CATO - Lone Cato-Meridian school board incumbent Roxanne Miller faces eight challengers for the three open board seats in next Tuesday's election, some of whom are disappointed with the way Miller and the board have conducted business with the district.
Challengers Charles Bratt and Mark Lunkenheimer specifically attributed their unhappiness with the current board to their decision to run in the May 16 election.
The nine candidates formally addressed the public Monday during the school board meeting. Miller, Bratt, and Lunkeheimer are joined by Vickie Czajkowski, Louis House, Michael Lees, Jill Modafferi, Rodney Pollock and Steven Terpening on the ballot.
Like Bratt and Lunkenheimer, Terpening and Pollock were also interested in change, pointing out during their presentation Monday that they would like to restore Cato schools' reputation to its former glory,
Czajkowski, House and Modafferi noted that their respective professional experiences would bring fresh perspectives to a school board not directly in touch with students.
The incumbent Miller emphasized fiscal responsibility as a priority while Lees stated his focus would be working in concert with the administration to help students get the edge in a competitive global market.
The nine candidates are vying for one five-year term seat, and two partial terms. Former board members Donald Thompson and Patricia Russo resigned in February. Thompson had two years left on his term; Russo had three.
In addition to electing school board members, taxpayers will vote on a proposal to change standard board terms from five years to three, effective July 1, 2007. School board candidates are split on the issue. Those in favor of five-year terms believe it takes at least three years to become well- informed about finances and legal matters. Those in favor of the shorter terms have stated a three-year term is a sufficient commitment and gives voters the opportunity to re-elect a candidate or elect somebody new.
The public will also vote on a $16.6 million budget, which rose 6.5 percent from last year's, including funding to maintain current programs and hire teachers. The largest expenditures include $202,116 to support the BOCES capital project, $100,000 to replace aging equipment and $50,000 to maintain technology upgrades begun this year. An unexpected increase in state aid brings the tax levy increase to 3.9 percent from last year. The proposed tax levy is $4.6 million.
Roseanne Courtade, a retired Cato teacher, liked what she heard from several candidates, and had already started to form her opinions. Saying she felt “disheartened” by the board's decision to override superintendent Deborah Bobo's recommendation to grant tenure to elementary school principal Ann Dillon, Courtade wanted to see a board that gives more consideration to the administration as it forms decisions.
“They have to prove they can work harmoniously with the administration for the benefit of children,” she said.
“That's not a quality inherent in a lot of the (current) board members,” said Gerry Courtade, her husband.
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311 ext 235 or olivia.goldberg@lee.net
on the issue. Those in favor of five-year terms believe it takes at least three years to become well- informed about finances and legal matters. Those in favor of the shorter terms have stated a three-year term is a sufficient commitment and gives voters the opportunity to re-elect a candidate or elect somebody new.
The public will also vote on a $16.6 million budget, which rose 6.5 percent from last year's, including funding to maintain current programs and hire teachers. The largest expenditures include $202,116 to support the BOCES capital project, $100,000 to replace aging equipment and $50,000 to maintain technology upgrades begun this year. An unexpected increase in state aid brings the tax levy increase to 3.9 percent from last year. The proposed tax levy is $4.6 million.
Roseanne Courtade, a retired Cato teacher, liked what she heard from several candidates, and had already started to form her opinions. Saying she felt “disheartened” by the board's decision to override superintendent Deborah Bobo's recommendation to grant tenure to elementary school principal Ann Dillon, Courtade wanted to see a board that gives more consideration to the administration as it forms decisions.
“They have to prove they can work harmoniously with the administration for the benefit of children,” she said.
“That's not a quality inherent in a lot of the (current) board members,” said Gerry Courtade, her husband.
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311 ext 235 or olivia.goldberg@lee.net
The nine candidates formally addressed the public Monday during the school board meeting. Miller, Bratt, and Lunkeheimer are joined by Vickie Czajkowski, Louis House, Michael Lees, Jill Modafferi, Rodney Pollock and Steven Terpening on the ballot.
Like Bratt and Lunkenheimer, Terpening and Pollock were also interested in change, pointing out during their presentation Monday that they would like to restore Cato schools' reputation to its former glory,
Czajkowski, House and Modafferi noted that their respective professional experiences would bring fresh perspectives to a school board not directly in touch with students.
The incumbent Miller emphasized fiscal responsibility as a priority while Lees stated his focus would be working in concert with the administration to help students get the edge in a competitive global market.
The nine candidates are vying for one five-year term seat, and two partial terms. Former board members Donald Thompson and Patricia Russo resigned in February. Thompson had two years left on his term; Russo had three.
In addition to electing school board members, taxpayers will vote on a proposal to change standard board terms from five years to three, effective July 1, 2007. School board candidates are split on the issue. Those in favor of five-year terms believe it takes at least three years to become well- informed about finances and legal matters. Those in favor of the shorter terms have stated a three-year term is a sufficient commitment and gives voters the opportunity to re-elect a candidate or elect somebody new.
The public will also vote on a $16.6 million budget, which rose 6.5 percent from last year's, including funding to maintain current programs and hire teachers. The largest expenditures include $202,116 to support the BOCES capital project, $100,000 to replace aging equipment and $50,000 to maintain technology upgrades begun this year. An unexpected increase in state aid brings the tax levy increase to 3.9 percent from last year. The proposed tax levy is $4.6 million.
Roseanne Courtade, a retired Cato teacher, liked what she heard from several candidates, and had already started to form her opinions. Saying she felt “disheartened” by the board's decision to override superintendent Deborah Bobo's recommendation to grant tenure to elementary school principal Ann Dillon, Courtade wanted to see a board that gives more consideration to the administration as it forms decisions.
“They have to prove they can work harmoniously with the administration for the benefit of children,” she said.
“That's not a quality inherent in a lot of the (current) board members,” said Gerry Courtade, her husband.
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311 ext 235 or olivia.goldberg@lee.net
on the issue. Those in favor of five-year terms believe it takes at least three years to become well- informed about finances and legal matters. Those in favor of the shorter terms have stated a three-year term is a sufficient commitment and gives voters the opportunity to re-elect a candidate or elect somebody new.
The public will also vote on a $16.6 million budget, which rose 6.5 percent from last year's, including funding to maintain current programs and hire teachers. The largest expenditures include $202,116 to support the BOCES capital project, $100,000 to replace aging equipment and $50,000 to maintain technology upgrades begun this year. An unexpected increase in state aid brings the tax levy increase to 3.9 percent from last year. The proposed tax levy is $4.6 million.
Roseanne Courtade, a retired Cato teacher, liked what she heard from several candidates, and had already started to form her opinions. Saying she felt “disheartened” by the board's decision to override superintendent Deborah Bobo's recommendation to grant tenure to elementary school principal Ann Dillon, Courtade wanted to see a board that gives more consideration to the administration as it forms decisions.
“They have to prove they can work harmoniously with the administration for the benefit of children,” she said.
“That's not a quality inherent in a lot of the (current) board members,” said Gerry Courtade, her husband.
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311 ext 235 or olivia.goldberg@lee.net
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