Fisher Airs Concerns over Levy's Graduation Speech

At Tuesday's Board of Education meeting, Suffolk County Legislator Vivian Viloria-Fisher told the school board she was "shocked" and "dismayed" at the Three Village Central School District's choice of keynote speaker at its June 27 commencement ceremony.

The keynote speaker in question? Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy.

Fisher, D-East Setauket, a former Ward Melville teacher whose five children attended Three Village schools, asked the school board for an explanation of why the district deviated from its typical practice of inviting keynote speakers from within the district to deliver commencement speeches.

"I have never asked anybody in my school district to give me any platform, because there has to be a very strict wall between government services and political affiliations," Fisher said. "I would really like to know what the political push was to have Mr. Levy at the commencement at what I consider my school."

Board of Education president John K. Diviney confirmed it has been the district's typical practice to invite keynote speakers specifically from within the district, such as the school board president, high school principal, or superintendent. He said the school board would find out more information and respond to Fisher's query.

"On a personal level, I was not aware until I saw Mr. Levy there that this was occurring," Diviney said.

Levy responded to Fisher's comments with a statement issued Wednesday.

"I have given scores of commencement speeches over the course of my career, and it is only now that I am a registered Republican that Legislator Viloria-Fisher, one of our more partisan legislators, expresses concern," Levy said. "None of my speeches have ever been partisan or political in any way — I seek to be inspirational."