4 Key Issues to Follow in Smithtown in 2014

The year of 2013 has come to an end, but there are a few issues and ongoing stories to keep an eye on as we move into 2014: 

* New Smithtown Town Board: Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio began his 13th term of office on Jan. 1, extending his reign as New York State's longest-serving town supervisor, he does it with a different town board behind him. 
Republican incumbent Kevin Malloy will be replaced by former Suffolk Legis. Lynne Nowick, R-St. James, on Smithtown Town Board. 
In running for election, she ran her campaign with Vecchio and Councilman Thomas McCarthy's support. Some have suggested this could change the balance of Smithtown town board and votes on a few pending issues such as the Uplands at St. Johnland. 

* Smithtown Main Street Vacancies: The number of vacant storefronts along Smithtown Main Street became a hot issue during the 2013 campaign season, and we don't foresee it going away anytime soon. 
Our interactive map, Complete Guide to Main Street Vacancies, found more than 20 vacant ground-level storefronts in Smithtown's downtown shopping area. 
Many of these storefronts remain vacant today, as we wait to see what company will move in and bring shopppers back to downtown. 

*Smithtown School's Next Budget, Common Core issues: Smithtown school district administrators and parents have been outspoken as to their issues with the state's new Common Core curriculum and high-stakes testing. 
Smithtown Board of Education sent an official resolution to New York State Education Department in September outlying their opposition to high-stakes testing then returned Race to the Top funding to the state in November. 
As the 2014-15 budget season unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Common Core curriculum and state mandates will impact the budget and the schools. 

*Smithtown Schools Search for New Superintendent: Former Smithtown School District Superintendent Anthony Annunziato announced his resignation at the board of education meeting in August, weeks before school year's start, and said he will be joining St. John's University as a professor.
This has launched Smithtown Board of Education on a new search to find a full-time superintendent again, which will be a long and involved process including community input. 
School trustees appointed Judith Elias as interim superintendent of the Smithtown Central School District as of Sept. 16. 
Elias has previously served as the superintendent of Smithtown Central School District during the 2006-07 school year before taking leave to help take care of her ailing mother.