Q+A with the candidate

By Peter B Breslin

Following is a Q+A with Peter Breslin about important school district issues.

The Board makes these decisions collectively, with input from administration, the Finance Committee and the community. There is little doubt that we are in a "new normal", a time of declining resources and ability to pay.

The Board's job is to craft budgets that balance the communityˇ¦s ability to pay with our educational priorities. To do this, right after the budget is in place for the 2010-11 school year, we need to make more use of our five-year expenditure plan (the "FACE report"). In the past, we have assumed our program would not change much year-to-year, when in fact, we are at a point where we need to look long and hard at reductions. Specifically, I would look to protect the classroom teacher to the maximum extent possible.

2. Is there a way to maintain a high level of education while keeping taxes flat or decreasing them? If not, which is more important to achieve?

I believe it is possible to maintain a high level of educational excellence while keeping taxes flat or decreasing them.

First, we must negotiate fair collective bargaining agreements that lower the trajectory of cost increases in salaries and benefits. Second, we need to explore sharing services with other districts, with BOCES or other municipalities. Third, we are in the process of working with a benefits consultant to lower costs on our healthcare benefits.

There are years when it is possible to have a flat expense/tax increase. The 2009-10 budget increase, for example, is basically flat vs. last year (0.16%). I believe, however, that it would be irresponsible to propose a flat budget/tax increase for 2010-11. This budget includes two areas of significant increase unrelated to the classroom: a state-mandated pension expense increase of $1.5 million and a contractually mandated health insurance increase of about $2.0 million. To accomplish a flat budget would require a $3.5 million reduction in other areas. This would mean that all the Superintendent's proposed cuts in arts, music, personnel, transportation, etc, would be restored. And, in addition, we would need to reduce approximately 40 more employees, including about 25 teachers. The Board did not support such a draconian proposal.

3. What areas of education, if any, need to be improved at the schools?

I would like to see a longer-term goal to offer more foreign languages offered, including Chinese. We need to explore the possibility of online courses or sharing instructors with other schools. I would also like to take another look at how we teach writing in the system and not just at the high school level.

Looking at the writings of Tony Wagner in The Global Achievement Gap, we must gear our teaching to 21st century learning, which includes the seven tenets of his writing: critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration across networks and leading by influence, agility and adaptability, initiative and entrepreneurship, effective oral and written communication, accessing and analyzing information and curiosity and imagination.

4. If elected, what are your primary objectives to accomplish during your tenure?

I see the district's primary objectives over the next few years to be:
1. Negotiating fair and fiscally responsible collective bargaining agreements with Support Staff and teaching staff
2. Refreshing the five year expenditure plan (FACE Report) and using it, where possible, as a template for future budgets
3. Finalizing and implementing the Long-Range Education Plan, which must include the seven Tony Wagner tenets.

4. Continuing to reduce administration costs

5. How can the district better address bullying at the schools?

We need to address the bullying issue at all levels of the schools- K-12. A culture must be established that does not tolerate bullying and encourages students and adults to report suspicions of bullying to teachers, social workers, guidance counselors and administrators. We must explain to our students that bullying, whether physical or verbal, is serious. Parents must also be part of this conversation. Parents must be aware of changes in their kidsˇ¦ moods and behavior. Parents must also monitor their kidsˇ¦ online activity. We can do this through curriculum, staff development and parent programs like Family University. But the schools can only be part of the solution as much of the bullying problem occurs outside of the school setting.