18/05/2025
WHO REALLY RUNS AMITYVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT?
School Trustee Vote Tuesday - Are YOU paying attention yet?
Superintendent Gina Talbert’s extensive involvement in religious, civic, and political organizations raises pressing questions about her ability to fully serve the Amityville School District—and about the separation of church and state. In addition to her full-time role as superintendent, Talbert was installed as the senior pastor of the First Church Ministries of Wyandanch in October 2024. She is a member of the Ministerial Alliance of North Amityville & Vicinity, alongside Pepper Martin, who is also a pastor, was the moderator of the NAACP School Board Meet the Candidate forum and the wife of Amityville school board candidate, Sydney Martin—himself a pastor.
Talbert is also closely connected to the 100 Black Women Organization, where she is a member. The organization’s President, Madeline Quintyne (not an Amityville SD resident) frequently speaks at Amityville Board of Education meetings to direct the board as to what they should or shouldn’t do, is also a high-ranking official with the Town of Babylon. The 100 Black Women mentorship program is being pushed in the Amityville schools by Talbert, Quintyne, NAACP president Saab Mchunguzi (whose wife is the 1st Vice President), and Amityville Board of Education President Lisa Johnson who serves as the organization’s Financial Secretary who pushed this internally on the board despite the organization not having the required insurance as was advised by the board’s attorney.
Saba Mchunguzi, NAACP president and another pastor who does not reside in Amityville and is Vice Chair of the Town of Babylon Accessory Apartment Review Board, also frequently attends board meetings to influence district decisions while promoting the mentorship program tied to his wife’s organization. Meanwhile, Bishop Walter Willie, another frequent board meeting speaker who hosted a school budget forum last year in his church and suggested taxpayers should be willing to pay hundreds/thousands of dollars extra in taxes to balance the budget , is co-chairing the 2025 Juneteenth celebration in Tanner Park alongside Vice Chair Dr. Gina Talbert - Amityville superintendent. The event is co-hosted by the Town of Babylon, where several of these figures hold official or semi-official roles.
An example of the board being influenced is at the June 13, 2023 Board of Education meeting (minute 1:44:07), non-resident Madeline Quintyne admonished the board as she was in shock that they voted down the middle school principal appointment, stating she ran up and down streets knocking on every door, sent out tons of emails, walked and talked to get the 4 of them re-elected, the board then REVERSED its decision after reconvening post-executive session. This demonstrates just how much influence Quintyne, a non-resident, has over the legacy board members. *video clip in comments.
Connect all the dots. It is not uncommon for commonality within organizations. However, what is being proven here is these individuals are so intertwined voicing their opinion and dictating what goes in OUR school district when they don’t reside here. This is political overreach and religious influence into local school board decisions. It is concerning, irregular and a problem.
With so many overlapping positions, affiliations, and agendas—many rooted in religious leadership—it is reasonable to ask: how does Talbert have the capacity to effectively serve as a full-time superintendent while also serving as the lead pastor of her church?
Who is really pulling all the strings with the superintendent recommendations and board decisions given all these connections?
If the superintendent is dividing her time among numerous commitments, how can she truly be effective in serving the needs of Amityville?
Talbert’s current contract expires in June 2026, and the individuals you elect will have the power to either renew or end that contract. The students, taxpayers and staff deserve a full-time devoted superintendent.
*Candidate and former trustee, Juan Leon broke away from his unanimous voting pattern and was the ONLY trustee who voted NO to Talbert’s appointment as Amityville SD superintendent in a 6-1 vote in 2023.
Which candidates votes will be influenced by these people, if they get elected? Vote wisely on Tuesday, May 20th.
•Papile and Leon campaigns are self-funded unlike Nehring and Martin whose campaigns are fully funded and run by the teachers union.
••Flow chart shows below illustrates how all these individuals are interconnected
•••Video clip in comments of Quintyne admonishing and influencing the board’s decision which led to the overturning of the vote.
