Monroe-Woodbury School Board election: Nine candidates, three seats
CENTRAL VALLEY — Residents of the Monroe-Woodbury School district will elect three people to the school board next Tuesday, May, 20, from a field of nine candidates.
The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Central Valley Elementary School.
The Monroe-Woodbury School Board has nine trustees. The primary responsibilities for these unpaid volunteer positions are the selection of the school superintendent and oversight of the district's fiscal health.
John MacDonald is the only incumbent seeking re-election; Wayne Chan and Jennifer Trumper decided not to run again.
The Photo News asked each candidate to respond to a short questionnaire, asking them to tell readers about themselves, to explain why they are running and to identify what each believed is the most important issue facing the district in the coming school year.
Their answers follow. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Don Beeler
Biographical information:
Don Beeler is the President of Bladeserver, LLC and an independent Board consultant and investor with extensive knowledge in developing strategic plans for public and private companies. He founded Double-Take Software, Inc. and grew the company to the world leader in disaster recovery.
He is on the Board of Directors of The Greater Hudson Valley Health System which owns Orange Regional Medical Center and Catskill Regional Medical Center.
Don has the ability to analyze complex situations and offer unique solutions. Don’s capacity for motivational leadership and his innovative perspective will help the Board focus on a better education for our students while maintaining cost effectiveness and eliminate the political red tape.
Why are you running for office?
As a taxpayer and the parent of two Monroe-Woodbury graduates, we are committed to this community, where we have lived for 28 years. We chose to raise our children in this district because of its excellent reputation, quality of education and the quality of life.
In today’s competitive job market and global economy, our children, perhaps now more than ever, require a first class education, and also support responsible fiscal policy; one that makes certain every tax dollar is spent wisely and with sound streamlined purpose.
In addition to work effectively with members of the board, the district and the community in order to provide excellence in education, with sound fiscal policy, while meeting the present challenges concerning annexation. My work experiences over the years will help allow us to take M-W to a better level of digital and technological education.
What is the issue facing the district in the next year and what can be done about it
There are several issues facing the School District and one of the most visible ones is the Kiryas Joel Annexation proposal.
The Board of Education needs to stay objective and consider possible legal avenues to minimize the impact of annexation if necessary, all within the fiscal confines of the taxpayers.
Dan Ezratty
Biographical information
For the last 15 years I have been a Middle School Social Studies Teacher in the East Ramapo School District. I have B.S. in Marketing and Human Resource Management from the University of Buffalo and a Masters in Teaching from Iona College.
I moved to Monroe in 2010 with my wife Sheryl and our two children, Emily and Ryan, who both attend Pine Tree Elementary.
Why are you running?
I am running for a seat on the Monroe-Woodbury Board of Education because I understand the importance of having a School Board that is aware of the challenges that face our district.
I have witnessed how quickly a top school district can spiral downward from poor decisions, lack of proper planning or vision, and the power of a special interest group that only seeks to benefit itself rather that the district as a whole.
What's the most critical issue facing the district in the coming year?
The next year for Monroe-Woodbury has many issues that need to be addressed. The superintendant's contract will expire at the end of the June 2014 and the M-W teachers' contract is up in June of 2015.
The annexation process will continue to move forward and studies need to be commissioned to explore the impact this will have on our district.
The school board cannot just sit idly and wait for the issues to come head on with the district. The board must be proactive and take steps to protect our schools. Decisions made today will affect our community in the future and the lack of proper planning will leave the district vulnerable.
I have experienced the power of the special interests before and the damage that is being inflicted by this group still not finished.
If given the opportunity I will work with the other board members and be the voice of action for all residents of the Monroe-Woodbury School District
Carol Herb
Biographical information
I am a 40+ year resident of Woodbury where I have served as member/officer on various community associations.
I retired from M-W in 2010 with 25 years of service at the high school, the last 15 in the Finance Office.
I am the Woodbury Tax Collector and vice president of Orange County Tax Collectors and Receivers Association.
Why are you running for office?
I am committed to working with parents and administrators to create an environment where many facets of education are available to our children. As finance officer at the high school I was involved with creating the budget for both department heads and the principal. We focused on what was needed and what could be cut and still give students the resources to succeed.
There is no profit margin on M-W’s financial reports. M-W’s success is measured by the children who pass through its halls to become successful adults in their chosen fields.
I’m concerned for the effect the Common Core has on our students and the possibility that an ethnic group could eliminate programs necessary for a comprehensive education. We have to work together with other BOEs to get Albany to fund state mandates.
I have no other agenda than to work cooperatively with other board members to keep our education system affordable to taxpayers.
What is the issue facing the district in the next year and what can be done about it - by you and by the school board?
Of course the annexation is the primary concern. I will work with other members to keep M-W in the forefront of any decision that will affect our school district.
Underfunded state mandated programs are a concern.
And maintaining a budget that provides an excellent education for our students at a reasonable cost is always an ongoing issue.
My unique knowledge of in-school financing will be invaluable when considering where crucial dollars are to be either cut or implemented in order to maintain the level of education experience we want for our children.
Dawn Hoagland
Biographical information
I am a parent, teacher and taxpaying homeowner in Highland Mills who brings 16 years of teaching experience to the board. When a policy is proposed, I can tell you how it will play out in the classroom because I am there.
I am running for the board because I want all students to get the best education and our taxpayers to be able to rely on the value of an excellent school district.
Why are you running and what are the important issues facing the district?
Anyone who has read my education columns in the Woodbury Gazette knows that I have done the research to be able to tell it like it is and I am not afraid to name names.
I am against the annexation, against the Common Core and for allowing teachers to teach instead of test all day.
The Common Core is not a more rigorous set of standards, which have merely been poorly implemented because of incompetence in Albany. They cannot even be defined as “standards” because they were not developed or critiqued by education experts and have never been field tested. They were developed by testing company lobbyists who want to enrich themselves at our children’s expense.
The Common Core was designed to fail students and teachers. When students fail, even our most dedicated teachers will be labeled “ineffective.”
When that happens schools can be shut down and replaced by charters.
Cuomo and some NY legislators have sold their souls to charter school investors for $800,000 in Cuomo’s case. The investors expected and received laws to be passed that make starting a charter school in NY State a very lucrative business.
School boards need to push back on absurd state mandates which make our students and teachers feel like failures while enriching testing companies.
Our children are depending on us to advocate for them. That’s what I do.
Jon Huberth
Biographical information
Monroe homeowner: 37 years. Two daughters: M-W graduates. Wife Betsy is a Pine Tree Elementary teacher.
Strong background in education: BA, Amherst College. MFA, Yale Drama School. Presently Manhattanville College Adjunct Professor. Own local educational film company making videos for colleges, universities, non-profits. Acted/directed more than 100 productions Off-Broadway and throughout the Northeast - many in our community.
I volunteer my time, energy and experience: Monroe Conservation Commission: 10 years and former chairperson. Taught ecology, theater, and Expand workshops throughout our school district. Fund-raised for Sousa Scholarship. Served nine years on M-W BOE, one as president, and was liaison to the Albany legislature.
Why are you running for office?
I know how the BOE and district should operate. I have a stake in our community, a continued desire to serve, and an understanding of the time and energy it takes to do the job right.
The BOE and district administration must each operate as collegial organizations, respecting differing opinions but working together to advance the district.
Policies, not personalities, must run our district.
Cooperation must trump confrontation.
I have no ax to grind. I will listen to all concerns and then do the best job for the education of our children.
What is the issue facing the district in the next year and what can be done about it - by you and by the school board?
Though our district has reduced personnel without sacrificing programming and has kept tax increases historically low, there are threats looming on the horizon.
How much can be cut without cutting what we should be providing our children?
What’s the future of state aid?
Proper implementation of the Common Core?
And the most challenging – what are the implications of the potential land annexation by Kiryas Joel?
Annexation could lead to gutting the well-rounded curriculum M-W provides our children and that supports the value of our homes.
Can the Board do more to meet this challenge?
We cannot let our children’s education and the health of our community be sacrificed.
Martha Lopez
Biographical information
I have lived in Highland Mills for the past 16 years. I'm a mother of two children: Jewels, a graduate of Monroe-Woodbury High School, and Pablo, who is currently attending Monroe-Woodbury Middle School.
Putting my schooling in Early Childhood Education to practice, I established and operate a day care program that incorporates an individualized preschool curriculum with an emphasis on fundamentals.
I have also created Bella Notte, a not for profit venture that makes it possible for young women with limited resources to attend their senior prom.
My husband and I are also very involved in CYO and AAU basketball.
Why are you running?
I believe in serving the community, especially the children, which is why I'm running for a seat on the school board.
My goal is to work with all current board members in improving the ranking of our schools. Develop goals and strategies in order to save sports, academic and music programs.
We must be inclusive and transparent.
We want a world-class education for ALL of our children. It will not be easy. However, through shared vision, we can do our part to make it happen.
What are the most critical issues facing the district in the coming year?
The prominent issue that is on everyone’s mind is the proposed annexation of land into Kiryas Joel.
I believe it is the District’s responsibility to gather the data needed to determine what the impacts will be if the annexation occurs.
The Board must protect the best interests of the children and taxpayers.
Another issue is that our children learn differently today than they did yesterday.
Having my children 16 years apart has given me a unique perspective on education then and now.
We need to be current and change our style of teaching to meet the needs of our kids today.
Teachers are the lifeblood of schools. Great teachers mentor, stimulate and provoke.
They also know how to engage curiosity, individuality, and creativity in their students for optimal learning.
We should encourage the best professional development for our teachers and look at it not as a cost but an investment.
John MacDonald
Biographical information
I’ve been a board member for the last three years and am the Chair of the M-W Annexation Study Committee.
I have also been on the District Leadership Committee, the Policy Committee, and have been our representative to the Orange County School Boards Association.
In 2003, I finished a doctoral degree in educational leadership at Columbia University, writing a dissertation on New York State curriculum policies and teachers’ practice. Afterwards, I taught three semesters of online graduate courses.
I have an A.B. degree in History from Princeton University and a M.A.T. degree from Oberlin College in Ohio.
For 30 years, I taught history and social science courses in Highland Falls. (I also coached tennis and cross-country.) After 1984, I played an important role in district improvement and also ran the high school’s enrichment programs.
I have attended National Endowment for the Humanities’ seminars at Georgetown University and in Chambery, France. I was also part of a group sponsored by New York State to explore current problems of education, occupational training, immigration, and ethnicity in Germany. I’ve taken students to the U.S.S.R. and Italy.
I have lived in Monroe since 1955 and I graduated from Monroe-Woodbury in the 1960’s.
At M-W, I played football and tennis and even, for one year, ran track.
Our three children went through Monroe-Woodbury. My wife and I look forward to our three grandchildren getting a Monroe-Woodbury education too.
John MacDonald is seeking re-election to pursue goals:
Besides keeping taxes below the 2 percent tax cap and opposing annexation because of negative impacts it could have on the district, I will work to bring progress in the following areas:
• Developing better venues for students, parents, graduates, and community members to communicate their experiences and questions concerning the schools to the board.
• Development of the district’s own objective evaluations of the new programs we have, such as the Common Core, and modification of the programs according to the results.
• Targeting our spending so more of it actually gets to classrooms for teachers to use with their students.
• Increasing enrichment experiences, including field trips, for all students, so that education is less bounded by school walls and the Common Core.
Steven Straber
Biographical information
Susan, my wife, and I, along with our two sons, Steve and Ryan, live in Chester. Ryan attends the middle school while Steve is in high school.
I am a 23-year veteran of the NYC Police Department. Currently, I am a 2nd Grade Detective in the Community Affairs Bureau, serving as a confidential aide to the chief. I am in charge of developing positive and productive community relations through partnerships within community, civic and religious leaders.
During my career, I have had other duties including fiscal analysis, coordination of operations and supervision of a city-wide internship program through the Cadet Corps where I helped mentor students who wanted careers in law enforcement. I found working with children to be very rewarding.
Why are you running for office?
My family and I moved to this area because of the reputation of our school district. There have been a number of concerns and issues facing our district this past year which is what led me to run for a seat on the Board.
If our school district is to remain strong then we must promote community and district collaboration to support a strong district culture and set the direction of the district toward reaching the highest academic and art, music, athletics and other extracurricular achievements while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Our district faces some tough challenges and choices regarding the common core, APPR, the PARC Assessments and the 2 percent Tax Cap. As Board members we must be committed to maintaining the academic and extra-curricular achievements and the financial integrity that our district is known for.
I have decided to run for the Board of Education because my family and I are invested in this community and I believe my background, knowledge and experience will prove to be valuable assets to the Board, the District and our community.
What is the issue facing the district in the next year and what can be done about it - by you and by the school board?
This school district is the heart of our community. As BOE trustees we serve as guardians of this district.
There are many challenges facing this district in the coming year, such as financial issues, curriculum revisions, state assessments and teacher evaluations to name a few.
The most pressing issue is "How is the Board of Education going to safeguard the best interests of the district during this period of great transition?"
We live in this bedroom community for a better life for our children. A key component is a world class education provided by this district. We struggle with balancing payment of our taxes while still providing our children this great education and promising life.
I believe that I can help the Board find this critical balance.
Rick Wernli
Biographical information
My name is Rick Wernli and I am a candidate for the Monroe-Woodbury School Board. I am married, have two children, and have lived in Monroe for six years. I am a graduate of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA and hold a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. I am presently a Managing Director with a large international investment bank based in mid-town Manhattan. I have more than 25 years of progressive experience in investment banking and financial services. I am a Life Member of the National Eagle Scout Association and an active supporter of scouting, Autism Speaks and the Special Olympics.
Why are you running?
The reason I am seeking election to the Monroe-Woodbury Board of Education is because I am a firm believer that all children can learn, but it is our responsibility to make available the necessary tools and access that will propel them in becoming lifelong learners.
I support both fiscal accountability and excellence in public education, which can only be achieved through prudent school board leadership.
I have been a resident and taxpayer of the Monroe-Woodbury School District for six years. I am proud to say that my two children either attend, or will attend, this excellent school system, which will provide them with the necessary educational foundation to go on to college and pursue their dreams.
These are opportunities every child should have so they can realize their full potential. I am committed to the community and dedicated to progress.
What is the most critical issue facing the district?
The Kiryas Joel Annexation proposal is a critical and formidable issue facing our District.
It will take sound school board leadership and rigorous legal action to abate the impact of annexation.
The District can remain objective, while maintaining a strong legal position.
I believe that integrity, decisiveness and determination, three characteristics that are key in my profession, are necessary in dealing with this issue and also with maintaining fiscal responsibility going forward.