Candidate for
Member, Board of Education; Dobbs Ferry Union Free School District

Reasons for Running I am running for a fourth term because I believe that, in these extremely difficult economic times, experience is critical to maintaining the high educational standards of the District while working to reduce the burden on our taxpayers. I feel that the relationships I have developed with other local Boards can assist in sharing services to reduce costs. I am also active lobbying both our state and federal legislators on issues critical to the sustainability of the District. In addition, I have been very active in the Board's updating and revising our entire policy manual for the first time in over 15 years and look forward to its being published on the District web site. And finally, I am active in the Westchester Green Schools Coalition and am committed to a greener school District.

Quick Financial Thoughts Because salaries are a significant portion of the budget, the new teachers contract negotiations are critical to saving money both in the short and long terms. Unfunded/underfunded mandates are more than 20% of the budget, intensive lobbying efforts are needed, both by our district and by the associations of which we are a part, to prevent new and repeal some of the old mandates. Continuing the Board's intensive looks at all budget lines for cuts, looking outside the box for creative new ways to do things that save money or bring in new revenue, and continuing to work with community members experienced in the financial area.

Support for the Educational Program A tremendous amount of progress has been made in educating the children of Dobbs Ferry over the last ten years. Economics may dictate changes, but I fully support the initiatives that have created that progress -- our strategic plan, purposeful learning communities, teacher leaders, the International Baccalaureate program, the FLES (foreign language in elementary schools) program, and the new Singapore Math program being rolled out in Springhurst.