Schools

School Board Prez Won't Seek Re-Election

John Diviney has served more than 10 years on the school board.

School board president John Diviney won't seek a fourth term as a trustee in the Three Village Central School District.

A pool of three candidates will vie for two open seats, and Diviney – who has already served more than 10 years on the board – won't be one of them, according to a list of candidates released Monday. In an interview Tuesday, he said he decided after being re-elected in 2009 that it would likely be his last three-year term.

"I feel that after a certain period of time it's appropriate to move on and have new people," he said.

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Diviney was first elected to the board in 2001 to serve in the seat vacated by Linda Raphoon, who had resigned. Since then, he was re-elected in 2003, 2006, and 2009. He has served on the facilities committee and the audit committee the length of his school board tenure. He has been a Three Village resident since 1969, is a graduate of Ward Melville High School, and has coached youth soccer and little league. He is currently an attorney and partner in the law firm of Rivkin Radler LLC.

Diviney said he is proud of having served on a school board that was responsible for updating the district's aging facilities, stabilizing its leaderhsip, and shoring up its finances and financial practices.

Find out what's happening in Three Villagewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fellow board trustees lauded his efforts over the years.

"He is an incredible resource filled with insight, expertise, and a sincere commitment to the Three Village schools and community at large," trustee Susanne Mendelson said. "It has been both an honor and privilege to serve along side John for the past several years and his presence will be missed."

Dr. Jeff Kerman agreed, saying, ""John has been wonderful. It's going to be a definite loss to the school board, not having his leadership."

The pool of candidates running for Diviney's seat and one other opening includes current trustee Deanna Bavlnka, former trustee William F. Connors Jr., and Andrea Fusco.

Diviney leaves a board that will take on what he described as a huge challenge: continuing to manage a budget while the state-imposed tax cap legislation is in place.

"Maintain[ing] quality education over a period of time will be very difficult. It's going to be an ongoing issue," he said.

But, he said, he is confident the board will be able to cope with it.

"I actually think the way it's working out," he said, "you have a lot of really experienced board members."


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