Profile: Tom Locascio Board of Education Trustee

Tom Locascio, a self -described newbie may be one of the board’s newer members but is not a stranger to the working of school districts. Locascio works as the Director of Operations for State Sen. Dean Skelos.

“I deal with all of our local schools in Nassau County. I deal with school superintendents regularly.

It is his work experience that helped him make the decision to get involved locally.

Locascio, who grew up in Dix Hills is married to a life long resident of Kings Park and the father of a nine-month old daughter.

Patch asked Locascio what he felt the biggest concern was for residents this budget year.

“Taxes. Everyone’s main concern is taxes. As a board we put together a responsible budget that keeps our commitment to our kids and to the taxpayers of Kings Park,” he said.

As far as what the biggest concern is for the board, Locascio says it is the decrease in state aid.

“A number of things are out of our control; pension costs, health care costs. There was a large gap we had to fill to keep programs in tact and at the same time keep our year- to- year increase under two-percent,” he said.

Locascio’s biggest concern is the future.

“I think we have a lot of work still to do. We are putting a budget up that has a bit of fund money from the fund balance to offset costs. It is not something we can sustain a number of years down the road. It is something that I worry about and something the board will have to deal with this year and the year after that,” said Locascio.

Locascio also wanted voters to know that it is important to get out and vote and that he believed the board worked hard to present a budget that is fiscally sound while still offering a top quality education.

“We are going to continue to work hard to provide the opportunities we have always provided in Kings Park and make sure that the district is efficient,” he said.