WEBUTUCK — Along with voting for or against the Board of Education’s (BOE) proposed 2010-11 budget, district taxpayers will have other important decisions to make on May 18: chooosing who will fill the vacant seats on the BOE. There’s a highly contested race in Webutuck, with seven candidates running for two three-year full-term seats and an additional seat serving out the last year of an unexpired term. (The candidate with the third-highest number of votes will be voted into the one-year term, which will begin immediately, while the full terms will begin on July 1.)
A “Meet the Candidates Night†will be held Thursday, May 13, at 7 p.m. in the Webutuck High School auditorium, sponsored by the PTA.
Because it is being held after this newspaper’s deadline, coverage of the event cannot be printed before the May 18 election. The Millerton News reached out to all seven candidates, who agreed to fill out a brief questionnaire outlining who they are as candidates. Coverage on candidates in the other two school districts reported on by this paper is also included on this page, although they are briefer, as neither of those districts have contested races and all seats are being sought by incumbents.
WEBUTUCK BOE CANDIDATE PROFILES
Name: Tori Alexander
Age: Declined to answer
Town of residency: Amenia
Years lived in Webutuck school district: Six years
Experience in public office: Webutuck Wellness Committee member, one-and-a-half years
Children in school district: One boy in first grade
What are Webutuck’s most significant issues? Better communication and more interaction between board and community
Where do you stand on the current board’s 2010-11 budget proposal? For.
Why do you want to serve? Great schools emerge out of great communities where parents, teachers and administrators interact, communicate and together inspire a love of learning. Believing discussion isn’t as healthy in this district as it could be, I’ve created webutuckforum.com, where everyone can talk openly about school issues.
I also believe the school board needs more professional educators. I’ve been president of a nonprofit foundation for arts and education for 12 years. I have a master’s degree to teach high school English, a doctorate in English, have taught writing at New York City colleges for several years and I’m currently a freelance researcher in science and art.
Name: Joanne Boyd
Age: 52
Town of residency: Amenia
Years lived in Webutuck school district: 22 years
Experience in public office: Board of Education member for one three-year term, also filled in a vacancy spot for approximately one year
Children in school district: Two in high school, two Webutuck graduates
What are Webutuck’s most significant issues? Communication among all the various shareholders — board, administration, staff, parents, students, community; consistency and accountability; balancing a challenging educational program with affordable taxes
Where do you stand on the current board’s 2010-11 budget proposal? For.
Why do you want to serve?
I have noticed a decline in parental and community involvement at school events and Board of Ed meetings. However, I am encouraged to see the number of candidates for this year’s election. I have attended a majority of BOE meetings these past three years and have not always agreed with the process or manner in which decisions were made. There is a structure and training that outlines the BOE and superintendent’s specific roles and responsibilities and I would work to ensure that this process is always communicated, and used to improve the school’s climate and programs.
Name: Heidi Dean
Age: 44
Town of residency: North East
Years lived in Webutuck school district: 21 years
Children in school district: One in high school, one in intermediate school
What are Webutuck’s most significant issues? Keeping children safe and making them feel safe; keeping taxes low; improving communication between administrators, parents and the community
Where do you stand on the current board’s 2010-11 budget proposal? For.
Why do you want to serve?
I decided to run for a seat on the BOE because I feel a strong need to be involved. I want to know how and why each decision is made and I want to have input. I honestly don’t have enough knowledge about the current board and how effective each individual is to comment. I do know that being a board member is time consuming and until now, I haven’t felt I could dedicate the time needed to be effective. If I am elected, I will attend each meeting with an open mind and a willingness to listen. I will work hard to make any changes that will better our schools.
Name: Andrew Jablonsky (Incumbent)
Age: 48
Town of residency: Amenia
Years lived in Webutuck school district: 12 years
Experience in public office: Two-term, six-year veteran of Webutuck Board of Education
What are Webutuck’s most significant issues? Establish consistency from year to year with administrators and superintendent; finances, including providing low tax impact to community; elevating student grades above the state minimum requirements
Where do you stand on the current board’s 2010-11 budget proposal? For.
Why do you want to serve? Over the last three years, I am proud to be a member of the Webutuck Board of Education. The membership and leadership is very strong. The BOE has implemented a proactive vision regarding school budgets that stops large tax increases. Facility decisions have been acted on with the best interest for the district and the community. We now have an experienced superintendent who will lead Webutuck well into the future and a surveillance system in place to safe guard our staff, students and facilities. I am proud of my input and the district’s accomplishments over the last three years.
Name: William McGhee (Incumbent)
Age: 53
Town of residency: Millerton
Years lived in Webutuck school district: 33 years
Experience in public office: Nine years on Webutuck Board of Education
Children in school district: Three children graduated from Webutuck
What are Webutuck’s most significant issues? Keeping low taxes; stronger curriculum
Where do you stand on the current board’s 2010-11 budget proposal? For.
Why do you want to serve? I am running for my fourth term. I think my previous terms speak for themselves. I have always been available to all community members, parents, teachers and students to hear any of their concerns or problems they may have. If I couldn’t personally solve their problems, I always pointed them in the right direction. I believe an open door policy is the best.
Name: Ann (Pollinger) Sheeley
Age: 35
Town of residency: Amenia
Years lived in Webutuck school district: 35 years, Webutuck graduate 1992
Children in school district: One in elementary school, one starts kindergarten in September
What are Webutuck’s most significant issues? Stronger communication between board and community; importance of long-term planning and vision in regards to fiscal responsibility, student achievement and instruction
Where do you stand on the current board’s 2010-11 budget proposal? I am concerned about the 22 positions that were cut and how it will effect students’ learning.
Why do you want to serve? I am running for Webutuck School Board because I have two important investments: my two children. I have positive memories of attending Webutuck High School. I have memories of caring and dedicated teachers and attending school with students who really cared about their future.
If I am elected a board member of the Webutuck School District, I will attend board meetings, take my responsibility seriously, know how important it is to serve on the Board of Education. I will certainly listen to what the community has to say, because Webutuck is an important institution not just for students and staff, but for the whole community. I will always put education and students first and strive to facilitate communication between all stakeholders.
Name: Casey A. (Koerner) Swift
Age: 38
Town of residency: Millerton
Years lived in Webutuck school district: Grew up and attended Webutuck (class of 1989), have lived in Millerton for seven years
Children in school district: Three children, ages 8, 3 and 5 months
What are Webutuck’s most significant issues? Community involvement, teacher and administrative retention, board accountability
Where do you stand on the current board’s 2010-11 budget proposal? For.
Why do you want to serve?
I decided to run for school board because I would like to see an increase in community involvement. With my background in education and administration I am a highly qualified candidate. One of the most important jobs of a school board member is to be present and available. I plan to make myself accessible and I am willing to contribute as much time and knowledge as I possibly can.
