Candidate for
Member, Board of Education, Seat Currently Held by Grace Stone; Valhalla Union Free School District

Why are you running and what qualifies you to be a school board trustee?

The primary responsibility of a school board trustee is to see that the educational mission of the District is fulfilled. The secondary accountability of a trustee is to the voters, many of whom are taxpayers. I am a proud parent of two Valhalla students and I want to be a voice for the students and the voters. I have attended a number of Board meetings recently and have observed that in times like these when shared sacrifices are warranted, the burden has fallen disproportionately on the children and the taxpayers. I want to be a voice for balance and keeping our focus where it should be, i.e. the education of our students.

I believe I am qualified to be a trustee because I understand the issues the District is facing. I have a significant amount of leadership and civic experience at work and in the community. I listen and communicate well and am always respectful of everyone, even if they do not share my views.

What do you see as the top three challenges facing your school district?

1) Unfunded mandates. The number of services that the District must provide and the associated financial outlays are significant and growing. In the next few years, I expect increased pressure to shift costs from other government and public entities to school districts.

2) Shrinking revenues. The decline in home values during this economic downturn will result in a smaller tax base at least in the short term. Rising taxpayer opposition and potential caps on tax rate increases may limit our ability to raise funds through taxes.

3) Capital planning. We need to start setting aside funds to pay for the repairs and renovations that will eventually be required to Valhalla's aging school buildings and infrastructure.

With respect to school finances, are there any specific initiatives you would pursue to save money or reduce costs?

I would investigate if there are extracurricular or sports programs that could be moved from the school budget to community-based programs. During tough economic times like these, I would seek to ensure that all constituencies share in the sacrifice and that the students' academic experience is the last to suffer from cost reductions.

What changes would you make on the academic front?

While there is always room for improvement, I am pleased with the academic performance of the Valhalla School District. The staff, administrators and academic programs are top-notch. I would seek to establish a student advisory committee to the Board. This would provide a real-world educational experience for the students involved and afford the Board valuable feedback from the very constituency that is at the core of its mission.