051101Record Review Editorial Endorsements (YAWN) No Surprises Again

Bedford Central

Running a school district is a complicated business. Bedford Central School Board members and administrators must account for multiple pressing priorities in the process of planning for burgeoning student enrollment, additional state academic standards and testing, a growing Spanish-speaking population of students and, most significantly, the urgent need for repairs to Bedford Central's school buildings.

While serving in their respective roles, incumbent board member Elin Sullivan and Brad Sacks, a member of the Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee, have demonstrated dedication and a solid grasp of the challenges facing the district.

That is why we recommend that district voters support Ms. Sullivan and Mr. Sacks in the school board elections on Tuesday, May 15.

With the aforementioned challenges that the district faces, we feel that the established working relationship that currently exists between the board and the administration is critical, and would be best maintained by the reelection of Ms. Sullivan and the election of Mr. Sacks, who are running on a slate along with incumbent Mel Comberiati,

Joseph Giardina is opposing Ms. Sullivan; Bonnie Laub is challenging Dr. Comberiati; and Steve Miele is running against Mr. Sacks.

(The Record-Review is not endorsing a candidate in the matchup between Dr. Comberiati and Ms. Laub-, Ms. Laub is a minority investor in this newspaper.)

Mr. Giardina and Mr. Miele, supported by a group called the Taxpayers Oversight Committee, have been highly critical of the current board and administration of the district. That is not why we oppose them.

In fact, we agree with them that the current board and administration must shoulder a good deal of blame for failing to allocate adequate funds for maintenance and repairs, which has allowed certain parts of certain schools to deteriorate dramatically. -But-Mr. Giardina and Mr. Miele have failed to present a viable alternative strategy; they have only repeatedly expressed a determination to reduce spending, without presenting a cogent plan to do so.

 Obviously they weren't listening or reading the papers!!!-JPG

We, think it noteworthy too that Mr. Giardina seems unable to resist indulging in outright mockery and ridicule of those with whom he disagrees.

It's not that someone disagrees it's just that after watching crooks run the district for ten years, I just don't suffer the fools well. SORRY !!!! JPG

Such a penchant doesn't bode well for working within the consensus model, especially at this critical juncture when the problems in the district must be grasped fully and tackled efficiently. A measure of professionalism is required if the board and the administration are to work together.

It follows that, in supporting Ms. Sullivan and Mr. Sacks, we view the proposed $70.3 million school budget, representing a 6.9 percent increase over the current budget, as a responsible spending plan. We further endorse the proposition authorizing reallocation of capital renovation funds.