May 15, 2008 12:33 pm
—
Consider the
source
As a Cooperstown parent,
I am disappointed that the
discussion of the quality of
education in the schools has
been hijacked by Mr. Reinhardt’s
loony website. The
nature of the commentary on
the website, from the site’s
title to the promotion of unsubstantiated
rumors about
staff members, is demeaning
to the whole community.
Further, the postings by the
“editor” that constantly declare
the incompetence of the
Board of Education and most
of the teaching staff seem to
be intended to intimidate
and threaten rather than
promote a positive dialogue.
To make matters worse, the
site’s rants recently appeared
on anonymously posted fliers
last week in various locations
downtown.
In my professional life I
regularly visit schools across
New York State. I know that
most of the issues presented
by the website as evidence of
the school’s shortcomings are
present in every public
school.
This is particularly true
of rural schools similar to
Cooperstown. I believe that
the mark of success in these
schools is how well they deal
with these issues to insure a
quality education for their
students. From my experience
with the local schools
there are some real strengths
in Cooperstown and a number
of weaknesses that need
to be addressed.
We should all remember
that the Cooperstown schools
are a product of our community.
All of the community is
responsible for their success
or failure by participating in
existing processes, like attending
BOE meetings or
joining the PTO. Please make
a positive contribution to the
schools by voting next week
for the new school board and
letting your voice be heard
by those who can make a difference.
As to the “itbeskool” website,
I offer the advice a wise
man once gave me — consider
the source.
Garet Livermore
Cooperstown
Scalici running
for relection
I am running to continue
as a member of the Cooperstown
Central School Board
and after 12 years realize I
should introduce myself to a
new generation of parents
and many new residents. Incumbency
is not, in itself, a
virtue for public trust. I’ve
lived in Cooperstown 31
years, have two children,
both K through 12 Cooperstown
graduates and now in
the work world. I grew up on
Staten Island, split undergraduate
studies with a military
enlistment, then after
10 years of work attended
West Virginia University for
a masters degree in Education.
My occupation for the past
25 years has been Executive
Director of a non-profit housing
and community development
corporation. This gives
me knowledge and experience
with fiscal and regulatory
matters.
There are two reasons for
my decision to continue with
our school board.
First, I believe I still represent
community values of
a school system that gives
equal attention and educational
resources to all segments
of our student population
while assuring that
fiscal decisions are made deliberately
and with defendable
purpose.
The second reason is that
I can offer the perspective of
previous board decisions in
terms of the whys and how
those decisions turned out.
With the make-up of the
board to be nearly all with
fewer than three years as
members, this perspective
seems important.
When a person joins on a
school board, he/she doesn’t
stop being the same parent
and taxpayer as before joining.
We carry the community’s
concerns and interests
into the not so simple realities
of our system of public
school education. Communicating
the process and results
of how these concerns
and interests translate is an
ongoing challenge. As an individual,
I welcome conversation
in person or by phone
with anyone who has a problem
or point of view about
the school. I will respond
openly to the limit of what is
legally permitted and, as
with any other board member,
will bring the matter to
the full board and administration.
I look forward to a new
term and to working with the
new members who have generously
chosen to run for this
important office.
Anthony Scalici
Cooperstown
Russo for
school board
I have gotten to know
Theresa Russo over the past
year and I was thrilled when
she said she was running for
the Cooperstown School
Board. I have learned what
an intelligent, caring person
she really is. To top it off
she’s running for the right
reasons; because she has the
time, believes in community
service, and wants the best
for all of our children. She’s
aware of the financial strains
we are all under and I know
personally that she understands
budgets and the hard
work that goes into creating
one and keeping increases to
a minimum.
There are three positions
open but one is only for one
year. I personally would like
to see Theresa on the Cooperstown
School Board for a
full three-year term where
she could be most effective.
So it’s important that you
vote for Theresa Russo, who
I believe will do a fantastic
job!
Meg Kiernan
Fly Creek
Borgstrom right
fit for CCS
David Borgstrom is an independent
thinker whose
commitment to the Cooperstown
community is always
on display. His work as President
of Cooperstown Youth
Baseball has made that organization
a top-notch program.
He was a main force in
building the clubhouse, both
in the idea and the actual
physical work. David brings
thoughtfulness, determination,
and intelligence to the
table in whatever forum he
chooses to enter. He will be a
valuable addition to the
school board. He has our support.
Jeff and Karen Katz
Cooperstown
Schneider
running again
On Tuesday, May 20, residents
of the Cherry Valley-
Springfield Central School
District will have an opportunity
to vote for a member
of the Board of Education,
and will be asked to consider
this year’s school budget. I
ask for your support for reelection
to the School Board,
and for a positive vote on the
budget and two other financial
issues.
It has been my honor to
serve as a member of the
School Board for the past five
years. When I first ran for
election to the Board, I announced
that my primary
goals were to improve educational
quality in the District
by focusing on positive school
culture, and expanded opportunities
for all members
of the school community to
participate in governance of
our school.
In addition, I hoped the
school board would become
more transparent and more
accessible to all groups in the
school community. Finally,
and most importantly, I
pledged to respect local taxpayers
by ensuring that our
school budgets were fair and
responsible.
While there is still much
work to be done, I think we
have made progress on all of
these goals. I am ready and
willing to continue as a member
of the Board, and would
welcome your support and
your vote next Tuesday.
In addition to electing a
member of the School Board,
there are three fiscal items
on the ballot. Next year’s
budget asks you to support a
very small increase — less
than one percent — in local
school taxes. In addition, you
are being asked to allow the
District to spend unexpected
state aid we received last
year to pay off a bus loan
early, and to set aside money
to pay the District’s share of
the new building project for
each of the next 15 years. I
ask you to support all three
of these referendum. Taken
together, these ballot propositions
demonstrate the District
is being well managed
fiscally, and that your Board
is doing its best to ensure the
long-term financial health of
the District.
As always, please do not
hesitate to contact me if you
have any questions or concerns
about our School District.
Steve Schneider
Cherry Valley
Schneider is the president
of the CV-S board of education.
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