Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) was one of several legislators on a panel that interviewed 32 candidates for the two open seats on the New York State Board of Regents this week. McDonough, a longtime proponent for Long Island schools and member of the Assembly’s Education Committee, focused his questioning on exploring different pathways to graduation and how the Board will handle the widely-criticized Common Core curriculum moving forward.

“The Board of Regents is one of the supreme entities that implements education policy in New York State,” McDonough said. “The future of our schools and direction of our curriculum depends in part on properly vetting these candidates and ensuring they are qualified. I am concerned about Common Core and its lingering effects on our classrooms, as well as how we can expand career pathways to graduation. I hope our new Board of Regents members take these considerations to heart and do what is best for our students and teachers.”