennifer.

ABSENTEE BALLOT INFORMATION

Below you will find the link to the absentee ballot application. You Fill it out and mail it back or drop it off. After the application is approved a ballot will be mailed to you. Follow directions for the return

VERY IMPORTANT TO SIGN THE OUTSIDE ENVELOPE AND INSIDE ONE.

Mail in early to be counted.
Ballot box closes 5 pm on May 17

http://merrick.syntaxny.com/Assets/Board_of_Education_Documents/031121_absentee_ballot_application_ENG.pdf?t=637510755807770000

merrick.syntaxny.com

To the Merrick Community:

​We are excited to share that we are supporting each other’s candidacies for the Merrick Board of Education. As a team, we bring a fresh voice to the experienced board leadership that has made this district a leader in instructional excellence. We believe in a collaborative community where parents have their voice heard and the Board leads in a rational, responsible and reasonable manner. Jennifer is beginning her journey in this district with strong community ties and is jumping right in, and Gina is a trusted leader who has helped lay the foundations of excellence here.

​We understand and respect the critical role of school board trustees and the trust that you, as a community, are placing in us with your vote. This is an election about the best interests of all Merrick children and residents and we promise to serve with open minds and a willingness to listen. We pledge to be fair, respectful and objective. Our doors will be open to all of you and we believe that this community is strongest when we are united.

With sincere thanks,
Gina and Jen — with Gina Ragusa Piskin.

More exciting news to come tomorrow. In the meantime spread the word, click the likes and message me with any questions.

GINA PISKIN
FOR MERRICK SCHOOL BOARD

EXPERIENCED, PROVEN, KNOWLEDGEABLE ON THE ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, DEMONSTRATES CARE AND CONCERN, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, COMMUNITY AND PARENT ADVOCATE.

We are living through challenging times. Our children have been through unprecedented obstacles and along with their parents have had to adapt. As we start to see a return to normalcy, the future is bright and will require work from the whole Merrick community. As a LONG-STANDING member of the Merrick School Board, I have worked diligently to maintain a standard of excellence, and look forward to heightening our district goals and moving our schools forward.

I have been involved with the Merrick School District for over 25 years, and I have served on the elementary school board for 15 years, and on the BMCHSD for 7, It is my honor to say that I have served as President for both districts. I take great pride in the relationships that I have fostered with parents and community members. I am also proud to have been part of a team which has focused on meeting each child’s individual and specific needs, in a warm and nurturing environment, while maintaining fiscal responsibility. The following School District accomplishments have been most rewarding and what I feel are the most important for our future concentration and success as a high achieving school district:

• Supported instructional excellence at all levels (k-12)
• Ensured safety to students & staff through security enhancements
• Effectively implemented a Covid pandemic re-entry plan
• Adopted a fiscally sound budget
• Focused on STEM studies for all
• Encouraged community outreach & communication
• Supported Special Education
• Approval of over 100M + of building and ground improvements
• Comprehensive Arts and Education
• Secured funding for universal Pre-K program

I am deeply dedicated to the Merrick schools & community. I would be honored to receive your support & votes so I can continue the work on behalf of the entire Merrick community.

Come out to vote on May 17th, polls open at 7 am until 9 pm at the Administration Building

With gratitude and respect, Gina Piskin