Two seats on the East Islip Union Free School District Board of Education are up for election this year, and both incumbents—Stephen Ruland and Michael Dorgan—will be running unopposed. The term will run from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027

The district will be holding its annual budget vote and board of education election on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Before you vote, get to know the incumbent candidates running for the board of education:

Stephen Ruland

Ruland, who currently serves as vice president, is running for his second term as a trustee for the board of education. Ruland is a 61-year-old lifelong resident of East Islip, and a practicing attorney for over 34 years with an office in Islip. His wife of 32 years, Lisa, is a retired elementary school teacher who taught in the district. All three of their children graduated from East Islip High School and college.

In addition to his St. John’s University law degree, Ruland has a master’s degree in public management and policy analysis and bachelor’s degree from Stony Brook University. Prior to law school, he worked for the Planning Department for the Town of East Hampton. Ruland also served proudly in the Air National Guard for seven years being honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant.

Stephen Ruland’s main focus is the well-being of East Islip students. He plans to evaluate issues that come before the board from all sides, and help the board make determinations that benefit the students and the whole community.

In the past three years, Ruland witnessed success in music, art, and sports programs, along with the core class programs and programs as cosmetology and robotics. He is proud to be involved in approving a Unified Sports Program, along with flag football. Ruland was also involved in the Military Wall of Honor project, which honors past graduates who were or currently are in the military.

In the next three, Ruland hopes to make sure that all of our successful programs continue to thrive. He aims to focus on the trades and getting students ready to enter the workforce right out of high school, or to enter trade school. He also believes that the military is a great option for students who want to serve our country and learn a trade. Students can also have the opportunity to attend college through the ROTC program at no cost.

In the first three years on the board, Ruland attended as many school functions as possible, allowing him to see students’ successes as well as evaluate how programs are progressing. He intends to do the same for the next three years, giving feedback to the whole board about his observations. Ruland will make sure that we continue to maintain our excellent facilities.

He is looking forward to serving all of the students and the whole East Islip School District community.

Michael Dorgan

A lifelong resident of Islip Terrace, Michael Dorgan and his wife, Erin, have raised three children that attend the East Islip School District. His daughters, Christina and Isabella, are in eighth grade at East Islip Middle School, and his son Ryan is in fifth grade at Ruth C. Kinney Elementary School.

Dorgan has worked in the New York State government for the last 25 years, working with groups from all levels of government, including external stakeholders to serve the people of the State of New York. Dorgan has served on the board of education of the East Islip School District for the past three years, where he has worked with the families and students of the community to provide the best educational experiences and academic offerings.

During his time with the board of education, Dorgan has served as a board trustee and currently is the president of the board of education for the East Islip School District.

As a member of the board of education, he continues to keep up with current issues, what is happening in East Islip schools, and a general awareness of the state of the district. These factors help in planning and facilitating decisions that can greatly impact all students and staff from day to day.

Dorgan serves on various district committees, maintains working partnerships with stakeholders, meets with PTA and SEPTO groups, and supports students in their academic and athletic achievements. All of these interactions provide him with an understanding of how the school district is working in its mission and balancing the needs of the community.

As a board member, he said, it is important to ensure that the community continues the process of evaluating the educational trends and achievements to make East Islip students ready for either a career or college.

Additionally, he said, board members also must consider the challenges and changes of student enrollment, facilities requirements, the current economic conditions, and available educational programs.

Dorgan has worked with the members of the board of education and the district’s administration to ensure fiscal responsibility to the taxpayer while maintaining programs and services to meet the needs for all students of the district.

Together with the other members of the board of education, Dorgan said he will continue to keep the district on its path for excellence in academics, while also maintaining a balance of social-emotional well-being for all students and staff.