Three seeking two seats
on Jackson school board
Acevedo, Duscio, Lackay seek nod from residents in April 20 election
BY JOYCE BLAY
Staff Writer

JACKSON — Three candidates are running for two three-year terms on the Board of Education. The election will be held on April 20.

Two of the candidates are incumbents. Gus Acevedo Jr., the board’s vice president, and Linda Lackay filed nominating petitions at the board offices to run for re-election. Sal Duscio, a former candidate, is back in the race this year.

Lackay won election last year to complete an unexpired term. She is now seeking a full three-year term.

Acevedo, 55, has served two consecutive three-year terms, although his service on the panel dates back to 1987. He has a cumulative 15 years of experience on the board.

A resident of Jackson since 1959, Acevedo is employed as a Spanish teacher at Monsignor Donovan High School, Toms River. He also works as an adjunct professor of Spanish at Ocean County College, Toms River. Acevedo said he is completing his doctoral dissertation in Spanish at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.

Acevedo is married to Luane, a second grade teacher at the Ella G. Clarke School, Lakewood. The couple has two children, Gus III, 22, and Kristina, 20.

When asked why he wants to serve for another term on the board, Acevedo said, "Since the beginning of my tenure on the board, I have thought that it is the job of the school board members to imagine the future and to help students and faculty prepare for it by providing the facilities, materials, programs and opportunities for them to excel. America begins at the schoolhouse door. I sincerely believe that."

Lackay, 42, a homemaker, has been a resident of Jackson for 19 years. She and her husband, James, have three children enrolled in Jackson schools. She served for three years as PTA treasurer and two as president at the Rosenauer School.

She recently discussed her work as a member of the board’s legislative committee and how she thought its work would benefit all Jackson residents.

"If elected to the board for a full three-year term I will continue to be an advocate for the children of Jackson as well as its taxpayers - that’s the philosophy behind the committee I chair," said Lackay. "We need our fair share from the government, not just the community. This is my long-term commitment to the people of Jackson as long as we continue to grow and houses keep going up with families of school-age children who need to be educated."

Duscio, 75, said he is running for a seat following several unsuccessful attempts because he believes it is his duty as a taxpayer.

"This is not an ego trip for me," he said. "As long as I pay taxes, I’m going to run. I want to know how the money is being used."

A native New Yorker, Duscio bought his Jackson home in 1950. He has been a permanent resident since 1970. Duscio worked as a printer in New York City for 35 years, but now works as a vegetable farmer. He is married to Louise, and is the father of four grown children. The couple has five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Duscio is running on a platform of fiscal responsibility, which he claims current board members have failed to demonstrate. He hopes to convince voters this year that if given the chance, he can do a better job.

"Let’s count every penny because every penny counts," Duscio said. "It all adds up."