The New Paltz United Teachers Executive Committee, after interviewing all six candidates, has come to a decision to endorse Robert Rich and Dominick Profaci for the two seats on the New Paltz Central School District Board of Education.
Robert Rich was a dedicated member of the board for a number of years and he is a clear communicator with sound ideas. Dominick brings his background as a financial advisor with traits of problem solver and reasonable thinker, which should serve the board well in these challenging economic times. Both men spoke strongly about the need to balance the educational needs of students with the financial concerns of the community. Through a collaborative effort with the community, teachers and administrators, each of these candidates will be a positive voice toward the continued success of student learning in our district.
In addition, the New Paltz United Teachers urges you to support the proposed 2010-2011 school budget. We believe our current school board and Superintendent Maria Rice have created a responsible budget which balances the needs of our students, staff and community. We are especially appreciative of the board and the superintendent for maintaining the high-quality educational programs for which the New Paltz School district has come to be known.
NPUT is proud to do its part to maintain a commitment to measured excellence and continuous growth and development for all students by making our own concession to support the budget. This concession will save the district approximately $113,000 in order to keep more programs intact. In addition, NPUT is involved in a variety of activities to support the New Paltz community and beyond. Thousands of dollars in scholarships have been provided to our graduates through NPUT’s fundraising activities like the annual Dodge Ball tournament and our Murder Mystery dinners. We do a “Soup’s On” Luncheon each year to raise money for Family of New Paltz and our Senior Gold Card invites seniors to attend all sports activities and performances for free or at a discounted rate.
Through Adopt a Highway, our road clean-up has been a semi-annual event for some time now, and we raise money for the American Cancer Society each year through Denim Day donations and an NPUT team’s participation in the American Cancer Society’s annual breast cancer walk. We have raised money for Cystic Fibrosis through a children’s carnival and team walks, we have participated in Haiti relief efforts and we gladly collect toys and gifts to be distributed to families around the holidays. Our newest scholarship fundraiser will be our own NPUT grocery bags to encourage going green in our community. Our dedication to our students and our community on a daily basis remains steadfast.
New Paltz United Teachers urges you, your friends and family to support our budget by voting YES on May 18.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Rachel Busher, President
New Paltz United Teacher
s
Support Staff endorses Bob Rich and Mike Swigart
The New Paltz Educational Support Staff endorses Mike Swigart and Bob Rich for the two seats open on the Board of Education. Both candidates have strong ties to the community with many years of volunteerism. They are dedicated candidates who have served on the Board of Education in the past. Mr. Swigart’s background consists of experience in bank finance, facilities and maintenance, as well as construction of homes which utilize green technology. Mr. Rich has past experience on other boards in the community, was involved in the expansion of the high school and served as past vice president for one year and president for two years on the Board of Education. Both candidates are concerned with the safety of the middle school building.
Please take the time to come and vote YES for the budget on May 18 and support Mike and Bob with your votes.
Bernadette Koonz
President of New Paltz Educational Support Staff
Unite our District endorses Edgar Rodriguez and Julliet Coxum
Unite our District is proud to endorse Dr. Edgar Rodriguez and Julliet O. Coxum for New Paltz School Board. Edgar Rodriguez was the lone dissenting vote on the recent New Paltz Middle School proposal. If you voted “No” for the middle school $49 Million bond, you need to vote for Edgar. He continues to seek community input and stated “In my second term as a board member, I promise the following: I will vote no to school debt; support that middle school maintenance and repairs be done now; advocate for including community in common-sense decision making; and promote programs to end student drug/alcohol abuse.”
Edgar Rodriguez has a proven record of competent, compassionate honesty! He promises to:
• Promote responsible school spending and limit school tax levy increases and debt.
• Seek a less-expensive educational model that still provides high quality education by developing a comprehensive education plan that is first driven by a new 21-century educational model.
• Continue to pursue and support a school district decision-making policy that incorporates the collective wisdom of the community particularly in the area of facility repairs and maintenance for all buildings.
Julliet O. Coxum is a proven leader with unique abilities in communication and consensus building so important to an effective school board. Juliet is a Comprehensive Health and Safety Trainer with the NYS Center for School Safety who travels to School Districts throughout the region. She is a married mother of two children in the New Paltz school system.
Julliet Coxum is the right person to be on the New Paltz School Board, as we face tough decisions in trying times. Her platform includes:
• Fiscal responsibility on budget issues that impact our school taxes.
• Valuing quality education and genuine concern for the children of the district.
• Insuring a safe and healthy environment for students and teachers.
• Developing respect and understanding for all individuals in our diverse community.
• Encouraging community participation in important decision making.
Unite our District encourages you to support these two uniquely qualified candidates. Vote for Edgar Rodriguez and Julliet O. Coxum for New Paltz School Board on May 18.
Unite Our District
New Paltz
Mike Swigart asks for your support on May 18
This upcoming New Paltz School Board election is probably the most important election that our community has faced in many years. During my previous term I fought for fiscal responsibility while insuring that the needs of our children, and their education, were met. I opposed the middle school renovation and took quite a bit of heat over my statements that 50-60 people who routinely championed the renovation was not enough to convince me that this was the community’s will. I was in favor of other solutions until the public, in the form of an 800 signature petition, was presented to the BOE by Steve Greenfield and KT Tobin-Flusser. Those comments probably lost me my re-election bid. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame these individuals, they acted and responded to my comments. And in the absence of any other meaningful opposition, the BOE and I chose to pursue the renovation. But now, with real and substantial public input, it is clear that these other avenues and ideas must be pursued while meeting the needs of our children.
In my previous term I was an original member of the Audit Committee. I served on this committee for my entire term and also spent the following year on it as a community member, not leaving until last July 31. I was also an original member of the Facilities Committee, which I served on for my entire term.
I am uniquely qualified to serve on the BOE again. I am and always have been a fiscal conservative and a social moderate. I have an MBA in finance and have over 20 years of banking experience, most of which was spent in lending with a heavy construction lending background. I was present when the first facilities document (the Facilities Survey mandated by the State) was generated and presented. I have an in-depth knowledge of the district’s finances and the issues that we face. I have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Issues we face with our aging buildings. I will not have the learning curve of the other candidates. I can jump right in and hit the ground running.
I have served this community in various ways over the 20 years I have lived here, most notably through my on-going involvement in scouting. I have spent the last 20 years working with, teaching and mentoring the youth of our community. Our children have been my passion.
Given the state of the economy, the inequities of the public school finance system and the uncertainties of the near future, we need people serving on the BOE who have the background, knowledge, education and interpersonal skills necessary to find creative solutions to our problems while insuring that our highly rated school district continues to improve. With your input and the support of our teachers and administration, we can meet these challenges.
There was a candidate’s debate on May 6. If you were unable to attend the debate, please make time to watch it on public access TV. I ask that you turn out in mass once again on May 18 to vote. I am asking for your support in this election and hope to see all of you at the polls. I ask you to vote for the two best candidates, even if I am not one of them. Lastly, look into my previous record as a member of the BOE from 2005-2008. If you do, I believe you will find that I was an involved, committed and effective community representative and that I am deserving of your vote.
Mike Swigart
New Paltz School Board Candidate
Why vote for me? Unfortunately, the “Meet the Candidates” event held at the New Paltz High School was not very well attended by the community. With this in mind, I thought it important for me to talk about some of the points that I feel make me an important addition to the New Paltz Board of Education. I understand fully that the role of a school board member is to act as trustee of the school system. This is a very important responsibility to our children and our community. The education of our children today will ultimately determine their ability to compete for limited jobs in the future. A job market that is globally based, to even further limit the job availability. In order for them to be competitive, they must receive the highest level of education in preparation for college and beyond. The cost of education must be balanced with the ability of the community to subsidize it. This is the dilemma and responsibility of a school board member.
The root issue of concern is how public schools are paid for here in New York. Essentially, whatever is not provided for by State and Federal funding is offset by our property-based school taxes. In this, lies the community’s concern. In these times of fiscal uncertainty, the state is cutting their aid, which means our taxes must increase to offset the difference; unless of course, we significantly cut the educational and other programs provided to our children. A real dilemma!
Our approach to deal with this dilemma should be two pronged. One is, as a unified community, to lobby our constituents in Albany for significant tax reform on how public schools are funded in our state. The due diligence should be completed to determine what is done in other state’s to see what works and what doesn’t. Our petition to the state should include an approach that could be implemented here and truly help our taxpayers and community. The second is to look in detail at our operational and capital improvement budgets to determine what approaches could be taken, some which may be “outside the box”, to significantly reduce our expense moving forward.
My experience is well suited for the issues that face us today and in the future. I have seven years experience as a financial advisor and 15 years experience as a professional engineer. With over 20 years worth of financial problem-solving experience to bring to the board, along with a fresh set of eyes and ways of thinking about things, I am up for the challenge that this responsibility entails. My engineering background, with a bachelors in Civil Engineering and Masters in Environmental Engineering, will come to bear on the decisions that need to be made with regards to our middle school and the rest of the school system’s infrastructure. I have worked in group atmospheres throughout my engineering career. What I hope to see is a future Board of Education that can work together well. A school board with only one focus and intention -- to ensure a quality education is provided to our children while keeping our community an affordable place to live for all. I hope I could be the catalyst for this; a catalyst that will regain the trust and respect of our community.
I ask you to come out on May 18 and vote for me for the Board of Education. I believe I can make a difference by bringing some very varied real world and appropriate experience to the table that currently may not exist. My level-headed and focused approaches are influenced by nothing but the proper education of our children and improvement of our community. Thank you for your consideration.
Dominick Profaci
New Paltz School Board Candidate
What New Paltz needs in the 21st century
On May 18 I am asking the community to vote for me, Julliet Coxum. I am the right person at the right time for the job. I value quality education and I have a genuine concern for the children of our district. I have many years of experience in education and I believe in community collaboration. I believe in and support fiscal responsibility on budget issues that affect our school taxes. I am a detailed-oriented, organized and compassionate team player. I am confident that I possess the educational knowledge, personality, professionalism and the qualifications necessary to be successful as a New Paltz Central School District board member.
The duties and responsibilities of the school board members are to act on behalf of the students and families in the community and to set policies in place that will ensure that our public schools educate each and every child to the fullest of his or her potential. This is a very complex and demanding one and it is getting more demanding as the world, as we know it, changes.
New technologies and the changing social structure are affecting our kids and their families in many ways that we could not have imagined. We also have new funding cuts to our public school systems forcing us to do more comprehensive planning, think outside the box and look at alternative ways to meet the many demands that are placed on our school district to meet and exceed the standards. This job is not to be taken lightly.
I decided to run for the school board based on my proven leadership skills. I have several years of experience working in education, especially in higher education. I am a Certified New York State Teacher. I am a Program Manager for the Extended School Day/School Violence Prevention Program, a Youth Development Specialist, a Technical Assistance Provider and Comprehensive Health and Safety trainer. In my role as a trainer, I facilitate workshops on conflict mediation, relationship management, hate, bullying, gang, weapons and suicide prevention, goal setting, time management and stress management. I have also provided technical assistance to schools around enhancing and improving a safe school climate. I work with the team from the New York State Center for School Safety that implements the protocol that guides the evaluation and recommendations provided to school districts to enhance the learning environment of the designated school.
I have two wonderful children in the district -- one in the middle and one in the high school. I have served as a parent volunteer in our school district and as a member of district-wide Diversity Committee. I am a PTA member and volunteer. My aim is to help strengthen our efforts in fulfilling the mission of the New Paltz Central School District and support the district in providing the best education possible in an environment that is conducive for learning so that students are prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century and can compete globally with their counterparts.
I have a genuine concern for the children in the New Paltz School District. The future of this nation depends on our children. We need to be committed to educational excellence while supporting our administrations, our teachers and our staff by providing them with the resources that they need to do their job and do so effectively.
Our students are digital natives; our curriculum must be structured to support their development in this direction. Our students are facing some serious issues that are no different from other communities. Many of our students need our help with how to cope with the issue of drugs and alcohol abuse, relationship abuse, lack of motivation and the list goes on. We need to be proactive and take the necessary steps to provide our students and families with the help and resources that they need to recover from these issues.
In these tough economic times, now more than ever we have to be fiscally responsible. We need to plan for the future, but we have to do so very carefully. We have a responsibility to make sure that our school facilities meet and exceed federal, state and local safety guidelines. Our student, teachers and staff need and deserve an environment that is clean, safe and is conducive for learning so that they can be engaged in the learning process.
We need to look at alternative methods to support our district financially. Therefore, we need to ask the community for help. We need to create a committee that involves the members of the community that have expertise in the area of facilities management to assist and provide us with guidance with this process.
I have the wonderful privilege of traveling across the state and have the opportunity to see different communities function and how they support their schools. Communities that are thriving have a strong community collaborative partnership. Community collaboration is a major factor in the way they do business. We have many great resources here in New Paltz that we should explore.
The success of our students, schools and businesses depends on us as a community. This is a school/community effort. We have to work together. We need to actively engage our parents, businesses, faith-based organizations and our students in this process.
We must also actively engage parents at all levels. We must create an environment in our schools where everyone feels safe and comfortable going into the schools. We all want the best for our children. When we succeed, we rejoice and celebrate; when we have areas to improve, we must do this as well. It takes a village to raise a child.
New Paltz prides itself on diversity. It is time we make it our commitment. We need to strengthen our community partnership so that everyone feels safe, connected and proud to call New Paltz our home. We need to treat each other with respect, regardless of race, age, color, religion, creed, socio-economic status, sexual orientation or background. We need to practice the golden rule: Do unto others, as we would have them to unto us. I have always lived by this word and will continue to do so. Respect, respect, respect. When you give respect, you get respect. Respect is not a given, it is earned.
Everyone is of great value to our community and brings something different or even a different approach to doing things. We as a community must get back to respecting each other on many different levels. When we accomplish this, then no matter the issue, problem or crisis that we are facing, we can overcome it as long as we do it together respecting each other and respecting the process.
On May 18, please vote for me, Julliet Coxum for the New Paltz Central School District Board of Education.
Thank you.
Julliet Coxum
New Paltz School Board Candidate
It would be my honor to once again serve the community
We are very fortunate and justifiably proud, here in the New Paltz Central School District, to boast one of the best public school systems in the country. That is not hyperbole, but demonstrable fact. That fact helps bring families here -- folks who pay taxes, buy homes, start new businesses and patronize others, and so overwhelmingly and consistently, give back to this community by donating their time, talents and money, creating a truly unique and magical place to live. Our excellent schools did not happen by accident, nor did they always exist. It took decades of a far-too-rare combination of dedicated, visionary public servants, amazingly talented professional staff, numerous extremely responsible and competent administrators, as well as a community of taxpayers and voters who understood the importance of what was being built, and who time and again supported these efforts.
This year our administrative team, with the help of diligent oversight from the Board of Education, put together a proposed budget with a less than three quarters of one percent increase over last year. This is the second year in a row that the budget proposal has risen by less than one percent -- a remarkably frugal achievement, representing reductions in staff, as well as concessions from several bargaining units. It is deserving of our support this May 18.
After an eight-year hiatus, I have decided to once again humbly ask the voters of this district to allow me to serve as your trustee on the Board of Education.
A little more than 13 years ago, I was chosen by the New Paltz Board of Education to fill a vacancy caused by a resignation. As a young attorney who had only lived in the district a few years, with my oldest child barely in kindergarten and a baby on the way, I knew no one on the board, administration or staff. What drove me literally into the unknown at that time was the belief that public service was an important way to contribute to the vitality of one’s community, and there were few things more essential to that vitality than a strong public school system. Time constraints imposed by a growing young family and added responsibilities at work caused me not to run again after two terms on the board. However, my service on the board gave me an appreciation for how school districts operate. My tenure as a board trustee, during which I served one term as vice president and two terms as president, not only gave me insight into how budgets are built and bargaining unit contracts are negotiated, but also how a board is supposed to function. A school board is supposed to set district policy and oversee its implementation. It should not try to manage the district. Rather, it should oversee the management of the district. Board members should also listen, engage in respectful debate, and once a vote is taken, support the decision of the body. It has been my pleasure and honor to have served on the board with many dedicated individuals over the years, including current members Patrick Rausch, Dave Dukler and Don Kerr, who possessed and expressed very different points of view, but always followed this code of conduct. I have more years of experience serving on a school board than any of the other fine candidates running this year, have overseen bigger budgets than this district’s (two years on the Kingston Hospital Board) and have chaired a successful major building project (the high school renovation and expansion). However, the strongest skill I have to offer is a level-headed, consensus-building approach to problem solving.
It would be my honor to once again serve the community in this capacity, and I thank you for your consideration.
Bob Rich
New Paltz School Board Candidate
To the residents of Highland
We are running together for the Highland Board of Education, to make the schools better and more accountable to the taxpayers, parents and students.
Together, we will bring more than 60 years management and professional experience, and a wealth of community and public service, to the board. Sue, an accounting and human resources manager at a Poughkeepsie law firm, is currently on the school board after being appointed to fill a vacancy. She also serves on the board of the Southern Ulster County Chamber of Commerce, is a committee member of the Bob Shepard Highland Landing Park Association and has served on the Highland Economic Development Committee. Jim is a Marine veteran/reservist and IBM manager, leveraging his master’s degrees in business finance and systems engineering. His son will be entering the Highland schools in kindergarten this fall. Dave runs his own municipal and administrative law practice in New Paltz and his daughters attend the Highland public schools. He has served on the Town of Lloyd Planning Board, Environmental Conservation Committee, the Hudson Valley Rail Trail Association board and has coached in the Highland United Soccer Club.
We are running to provide fresh oversight for the schools. Massive reductions in state aid are causing cuts in the educational program along with skyrocketing tax hikes (currently a proposed 8.4 percent increase). The spiraling growth of personnel costs -- each year’s expenditures for existing obligations increases substantially even where there is no new contract -- makes the situation even more difficult. As a result, we must accomplish more with fewer resources. We will look at a number of options, including opportunities to increase parents’ involvement, better use on technology and reducing impediments to classroom learning, as well as encouraging the administration to find other reforms.
We also need to negotiate better contracts, consistent with current economic realities. The district’s taxpayers cannot afford further across-the-board increases in personnel expenses, on top of step increases, at least until the economic climate improves. This concern is especially timely as both the teachers’ and support staff contracts are up for negotiation.
We believe that this difficult task should best be undertaken by individuals like us, with no affiliation with unions, vendors or contractors. Our opponent has publicly stated during the campaign that his spouse is an employee of the district. Our sole focus will be helping the schools provide an education we can be proud of and helping taxpayers and the district through a difficult time.
We look forward to working with the faculty, administration, parents and taxpayers to preserve and improve the quality of education we provide for the children of Highland.
Please come and vote on May 18.
David Gordon
Sue Gilmore
Jim Kokoszynski
Highland School Board Candidates
Your vote is crucial to the future of our community
I am writing this letter because of my love and concern for our community. We are in hard economic times. Many in our community have either lost their jobs or taken significant cuts in their salaries. Some in our community are unable to pay their bills and are losing their homes. All of the economic decisions made by our school board need to take into consideration those of us who are unable to sustain the increasing tax burden of our times.
We need a new kind of leadership, a leadership that is in touch with our community’s deepest needs, and a leadership that can think outside the box to come up with solutions that allow for the needs of all the districts residents. These two candidates will work towards finding a balance between the needs of the students and the taxpayers by asking the district to re-examine our educational model to reduce cost and still provide an excellent education. Edgar Rodriguez and Julliet Coxum can provide this excellent leadership.
Edgar Rodriguez, through his role on the school board has proven to be a strong and outspoken leader. He was the only member of the board who understood and represented our community’s opposition to a rebuilt middle school. Edgar will continue to represent the community on this issue as the board tries to reinvent a middle school project. Edgar is the only member of the board who is looking at the future financial stability of our schools in making very difficult decisions for this year’s budget. After Edgar’s negative vote on the current 3.95% tax levy increase (2.95% budget plus 1.0% for bus proposition), school teachers finally agreed to a $113,000 concession/give back. Several other negotiating units have also done the same. This was a hard decision, but Edgar was the only member board willing to make the hard decision to force the teacher’s hard choice. Edgar is the only member of the school board who will make the hard decisions necessary to make our community a sustainable place to live.
Edgar Rodriguez has devoted his life to community service and to helping our district be a better place for all of us to live. We can trust in Edgar to always make the honest and right decisions for all of us. These are not always easy decisions, but decisions made out of conviction and courage. Edgar Rodriguez, as a former university educator, has a wealth of education and experience in leading our community forward towards a better future.
Julliet Coxum, will make a bright, refreshing and wonderful new addition to our school board. Julliet has 15 years experience as an administrator at SUNY New Paltz. She is currently working for the State as a specialist, evaluating school districts and meeting with superintendents and school boards to develop plans to meet their future needs. Julliet has been an involved volunteer in our elementary, middle and high school. Julliet is involved with local organizations addressing a host of problem, including diversity and other issues that will make our community a better place to live.
Julliet Coxum is a fiscally responsible leader who clearly researches, studies and fully understands issues before she takes a position to present to the community. Julliet is open to the ideas of others and is able to incorporate them into her thinking. Julliet will make an energetic, intelligent new addition to our school board.
It is my pleasure to endorse Edgar Rodriguez and Julliet Coxum for the position of trustee on our school board. Please come out on May 18 from noon to 9 p.m. at the high school. Your vote is crucial to the future of our community.
Roger Spool
New Paltz
Support Bob Rich and this year’s budget
During these trying economic times, the New Paltz Central School District finds itself in the very fortunate position of having six civic-minded members of our community who are willing to step up and serve on our Board of Education. While my hat goes off to anyone willing to undertake these demanding roles, I would like to voice my support for one candidate in particular -- someone who I have known, loved and respected for more than 30 years, my husband Bob Rich.
What I respect most about Bob is not only his devotion to our family, but also his incredible work ethic and moral compass. Bob knows better than most how important a solid education is to the success of a child. Raised by a single mother who struggled financially to raise three children, Bob knew that his path to college wouldn’t be easy. Bob and I started dating in high school, so I remember clearly how hard he worked to achieve his dreams. He plowed through books, studied often late into the night and won scholarships not only to college (where he graduated with honors with a degree in education), but also to law school, where he also graduated with honors.
Bob’s story is not unique. Throughout American history, poor children have had the possibility to aspire higher thanks to the sacrifices of the adults who insure that our schools are safe, well-run and sufficiently funded. We pay this gift forward. Our parents and grandparents did it for us and we do it for our children and the next generation.
In New Paltz, we are blessed to have one of the best public eduction programs in the country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are approximately 25,000 high schools in the United States. New Paltz has ranked in or near the top 1 percent for several years in a row. These results didn’t happened by accident. They are the result of a carefully planned and rigorous K-12 academic program that has been designed and implemented by our administrators and teachers. They are the result of parents who support education and guide their children through the process. They are the result of kids who work hard. And they are the result of community members who, year after year, support lean, responsible school budgets, even when times are hard.
On Tuesday, May 18, I urge the voters of New Paltz to come out and support not only my husband Bob, but also this year’s school budget.
Dawn Rich
New Paltz
A vote for Edgar Rodriguez
It’s time to vote again. We are told we have a 2.95% increase, much better than other districts. Add another 1% for the bus and it almost equals the max 4% the board voted to cap on yearly tax increases. Was all the song and dance that was performed prior to the final budget adoption for nothing? Maybe not.
This spring was the first time the administration and the board faced the reality of school funding limitations. While other districts were addressing this last fall, our board was not. Does anyone remember the $4 million in reserves that was allocated for the middle school? Does anyone remember Unite Our District members asking the board NOT to rip down half that school and rebuild it because we will need that money for teachers and programs? The board was advised back then by those who worked in the government, finance, business, not-for-profits and construction that the economy is taking a big hit and we need that money for programs.
Only one board member voted NO on spending foolishly and that was Dr. Edgar Rodriguez. I would like to thank him for volunteering his time and running for the board again. It’s not easy to say NO, even when it is the right thing to do. Many people prefer to stay in denial, put it off for the next person, or follow the crowd. He made the hard choice. Teachers should be thanking him. Parents should be thanking him. We got a small breather, but we have a hard road ahead of us, with lots of needs and limited funds. I trust Edgar to preserve education and after-school activities.
Carol Connolly
New Paltz
Bob Rich and Mike Swigart have previous experience
In next week’s election for school board, for me, two candidates stand out above the rest.
Bob Rich is offering to return to the school board to serve the community. I had previously served with Bob when I was new to the board. Bob offers his expertise from the field of law, something we are frequently dealing with on the school board. He also has the perspective of having had one child go through the district and another in the high school. I have always found Bob to be of the highest moral and ethical character. Bob is honest and forthright: what you see is what you get. Bob will speak up clearly and yet does so in a respectful and thoughtful manner so as to contribute to dealing with the issues at hand. He has no preset agenda other than to continue to promote New Paltz as the premier district it has become. I have always found Bob to be open minded and thoughtful and to be willing to work from the information and facts presented when making a decision. Bob’s previous experience will be of great value to the district.
I also served with Mike Swigart. Mike brings years of expertise in banking and a knowledge of finances to the table. In his previous term, he served on the Audit Committee, right up his alley, and the Facilities Committee, another area of expertise. Mike worked well as a member of the board, always willing to go the extra mile. He contributed thoughtfully and passionately to our decision making. Mike is also one who feels comfortable in voicing his opinion and participating in a thoughtful discussion of the issues facing the district. His voice and expertise have been missed by this writer.
I cannot think of two better candidates who can best serve the community in the coming years. Both have previous experience. Both are committed to excellence. Both are committed to working as part of a high-performing management team. Both are independent and are not beholden to any special interest group. The are committed to finding that ever-moving line between creating a program of academic excellence and what the community will support in these difficult times. You can be sure that they will not pander to the latest sound bite, but will rather work thoughtfully and diligently to provide guidance and leadership in working with the other board members and the superintendent to preserve our outstanding school district!
I am planning to vote for Mike and Bob for school board. I urge you to do so as well.
David Dukler
Gardiner
A vote for Julliet Coxum and Edgar Rodriguez
I am very concerned about some of the talk that I hear these days thinking that the $50 million New Paltz Middle School referendum issue is over. People seem surprised and outraged when told there are school board members who have been planning and plotting on ways to trick the community into voting for it when they resubmit it to the public after the budget vote. This is the height of disrespect for the voice of the community. But Steve Greenfield waxed on about who is the real community at a facilities meeting two weeks ago, casually dismissing that vote as not representing the public’s sentiments. It is comments like this that ring alarm bells for me.
The budget increases are another alarm bell for me. We need a 0% tax levy increase right now.
The district is not taking seriously the economic disaster that exists. There are some people whose incomes have been safe enough enabling them to absorb the ongoing tax increases. But there are very many in this school community who cannot. And what many people don’t understand is that when the school reserve funds are used up, our next year’s tax levy will have to be increased much more.
As we all know, these increases are cumulative and can result in a total $1000 over the next three years for the average household. Of course our board member Steve Greenfield thinks that we can all move to Florida if we don’t like the taxes here. Once again, lack of respect is evidenced by board members.
Today, the school board and district have lost public respect and confidence due to these bad decisions, among others. Respect for the public seems lacking with the majority of this school board.
Edgar Rodriguez is the only board member who has kept his ear to the public ground and has consistently spoken with respect to the communities concerns while balancing the school’s program needs for the students. Julliet Coxum comes from a background that trained in mediation techniques based on mutual respect. These people engender confidence in me that they will apply the broadest view to our district’s issues and work in the most positive way to achieve consensus with respect and insight and real fiscal responsibility with economic conservatism. These two great candidates are the only ones who seem to have the personal backbone and integrity to hold the line on runaway spending, respecting the community voice and who will work to rebuild the community’s trust in the school board.
So, I will be voting for Julliet Coxum and Edgar Rodriguez on May 18. I hope you will join me in electing these people to our school board.
Tanya Marquette
Gardiner
I recommend that we vote for Mike Swigart
As we get close to the school board election this year, it is time to start thinking about what skills, aptitudes and personalities are needed on the school board of New Paltz. The biggest issue of the last few years has been renovating the New Paltz Middle School. Whether you were for the proposed renovation or against, you have to admit that the ballooning price tag and poor communication were huge factors in its defeat earlier this year.
As we move forward, the middle school issue remains unresolved and we will have other monetary concerns including, but certainly not limited to, cuts in state aid and funding the teachers’ pension plan. So it seems clear to me that it would be wise to elect someone with a background in finance who can understand how and where our tax dollars are being spent. It also seems clear to me that our school board needs parents who understand the needs of our children. It seems evident to me that Mike Swigart has these qualifications. He has served on the school board before, so he knows the issues we face and will not require time to come up to speed. He has also been deeply involved with the children in our community as a former Scout Master with the Boy Scouts.
It is my recommendation that we vote for Mike and have at least one more rational member of the school board.
Alex Holt
New Paltz
Vote for Edgar Rodriguez for school board
If you voted NO on the proposed $50 million-plus New Paltz Middle School renovation project, then you need to vote YES to re-elect Edgar Rodriguez to the New Paltz School Board.
Edgar Rodriguez walks the ‘high road’ no matter how difficult the journey. I use the phrase ‘high road,’ meaning Edgar does not vote for popularity nor partisanship -- rather he votes for what is right and fair. One recent and long journey taken by Edgar clearly shows his courage and leadership in questioning and in opposing his fellow board members, as they all voted YES in passing a resolution to put the outrageous $50 million middle school renovation project to a public vote. Edgar’s NO vote was not a vote against education, as some of his fellow school board members accused him -- nor was it a vote against teachers or against providing our children with 21st-century learning opportunities. Edgar voted NO because he heard our community speak and he LISTENED. Edgar is not afraid to be a ‘lone voice,’ as long as his voice truly represents the community who voted for him.
Edgar believes in community participation in decision making. Edgar believes strongly in accountability, transparency and honesty. The community has heard Edgar speak about fiscal responsibility and accountability these last many months. The community has heard Edgar speak about transparency. The community has heard Edgar speak about the necessary maintenance and repairs needed for all our schools, on a regular basis, so as to avoid referendums such as the outrageous middle school renovation plan. Edgar’s courage in speaking out against this referendum continues to be greatly appreciated by the majority of New Paltz school district taxpayers.
Edgar Rodriguez is the person I want to continue to represent me on the New Paltz School Board, as we continue to face several more years of financial hardships due to the present financial crisis our world now faces. Edgar is now another ‘lone voice’ on the school board in asking the board to agree to a 0% tax levy. He understands that taxes support our educational system and he is fully aware taxes will and need to go up; however, he realizes this year they need to be kept at zero because not doing so would deplete our current financial reserves and jeopardize our financial stability for the 2011-13 school years. As I stated, Edgar is a responsible financial planner.
Edgar is a champion of civil rights. Edgar’s life has been devoted to learning and education. Edgar values educating our children to each of their potentials. Edgar is open-minded enough and an out-of-the-box thinker to know that 21st-century learning is not just a catch phrase, but rather a challenge and commitment to change the ‘HOW’ our school system educates our children.
Please join me in voting Yes to re-elect Edgar Rodriguez to the New Paltz School Board,
Lilyan Spool
New Paltz
Enthusiastic support for Nick Profaci
We are writing to express our enthusiastic support for Nick Profaci’s candidacy for the New Paltz School Board. The board would benefit substantially from the addition of a person with Nick’s intelligence, integrity, sincerity, willingness to roll up his sleeves and do hard work -- and above all, his genuine commitment to doing right by the school children of the district.
Nick has a strong background in engineering and financial advising -- a skill set that will enhance the board’s deliberations on important issues. But equally important, he is not a political partisan who would come to the board with a set agenda or a rigid mindset. The fact that he has never run for public office before, but was willing to step up in an effort to bring wise and deliberative decision-making to the board is, in our view, greatly to Nick’s credit.
We write today as private citizens, as parents of kids in the district and as personal friends and admirers of Nick Profaci. We urge you to vote for him.
Jane Poskanzer, Steve Poskanzer, Andy Satter, Nan Satter, Matt Denno
New Paltz
A vote for Julliet is a vote for the children
I write to strongly support Julliet Coxum’s candidacy for the upcoming New Paltz School Board election. I have known Julliet for 10 years -- and have consistently been impressed with her passion, competence, intelligence and community-oriented nature. As a certified New York State teacher, a BOCES employee and a former employee of SUNY New Paltz, Julliet has dedicated her career to education. Her natural leadership abilities and extraordinary work ethic would undoubtedly benefit the position.
I also admire Julliet as the consummate pragmatist. She’s not the kind of person to get bogged down in a particular political ideology. Julliet looks at situations from a pragmatic perspective, asking “how can we do this?” rather than “what’s the politically correct answer here?” Armed with this pragmatic approach, Julliet will, no doubt, put the kids of New Paltz well ahead of the politics which so deeply permeate modern educational communities.
Julliet Coxum is the kind of pragmatic, dedicated, intelligent and experienced person needed to help ensure that the children of the New Paltz school district continue to get the best possible public education available. A vote for Julliet is a vote for the future of the children of New Paltz.
Glenn Geher
Director of Evolutionary Studies
Chair and Professor of Psychology
State University of New York at New Paltz
A vote for Nick Profaci
It’s that time again! We have the privilege of voting for who we feel would be a good fit for representing our schools and our needs.
This year we will be voting for Nick Profaci. Nick is a financially responsible person. In our business dealings with Nick we have found him to be honest and trustworthy.
On a personal level, he is a dedicated family man and has his and our children’s best interest at heart. Therefore, when choosing who to vote for on May 18, vote for Nick Profaci. He will be a good choice for the New Paltz School Board.
Frank & Karin Tantillo
New Paltz
Addressing the problem of rising taxes
It is no secret that we have a tax problem in New Paltz. Taxes are rising at an unsustainable rate. In 2009, 46.8% of the property in the Village of New Paltz and 8.6% of the town (excluding the village) was tax exempt. These tax-free acres -- including the Mohonk Preserve, the Huguenot Historical Society, SUNY New Paltz, the Ulster County Fairgrounds, houses of worship, etc. -- are not our enemy, but rather a big part of why we live here. The fact that so many acres of beauty, history, culture and public use are off the tax rolls puts more pressure on residents to make up the difference.
On Thursday, April 29, a cross-section of our community had an exchange of ideas and suggestions about what kind of benefits (in addition to lower taxes) that we might enjoy from development/business. What are the characteristics of new business that we would welcome as a community?
Stay tuned and watch for and announcement of a community poll by internet and phone to expand the April 29 discussion out to the full community. Following the community poll, the next step will be the second of three moderated discussions on how we can attract new businesses that support and complement our existing intellectual, technological and agricultural base.
We’ve all felt the pain and heard the complaints. We’re all against high taxes. Now is the time for the opportunity to step up and craft a solution. The community effort underway seeks to answer the question: “What are we FOR to address the problem of rising taxes?”
Don Kerr, Jason West, Rebecca Rotzler, Guy Kempe, Sally Rhoads, Gail Gallerie, Rebecca Rotzler, Richard Steffens, Butch Dener, Michael Swigart, Jonathan Wright
New Paltz
Response to Frederick Gerty
Given the ongoing area school budget crises, in seems wise to return to those who don’t pay property taxes, including school taxes, and chief among them is the wealthy Mohonk Preserve.
In a letter to this paper on March 25th, Frederick Gerty defends the tax-exempt status of the wealthy Mohonk Preserve by saying that no matter how wealthy the Mohonk Preserve is, they could never afford to pay property taxes on the land, and if forced to do so, the land would be developed. Mr. Gerty then goes on to detail the many costs of development, but the premise that the land would be developed, if taxable, is false.
Let’s look at what the tax burden for the Mohonk Preserve might actually be if they were to pay their fair share, and then compare that to the wealth of the Mohonk Preserve and their members. The best indicator of the value of land is a comparable sale. The sale price of the 2,518-acre Awosting Reserve for $17 million, or $6,750 per acre, is the best comparison in the area. At $6,750 per acre, the Mohonk Preserve’s 6500 acres are worth $44 million. The average tax rate in the four towns the Mohonk Preserve is in is somewhere around 2.5% of market value. 2.5% of $44 million is $1.1 million. The Mohonk Preserve has roughly 12,000 members, so that $1.1 million tax burden would work out to about $91 per member.
Now let’s look at the wealth of the Mohonk Preserve and their members. The Preserve itself, in addition to the $44 million dollars of land, and the multi-million dollar visitor center, has $13 million in cash reserves. Additionally many of my fellow Mohonk Preserve members are very affluent and some are even very wealthy. They include bankers, doctors, lawyers, executives, New York City socialites and trust fund babies. In addition to their downstate, or New Jersey, or Connecticut homes, many have second homes near the Preserve. They roll up here on weekends in a wide variety of luxury cars and sport-utility vehicles. Indeed, Lexus, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Infiniti and Porsche are all represented in the Mohonk Preserve’s parking lots on weekends, as Mohonk Preserve members pursue various forms of recreation.
Mohonk Preserve members also demonstrate their wealth by flying across the country to climb in places like California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and also around the world to climb in places like Mexico, Alaska, California, Patagonia, Thailand, Argentina, Italy, Spain and Greece, among others.
There is nothing wrong with living this way. Indeed, it’s a variant of the great American dream. And to be sure, not all Mohonk Preserve members are wealthy, but to suggest that Mohonk Preserve members on average can’t afford $100 a year to help the Mohonk Preserve pay property taxes, is erroneous. To suggest the Mohonk Preserve would be developed if they paid property taxes, is ludicrous.
I might add that many of my aforementioned fellow members are very respectful and also generous people. They want to contribute and pull their weight. Many would gladly contribute to a Mohonk Preserve effort to pay a fair share of property taxes, but the Preserve doesn’t ask them to.
In Mr. Gerty’s March 25th letter he also makes the claim that Mohonk Preserve membership is a great bargain. He’s right on target with this. For $100 a year Mohonk Preserve members get access to a multi-million dollar visitor center, 6500 acres of land and they have the support of a world-class vertical rescue ranger staff, as well as the services of the Gardiner Fire Department. This is such an extraordinary bargain because area taxpayers of modest means, those who are not Mohonk Preserve members, are in effect subsidizing a playground for the wealthy.
It’s time for everyone to pay their fair share of local property taxes, including the wealthy Mohonk Preserve.
Kent Pierce
Mohonk Preserve Life Endowment Member
Mystery dinner theater a success
On behalf of the New Paltz United Teachers, I would like to thank everyone who participated in, supported and attended our murder mystery dinner theater event on the weekend of May 7th and 8th to benefit the NPUT scholarship fund, “A Very Brady Murder.” It was a tremendous success and we certainly hope to have more events like this in the future.
Thank you to the New Paltz Times for your superb photograph and story about the event. A huge thanks goes out to the New Paltz Elks Club for the wonderful food and venue and to the staff for being so pleasant and helpful. Thanks as well go to The Fox and Hound Wine and Spirits, the Gilded Otter, Planet Woodstock Music (of Kingston), Rino’s Pizza, Hokkaido Japanese Restaurant, P&G’s and the New Paltz Cinema for your generous donations to benefit the scholarship fund. We’d also like to thank Ins and Outs Inc. for helping us with the sound for the show, as well as Fat Bob’s Pizza for helping us to advertise and Barbara Wyman for donating the banner.
Finally, thank you to the greatest group of actors, actresses, dancers, singers and crew. They took the Brady family to a whole new level! Kudos to Eric Savelson, Sarah Holbrook Sebald, Jane Beck, Kathleen Clark, Paul Scarpati, Christiane Dates, Bill Defino, Ann Sheldon, Helen Musumeci, Jackie Wild, Ron Simon, Suzanne Seaholm, Meredith Ventimiglia, Trina Naclerio, Joy Gallagher Ward, Ann Macur, Barbara Wyman, Stacie Erceg, Wendy Lockard, Joann Martin, Karen Bryant and Brandy Keiser. A special thank-you to Jen Cone and Jasmine Towers for the art work and thank you to Chris Perez for his help as well. Sue Bowers did an amazing job as stage manager and we are particularly grateful to Liz Burdick for her phenomenal direction!
Meri Lederer, Producer
New Paltz United Teachers
Public Relations Coordinator
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