{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"471: Massapequa Board Candidate Cheryl Lepre","description":"Comedian and podcast host Tom Kelly continues his Massapequa School Board interview series with current board member and candidate Cheryl Lepre. - Recorded at Paradise Studios in Massapequa, Long Island, this long-form conversation covers: - The \u201cSave the Chief\u201d lawsuit Taxpayer money and school budgets COVID and mask policy fallout Anonymous Facebook politics Transgender locker room controversy Universal Pre-K Education, AI & vocational training Why Massapequa has become a national political flashpoint And whether local politics has become too mean This episode focuses heavily on tone, community identity, and what Cheryl Lepre believes keeps Massapequa schools successful. - \u23f1\ufe0f TIMESTAMPS 1:19 \u2013 \u201cAnyone who runs for school board is either crazy or a career politician\u201d 1:41 \u2013 Cheryl explains her 7 years on the school board 1:58 \u2013 Why she continues to run for reelection 2:15 \u2013 PTA volunteer work & helping Boy Scouts become Eagle Scouts 2:43 \u2013 Tom asks if national politics have taken over local school boards \ud83e\udeb6 SAVE THE CHIEF & THE LAWSUIT 3:18 \u2013 Tom introduces the \u201cSave the Chief\u201d issue 3:39 \u2013 Why the school board is fighting to keep the Massapequa Chiefs mascot 3:48 \u2013 Cheryl discusses taxpayer money and fiscal responsibility 4:37 \u2013 Why she believes the lawsuit is financially worth pursuing 6:14 \u2013 Cheryl discusses conversations with the Shinnecock Nation 6:46 \u2013 NAGA (Native American Guardians Association) visits Massapequa 7:07 \u2013 \u201cThey prefer to be called American Indians\u201d 7:54 \u2013 \u201cEducate, not eradicate\u201d 9:45 \u2013 Comparisons to Vikings, Crusaders & Spartans 10:17 \u2013 Lawsuit costs discussed: \u201c0.08% of the budget\u201d \ud83d\ude37 COVID, MASKS & POLITICAL DIVISION 12:11 \u2013 Tom compliments Cheryl\u2019s tone and communication style 13:01 \u2013 Cheryl compares this election cycle to previous campaigns 13:27 \u2013 Massive voter turnout during COVID-era elections 14:16 \u2013 Anonymous Facebook groups & online negativity 15:10 \u2013 Cheryl discusses avoiding toxic online comments for mental health 15:29 \u2013 Tom brings up Bobby Bonett\u2019s leaked COVID email controversy 16:19 \u2013 Cheryl clarifies the school board did not leak the email 16:55 \u2013 Cheryl explains FOIL requests and redactions \ud83d\udebb TRANS POLICIES & LOCKER ROOM LAWSUIT 19:32 \u2013 Massapequa lawsuits involving masks, mascots & bathrooms 20:01 \u2013 Cheryl says the district did NOT initiate the transgender lawsuit 20:23 \u2013 Tom summarizes the locker room controversy 20:32 \u2013 Cheryl explains the district policy 20:51 \u2013 Tom asks about rescinding the policy 21:03 \u2013 Cheryl says lawyers advised caution discussing the active lawsuit 21:18 \u2013 \u201cWe\u2019ve made every accommodation for all students\u201d 21:34 \u2013 Gender-neutral locker rooms and bathrooms explained 21:49 \u2013 Tom argues lawsuits distract from educational issues 22:01 \u2013 Cheryl describes school board presentations being overshadowed by controversy 22:29 \u2013 Career fairs, arts, athletics & student accomplishments discussed 22:43 \u2013 Why Cheryl believes opponents focus on lawsuits \ud83d\uddf3\ufe0f THE ELECTION & LOCAL POLITICS 22:57 \u2013 Tom asks about Bobby Bonett personally 23:12 \u2013 Cheryl calls Bobby \u201cwell spoken\u201d 23:17 \u2013 Tom jokingly asks if Bobby is funded by George Soros 23:43 \u2013 Discussion of political ambitions in local elections 23:51 \u2013 Would Cheryl ever run for higher office? \ud83c\udfeb EDUCATION, PRE-K & THE FUTURE 24:14 \u2013 Tom pivots the conversation toward education 24:19 \u2013 Cheryl reveals she now works in education administration 24:52 \u2013 Cheryl explains her work with special education placements 25:10 \u2013 Universal Pre-K debate begins 25:32 \u2013 \u201cWe\u2019re not against UPK \u2014 the question is sustainability\u201d 27:01 \u2013 How the state funds UPK students 27:27 \u2013 State funding increases may change future plans 27:47 \u2013 Faith-based preschool concerns discussed 28:17 \u2013 Cheryl says the district is open to revisiting UPK \ud83c\udf93 EDUCATION, AI & CAREERS 33:06 \u2013 Cheryl describes long board meetings and behind-the-scenes work \u26bd SPORTS, COMMON CORE & TESTING 33:36 \u2013 Questions from the \u201cMassapequa Matters\u201d Facebook groups 33:41 \u2013 Sports participation policy discussion 34:00 \u2013 Common Core and state testing debate begins 34:35 \u2013 Teacher evaluations and testing pressure discussed 35:01 \u2013 Why Cheryl believes some form of testing is necessary 35:21 \u2013 New York\u2019s changing Regents requirements \ud83c\udfe1 MASSAPEQUA IDENTITY & REAL ESTATE 35:35 \u2013 \u201cPeople move here because they love Massapequa\u201d 35:55 \u2013 Tom asks if the town is changing culturally 36:16 \u2013 Real estate prices exploding across Long Island 36:40 \u2013 Houses selling for tens of thousands over asking price 37:06 \u2013 Cheryl argues people move to Massapequa because of its traditions and schools 37:27 \u2013 \u201cThere\u2019s a reason people chose to move here\u201d ","author_name":"Tom Kelly Show","author_url":"http:\/\/www.TomKellyShow.com","html":"