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SCHOOLS
These are the usual "Shill" letters that appear year after year urging people to support the budget. They talk about balance, fairness, hardwork etc... bla bla bla. Look ...it's about JOBS and ripping off the stupid unsuspecting public to foot the bill for all of their child's DREAMS !!! The Kid graduates then they move out. Simple as that.
Donna Walsh is the right choice in Katonah-Lewisboro
Katonah-Lewisboro School District
To the Editor
What we need today on the board of the Katonah-Lewisboro School District is realism. To represent us as taxpayers, to insure that we get full value for our budget dollars, to balance competing interests, to advocate for children, to understand the complicated world our schools operate in, to cut to what is important now and get things done, Donna Walsh is the right choice in the upcoming election on May 18th. In a year where divisiveness and even invective have dominated public debate, Donna Walsh is a breath of fresh air. She has a background in psychology (she understands people) and law (can weave her way through bureaucracy), but she doesn't practice either full time (good thing for us!).
What she does do is share her wealth of knowledge and experience in our district - at the grass roots level, where she can learn first hand how things really are, and at the leadership level, where she can help constructively lead change and direct our future. Donna Walsh's experience and record of sustained achievement includes a multitude of PTO positions, including PTO president at Katonah Elementary, Parent Council representative, member of our district Character Education,
Safety and Construction committees, and, of course, district board service for four years. In addition to fostering a partnership with our high school Campus Congress, she knows our elementary, middle and high schools first hand and understands the challenges they face to achieve the excellence our residents expect at a cost the taxpayers can realistically support. Yes, she is an "insider," but one who knows the ins and outs of the residents, the schools, and the students of the District. Reelect Donna Walsh.
Get out to register, vote, and make a difference on May 18
To the Editor:
I would like to urge all voters to get out and support the school budget in the upcoming vote on May 18. We are all stressed about the increase in our taxes, yet, the reason many of us moved to this area in the first place was the great schools and school system. We need to be aware of the many components that go into compiling the school budget. Trying to balance the variety of needs, such as expanding our children's curriculum and implementing state mandates with little to no monies provided by the state, repairing failing buildings, supporting technologies, and meeting the demands of taxpayers who don't wish their taxes to increase is a challenging conundrum that the school board faces each year.
I believe that this year's budget is well thought out and balanced.
I believe the school board has done a commendable job in looking at the various issues and needs of this school system, and so I am supporting this budget. I hope your readers look at the facts and support it, also. And, if you are not a registered voter, now is the time to act. Register, vote, and make a difference.........Lisa Jinkins Waccabuc
To the Editor:
The Katonah-Lewisboro School District will soon be asked to decide at the polls whether it should change from a five-member to a seven-member board. I strongly recommend that the community vote no on this proposition #4. Originally, I thought seven members would better spread the workload and that the board would be able to work in subcommittees of three without violating the Open Meeting Law. I now favor maintaining the number at five members.
A smaller board is more nimble on its feet and better able to act quickly on a variety of multi-faceted subjects - some quite complicated. Seven members would lengthen meetings that are already too lengthy - particularly in view' of the fact that administrative personnel, Student Congress representatives, and the public are rightfully encouraged to participate in board meetings. Even now I regret the fact that our present board finds precious little time to sit in public session and just have a wide-ranging exchange' of ideas. Time constraints are constantly nipping at our heels. A larger board would be unwieldy with side conversations and off-topic discussions cropping up that would hinder it from addressing the matters at hand. Instead, I favor establishing, as needed, some key advisory committees comprised of talented community volunteers. These committees could study assigned issues and provide options and recommendations on how too proceed. Perhaps we could standing committees in areas such as long-range planning, policy, cost-reduction, and educational initiatives. Other districts do this. Community participation would better help all of us understand and appreciate the ever-increasing challenges we face. We could plan ahead and work together.
The educational process in the 21st Century awaits us with all its mandates, laws, and financial challenges. Recent court decisions have deep implications as to how monies will be distributed by state and federal agencies. A wealth of talent exists in this community. Let us all work together and use it for the benefit of the entire community. Please vote no on Proposition #4.
Member, Katonah-Lewisboro Board of Education
Don't be drawn in by the tactics of so-called watchdog group
To the Editor:
I have never written a letter to the editor before, but the time has come to publicly ask the question: Who are the Citizens for Prudent School Planning, or CPSP? The only two citizens who have acknowledged their membership are Jeffrey Vreeland and Spencer Dvorkin. If this is indeed a respectable group with a worthy and honorable cause, then why do they operate in secrecy, and why would nobody, except for the two individuals mentioned, admit to even a hint of association?
How can this group possibly claim that they act as a "watchdog" when they take virtually no role whatsoever in the budget process? I was stunned by Mr. Dvorkin's recent comment at the budget adoption meeting. When asked by a board of education member for CPSP's position on the current budget, he responded by stating that the group had not yet met. Did they suggest any ways for the board to significantly reduce the tax increase? Did they propose any substantial spending reductions? Did they question the validity of the new educational initiatives? Did they offer any new or creative ways to address the needs of our students? No!
Yet, you can be sure that just before the vote, they will be sending out one of their infamous publications filled with half-truths, mistakes, and innuendo. This is a devious maneuver, as it provides no opportunity to rebut any of their outrageous claims prior to the actual vote. After the defeat of last year's school budget, The RecordReview publicly took this group to task for their underhanded tactics. In fact, Mr. Dvorkin subsequently admitted he made a huge miscalculation in the publication - but the damage was already done.
Now CPSP is endorsing a board of education candidate (Mr. Pavalow) who will undoubtedly attempt to distance himself from this "group." For those of us who have been paying attention, however, the link is traceable and unmistakable. This year, let's not fall for the same old tricks.
On Tuesday, May 18, vote for the candidate who is honest enough to stand up for what she believes in. She . has worked tirelessly to control our tax increases while maintaining quality education. Ask anyone involved with the schools and the community about her dedication over the past 10 years and the choice is clear: Re-elect Donna Walsh.
To the Editor:
If plastering the town with signs somehow suggests a candidate would make a good school board member, Mr. Pavalow should be causing Ms. Walsh some concern. Fortunately, excess publicity does not figure into a school board member's actual qualifications.
The following can be found on the New York State School Board Association's Web site, www nyssba.org
"The legal requirements for board membership are few, but qualifications for effective service are many.
"A board member should have a broad background of experience and knowledge or be ready, willing and able to learn quickly. Intelligence, awareness and sensitivity will see him or her through the intricacies of such issues as school finance, studentemployee-community relationships and curriculum. A board member must understand simplistic approaches will not meet the complex challenges imposed by the demands of contemporary education.
"A board member must be motivated by a sincere desire to serve the community rather than to achieve personal glory or carry out a personal vendetta. Board members must invest many hours in discharging their duties.
"A board member must be able to provide today's kind of education for today's children. He or she must understand the forces of change in society and foresee their potential .effects on the district.
Tolerant and free of prejudice, a board member must be responsive to the human needs of individuals and groups. He or she must bear in mind that, as a state official, his or her responsibility is to all the state's children.
"A board member should be able to defend his or her board's philosophy and goals and withstand the criticism that will inevitably come from people with opposing views. He or she will not confuse a few noisy voices in the community with consensus.
"A board member is a member of the district's education team. A board's decision-making authority is vested in the board of education as a corporate [entity], not in the individual board member. He or she must remember that the superintendent is also a member of the team and must be able and willing to work with all the team members."
When you enter the voting booth on May 18, please vote for the candidate you believe best embodies the qualities described above. I believe that candidate is Donna Walsh.