Eleni Carter seeks re-election to M-W School Board

My name is Eleni Carter and I am seeking re-election to the Monroe-Woodbury Board of Education. I am devoted to this district, which is why four years ago, I made a commitment to the children and taxpayers of Monroe-Woodbury to advocate for a well-rounded, quality education without the unreasonable tax burdens placed on our community in previous years. I have taken this commitment and my responsibilities as a trustee very seriously.

During my tenure, I have chaired the community relations committee for three years, chaired the audit committee, served on the visitation committee and as a delegate to the New York State School Boards Association. I have advocated for programs that identify our students’ strengths, weaknesses, and progress over time, thus enabling our teachers to better gauge what is needed to challenge all our children to their full potential.

I have also supported a more efficient and collaborative budgeting approach that has cut more than $23 million out of the budget in four years, and has led to the lowest spending and tax levy increases in the history of Monroe-Woodbury, with the 2012-2013 budget increase set at less than 1 percent. This has resulted in a record low tax levy of 0.89 percent, the lowest in the district’s history.

Yet, despite drastic cuts to state aid and incredible challenges facing the district, we have not lost sight of the business we are in - educating our children. To do that, we need our teachers and staff. I am proud of the fact that we have spent our tax dollars responsibly in the past few years without sacrificing programs or people. Our children’s education remains a top priority. After all, our children are our future and their future depends on our excellent faculty and staff.

As the mother of a fifth grader, I recognize the importance of a quality education and have a vested interest in ensuring the continuation of our district’s long and proud history of excellence.

I am presently a doctoral candidate of organizational behavior, and I have an MBA and an MPhil in management from Baruch College of the City University of New York. Professionally, I currently am a partner of a small business incubator firm that helps develop entrepreneurial companies through an array of business support resources and services. Prior to that, I was a member of the adjunct faculty at the Culinary Institute of America, at the Stern School of Business at New York University and at the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College.

A school district does more than educate; it produces students who are confident, secure, and committed world citizens. I thank all of you for your support these past four years. I am confident that my record on the Board of Education, as well as my professional and personal commitment to education, transparency and financial responsibility, will enable me to continue my commitment to our children and the taxpayers. I ask that you support my candidacy, as well as those of Natalie Brooks and John Otero on May 15.

Eleni Carter Central Valley