Candidate Profile: Kenneth Rochon

Kenneth Rochon

Age: 59

Lifelong Levittown resident, 36 years Island Trees School District

Married to Barbara Rochon for 25 years.

We have four Children, who have either attended or are attending school in Island Trees.

Dennis, 24, is a 2005 Island Trees High School graduate, and a 2009 graduate of the Renneslaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Civil Engineering.

Matthew, 20, is a 2008 Island Trees High School graduate. Matthew is currently attending Nassau Community College pursuing a degree in Fire Science.

Kristin, 18, is an Island Trees High School senior, who will be attending the University of New Haven in September.

April, 17, is a Island Trees High School junior.

I am a retired Lieutenant from the Nassau County Sheriff's Department where my last assignment was Tour Commander for the Midnight tour at the Correctional Center where I was responsible for the supervision of 120 Officers and Staff as well as over 1,000 inmates.

I am a Past Chief and active 41 year member of the Levittown Fire Department and am serving as co-chairman of the CPR/AED First Aid training, a member of the department training committee, an advisor to Department Explorer Post 620 and Trustee of the Levittown Benevolent Association. I am the coach of the Island Trees Soccer Club U-19 girls travel team and a former trustee of Island Trees Little league. I am actively involved in teaching CPR/AED and First Aid Training for several community groups.

I am seeking reelection to the Island Trees Board of Education so that we may continue to openly deal with the issues facing the District. I am always available to discuss any issues that community residents may have. During my tenure we have accomplished much, some of which is listed below. 

• Implemented the Princeton Plan Model in our two elementary schools resulting in an annual savings of $450,000 to the school district
• Created the closed campus at Island Trees High School
• Installed a new intercom system in Island Trees Memorial Middle School
• Hired our own security officers and utilized them in assuring the safety of our students, staff and property
• Added new playgrounds for J. Fred Sparke and Michael F. Stokes Schools
• Renegotiated a new multi-year lease with BOCES for the Gallow School building and relocated the Scope Pre-School program and the district offices to the Karopczyc School building.
• Utilized a bond including EXCEL funds to:

- Construct a Maintenance Building with bathrooms available for after                           school and club sports

               - Upgrade electrical services upgrades in Sparke and Stokes

               - Install the Tuft athletic field and lighting at Island Trees High School

               - Install additional security cameras inside and outside all school buildings

              - Install Smart interactive boards in selected classrooms throughout the                       district

              - Install new fire and security alarm systems in all buildings

             - Install new univent heating units in the elementary schools

            - Install an entrance foyer at the main entrance of Sparke

           - Remove slate blocks and repave the main entrance of Stokes 

Items we are working on for the next school year:

• Purchasing new virtualization equipment to replace our older PC-based computers, allowing us to improve computer performance while realizing energy savings costs
• Replacing intercom systems in Sparke, Stokes and Island Trees High School
• Relocating the wrestling room from the basement to the first floor of the high school
• Implementing Energy Performance Projects in all buildings. These projects will include new lighting, heating controls and other energy saving measures. These projects will be no cost to the taxpayer.

The most important issue facing the Island Trees School community is providing a quality education for our students while being fiscally responsible to the taxpayers. In doing so we must deal with the reductions in State Aid and Federal Funding, while still providing for the unfunded mandates both from New York State and the Federal Government. In doing so we must be mindful of the current economic situation facing us.

I will continue to deal openly with the issues facing our District in the future as I have done for the past six years. I will continue to look for new ways to reduce the budget, expanding the sharing of purchasing, services and administrative costs with other school districts and government agencies. 

The district is working toward being more transparent as demonstrated in the creation of the citizen’s budget advisory committee and last several budget processes. We must continue to look for more ways to get the community involved in the process. We must continue to keep the residents informed on the issues facing the district.