Posted 5/13/11

In lieu of a formal "Meet Your Candidates" night, the Central Council posed four questions to each candidate for an on-line forum.

Read the questions and answers below:

Candidate E. Lynn Brown

Question #1: What is your picture of a Gloversville High School graduate?

a. The GHS graduate should be one who has gained the knowledge and the skills to be an independent and productive member of the community.
b. The GHS graduate should be ready to take the next step, to work, to college, to the military.
c. The GHS graduate should be one that has received a quality educational experience (academics, arts, clubs, sports, etc).
d. The GHS graduate should leave high school feeling proud to have been a member of the school and should feel confident entering into the next phase of their life.

Question #2: What goals would you like to work on for the next three years, specifically at the elementary and secondary levels?

a. Continue to improve the quality of our educational programs.
b. To examine the existing programs and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.
c. To continue to explore a variety of ways to meet the needs of our students and to provide a quality educational program to all of our students to include those not choosing to go on to college or join the military
a. Work with our BOCES to ensure there are career and technical opportunities (trades program-plumbing, electrical, green energy programs, etc.)
d. To continue to improve the home and school connection
e. To provide unique educational opportunities for students
a. Community service, internships, etc
f. To explore and integrate more technology into the classrooms so that our children will have the skills needed to compete in the 21st century
g. To come up with a long range plan to determine what we want our educational system to look like. Then gather a team to come up with a plan as to how to achieve those goals.
h. To work with community leaders and businesses to determine what skill sets are needed to enter into the work force and to integrate those skills into the curriculum.

Question #3: What is your opinion of the recent proposed budget adopted by the Board of Education? Do you agree with how spending is being prioritized?

I believe the proposed budget is a responsible one.

The budget amount increased this year as compared to last year’s budget. However the previous two years of budgets had remained the same. The BOE has tried to maintain the bottom line for the past few years. This was done through tough decision making (cuts in some areas, negotiations, etc.)

Question #4: What is your opinion of teacher seniority, tenure, and collective bargaining rights?

I believe that teacher seniority, tenure and collective bargaining are important.

a. Seniority is something every employee is afforded. It speaks not only of their years of experience but of the dedication to their craft.

b. Tenure affords the teacher the right to due process. Many people think once tenure is achieved the teacher is guaranteed a job for life. That simply is not true. A teacher can lose their job for a variety of reasons. The reasons are listed in the New York State Education Laws.

c. I think the problem is not with the idea of tenure. I think the problem lies more with procedure and process of hiring and firing teachers. First, it is crucial that substantial work is put forth when hiring a teacher to make sure the person has the skill set and is a fit for the district. Second, it is important the teacher is mentored and helped the first few years and that the administrator properly documents progress. Third, if the teacher achieves tenure, it is important that he/she work toward meeting the goals set forth by the district. Fourth, if a situation arises where a teacher is not performing their duties, then a remediation plan needs to be established. Last, if there is a need to dismiss a tenured teacher, then the administrator needs to maintain proper documentation to be able to present a factual case.

NOTE: Teachers are not the only people that achieve tenure and have seniority rights.

c. Collective Bargaining: I believe collective bargaining has its place. It is important both parties enter into negotiations in good faith and with clear heads. I think it is also important that both parties keep the main goal in sight: our children.

1. I think when fiscal crisis occur, like the one that occurred this year with the Governor’s education cuts, all parties need to come together and work diligently to get through the crisis at hand. If concessions need to be made, then all parties need to be asked to make them. Many times, only the largest group (teachers) is asked to make concessions when indeed it should be everyone.

2. We need to work together to achieve the greater good which is to educate our children.

Community: I think the school community and the community at large need to come together, work together to discuss what can be done to improve the quality of life for our citizens. Everyone knows that the school is the focal point of any community. The quality of the educational system directly relates to people deciding where to live. As the school and the community work together to solve problems (fiscal and otherwise), we will see the entire community be uplifted.

Candidate Richard Carlson

Question #1: What is your picture of a Gloversville High School graduate?

My picture of a GHS graduate is of a person who has been well prepared to deal with the challenges that will be presented to them in the coming years by an increasingly complex world. It is a person who has been provided a solid academic foundation and one who has been encouraged use that knowledge to make a difference in their community. It is a person with a broad range of interests, an inquiring mind, and the desire and ability to think critically – to “stand on their own two feet”. It is a person whom you value and respect as a co-worker, neighbor or as a friend.

Question #2: What goals would you like to work on for the next three years, specifically at the elementary and secondary levels?

According to its most recent State Report Card, the District’s graduation rate of 69% falls well below the 80% state standard. I would support as a priority goal taking measures at both the elementary and secondary levels to help the District significantly improve its graduation rate over the next three years, and to continue making progress in the years beyond.

Measures taken at the elementary level may not immediately improve the graduation rate, but they are critically important for fostering the desire to learn and the study habits that students will need to carry with them throughout their lives. I would support academic programs such as Reading First which reinforce the early development of learning skills and study habits. I would also support efforts to help those students most at risk of falling behind early in their academic careers. I believe the District should be open to innovation in seeking to address these needs, and willing to entertain new approaches.

At the secondary level, I would support efforts to better relate the classroom learning experience to the skills needed to function in the “real world” of employment and adulthood. I believe partnering initiatives with the local business community, such as the recently formed partnership with the Fulton County Regional Chambers of Commerce that brings speakers into the classroom, are valuable and should be pursued. I also believe that the District should continue its investment in technical education programs to equip its students with the skills required to compete for the jobs of tomorrow and to provide employers with the workforce they need.

In recent years it has been necessary to reduce funding in music, art and other worthwhile programs. These cuts reduce the quality of the education the District is able to provide and I believe every effort should be made to preserve existing programs. Nevertheless, continuing to provide all current programs is not likely to become any easier as needs increase and resources are harder to come by. I don’t think anyone knows how the debate over State and Federal funding for education will turn out, but there’s a good chance that it could require us to at least consider additional program cutbacks that none of us want to see come to pass. Under these circumstances I believe it will be imperative for the Board and the District to work together with the community to seek alternative means for providing students educational opportunities to offset any loss of programs.

Understandably, recent budget pressures have made it necessary for the District to focus on existing programs and services. However, a longer term view is also needed to adequately plan for the future. What educational needs should this District expect to address 5 or 10 years from now, and beyond? What program and other changes will be required, and how can those changes be accomplished? The District needs to prepare for its longer-term future, and should take the steps to initiate that process.

Question #3: What is your opinion of the recent proposed budget adopted by the Board of Education? Do you agree with how spending is being prioritized?

I support the proposed budget. As a member of the District’s Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, I appreciate the very difficult fiscal situation caused by the significant reduction in state aid, and the budget does a reasonable job of maintaining needed programs. I believe this stability is important, given the program and staffing cuts of the previous two years. I also believe the Board took an even-handed approach that recognized overall program priorities and attempted to spread program impacts across the board as much as possible.

But the program stability comes at a cost to the local taxpayer in the form of a 2.9% tax rate increase. While this may be a small one compared to some other districts nearby it is an increase nonetheless, placed on a community already shouldering a heavy tax burden. With local taxpayers already heavily taxed, the challenge before the Board is to find ways to utilize all the District’s resources more effectively. The potential sharing of transportation services with other school districts discussed at the May 2 Board meeting is but one example of what must be aggressively pursued by the Board.

Question #4: What is your opinion of teacher seniority, tenure, and collective bargaining rights?

These rights are all long-standing employee protections which have been institutionalized over the years for good reasons. I appreciate that there is still a need for them today, and I support their continuation in concept. However, I also believe that they raise issues which, given the circumstances school districts face now and in the future, must be acknowledged and addressed.

Teacher seniority recognizes the value that experience in the classroom can contribute to job performance, and protects longer serving (and higher paid) teachers during times of staff cutbacks. However, during those times seniority rules also work against being able to keep the younger teachers all districts need to retain and develop for future years. We need to strike a better balance between these competing needs.

The granting of tenure recognizes the demonstrated satisfactory job performance of newer teachers; it is valuable to school districts for retaining qualified teachers, and for teachers it provides an increased measure of job security. Once tenure is obtained, however, there needs be a more rigorous means for maintaining continued accountability for (and rewarding) satisfactory job performance than there currently exists today.

Collective bargaining rights evolved in large part to contractually establish fair and adequate workforce protections and compensation. In education and other public sector enterprises it’s essential that collective bargaining result in a win-win situation for both employees and employer (ultimately, the taxpayer), and that if underlying conditions significantly change adjustments be made by both parties to reasonably accommodate that change. This is especially important in difficult fiscal times such as the present.

Candidate Jean LaPorta

Question #1: What is your picture of a Gloversville High School graduate?

I believe that every child deserves the best education that our school district can provide, whether he or she is in kindergarten or a senior in high school. The programs offered by the district give our graduates the range of courses that they need for college or whatever career choice they make. GHS graduates are prepared to take the next step in their lives. The extra-curricular opportunities, sports and music programs make them well-rounded individuals with the confidence to take their place in the world.

Question #2: What goals would you like to work on for the next three years, specifically at the elementary and secondary levels?

At the elementary level I am especially concerned about the potential for larger class sizes and would like to see strategies developed to reduce the risk of that happening The administration and teaching staff should prepare to meet this challenge by restructuring current staffing. Music and art need to be an important part of the elementary curriculum.

At the secondary level I want to see as many challenging courses offered to students as possible by creative scheduling using distance learning and working with BOCES to allow students to take courses they need with students from neighboring districts in a single location.

Question #3: What is your opinion of the recent proposed budget adopted by the Board of Education? Do you agree with how spending is being prioritized?

Faced with the 5% cut in state aid and increases in fixed contractual obligations the district has proposed a budget that is fiscally responsible. However, to the tax-burdened public any increase in taxes is difficult to accept. I was on the Budget Advisory Committee both this year and last year and saw for myself the care that was taken to prioritize the spending so that it would have as little impact as possible on programs. I know that the district will be facing serious financial decisions, not only this year, but in the years to come. Making critical choices will be the key to keeping the best district programs we want for our children and grandchildren.

Question #4: What is your opinion of teacher seniority, tenure, and collective bargaining rights?

 

Candidate Leo Santini Jr.

Question #1: What is your picture of a Gloversville High School graduate?

My picture of a Gloversville High school graduate, is a student that is well rounded, able to go on for higher education, Tech school or enter the job market.

Question #2: What goals would you like to work on for the next three years, specifically at the elementary and secondary levels?

The goals that I would like to work on for the next three tears, specifically at the elementary and secondary levels are. I would like to see the graduation rate improve from 69%. That starts at the Elementary level , we need more intervention for students that are having difficulties. The research I have read, implies that if students are still struggling by the end of third grade, it will be difficult for the remainder of school years. The solution is more AIS teachers and afterschool reading programs, staffed by parent volunteers, that encourage children to read.

At the secondary level I would like to see more AIS teachers.

Question #3: What is your opinion of the recent proposed budget adopted by the Board of Education? Do you agree with how spending is being prioritized?

I voted no to the recent proposed budget. In my opinion I think we could have saved some jobs, had we gone through the budget line by line and cut the supplies budget. I realize these are difficult financial times, but to increase the supplies budgets year over year, and then layoff teaching staff makes no sense. How is that benefitting our children?

Question #4: What is your opinion of teacher seniority, tenure, and collective bargaining rights?

I retired from the State. I am in favor of Unions. I am for teacher seniority. Tenure , no comment. This issue is one that is not going to be resolved at the local level. I agree Unions should have collective bargaining rights.