School and finance candidates offer their positions, Part 2

Finance board: Ideology or aid?

by Heidi Namiot

I asked myself this question after attending a recent Board of Finance meeting. The topic that brought on the question was “Barlow Water Main Extension” on the Board of Finance agenda. We as a town need to comply with a state mandate to provide potable water to Barlow/Scotland Elementary schools. This has been a problem for several years.

A “shovel ready” solution to extend a water main to the schools emerged from the recent federal stimulus legislation. This approach will reduce the cost to Ridgefield taxpayers and provide a sustainable solution. One alternative, to drill wells, would be cheaper in the absence of the stimulus money, but there is no guarantee that the wells would actually produce potable water on a sustained basis. This should have been a straightforward decision.

During the meeting, the chairman suggested that we be more concerned about federal spending than Ridgefield tax dollars, saying “I even look out for federal money.” He suggested Ridgefield pay for the risky well project entirely with our money (since it does not qualify for stimulus funding) because it was cheaper in total dollars (federal and local, together). This echoed the sentiment of a town Republican Party official. It is putting ideology before the needs of the community. The stimulus money will be spent whether in Ridgefield or not. Thank goodness more reasonable heads prevailed at the meeting.

What kind of person do taxpayers need on the Board of Finance? Someone whose knee-jerk reaction is ideological, who backs down only when he knows he can’t prevail? No, you deserve more than ideology and sound-bite solutions. You deserve someone whose first response is what’s best for Ridgefield. I am that person. Write in Heidi Namiot for Board of Finance to get everything you deserve from your Board of Finance.

School board: Best it can be

by John Palermo

During my time on the Board of Education, I have spoken to many parents about what they expect from the Board of Education. First and foremost it’s about the children and making their education the best it can be. This includes the over 500 students who have individual educational programs (IEP’s) covered by Special Education. Some of these programs are elaborate and some are simple, but they are all important and we are committed to the success of each of these students.

Our Special Education program is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses their individual differences. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and monitored arrangements of teaching procedures and methods, adapted equipment and materials, accessible settings, and other interventions designed to help learners with special needs achieve a higher level of personal self-sufficiency and success in school and community than would be available if the student were only given access to a typical classroom education. We are committed to efforts at early intervention to insure the needs of our youngest students are identified and addressed as quickly as possible, using where necessary, the use of experts within and outside of our school system.

These programs can be complicated and require the cooperation of regular education teachers, special education teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, parents and students. While Ridgefield can boast of high test scores and acceptance rates into prestigious schools, we need to insure that every student has the opportunity to perform to their potential.

Russell Katz, Keith Miller and John Palermo as (Board of Education) candidates for the four-year seats and Sandi Rose as the candidate for the two-year seat are committed to improving the quality of special education. We would like your support. For more information, please go to ridgefieldgop.org.

School board: Bad planning

by Amy Shinohara

Hasty decisions to save a buck are seldom good. Promising taxpayers savings with no degradation of service and failing to deliver either savings or service is shameful. And if problems can’t be fixed, costs incurred to revert to the old system accrue, all because of bad planning and even worse execution.

The current bus debacle is a good example of the lack of leadership and management skills that are required to run a top-notch school district. A thorough dry-run of the new bus routes could have revealed the problems in time to fix them prior to the first day of school. At the very least, the school year should have started with the proposed 30 buses, rather than last year’s 35. Now, by “fixing” one problem, a worse one has been created.

What’s even more concerning is that many Board of Education members were unaware that a problem existed until a parent made a presentation at the Sept. 14 meeting. Anytime a new system is implemented, it should be closely monitored to ensure a smooth transition. Where was the oversight? Were board members so focused on getting re-elected and putting forth their own agendas that they neglected to pay attention to what’s happening in our schools?

Now, as we look to potentially larger transitions within our system, the Board of Education and administration have lost the trust of the public. There is little faith in the ability to successfully carry out any large-scale transition and there is no trust that the ideas being put forth have been thoroughly vetted and would actually work.

We need to take a step back and make sure we’re not rushing decisions to the detriment of our school system. I promise to do the hard work and due diligence that is necessary to be a Board of Education member.

School board: Substance abuse

by Russell Katz

Substance abuse must remain a priority for the Board of Education of Ridgefield. As such, on Nov. 3, it is important that you vote for Russell Katz, Keith Miller, John Palermo and Sandi Rose for the Board of Education. Sandi, John, Keith and I have all worked on the board towards combating substance abuse in our schools, and we are dedicated to having the board prevent our children from being involved in drugs.

The recent increase in drug-related suspensions and expulsions of students within the Ridgefield public school system evidences the fact that drugs (marijuana, alcohol, prescription medication, synthetic opiates, etc.) are prevalent in our town. And regardless of whether you believe that our town is no different than any other town in terms of substance abuse and/or that you believe that the real solution to substance abuse requires greater involvement of parents and the community, we must not lose sight of the fact that the Board of Education needs to provide our children with a safe environment for them to grow and learn.

The board must work with the Ridgefield Police Department and other local organizations to develop and implement tools that are designed to detect and prevent drug use in our schools. For instance, we need the K-9 unit in and around our schools more often. The board also needs to provide our administration with resources so they can educate our children about the dangers of drugs. Whether the resources are found in a more efficient structure or in advocacy with other town boards, without providing our administration with the necessary means, we will fail to help our children.

Again, please vote for Russell Katz, Keith Miller, John Palermo and Sandi Rose for the Board of Education on Nov. 3.

School board: Technology needs

by Charles Primerano

Last week, Mr. Palermo proposed that the “Digital Classroom” be instituted in our schools and noted that “we are going to have to restructure some of our existing funds to pay for this transformation.”

Before we start spending extra money on a “Digital Classroom,” we need a real technology plan that tells us how our money is being used now. The plans that Board of Education approved in 2006 and in 2009 are vague and inadequate. For the last 15 years I have written and edited technology plans and specifications for some of the most prominent corporations in the country. Frankly, a group of corporate executives would never approve a technology plan as flawed as the one we have for our schools.

Our plans were created using the Connecticut State Department of Education Educational Technology Plan Template. Some may argue that the plan is poor because the template is poor. This is not an excuse. In the corporate world, when the template is poor you create a supplemental document or addendum with the details you need. We should hold our schools to the same standards.

For example, under “Technology Funding Sources and Costs” for 2009, the current plan lists “Equipment — Lease #1” at $180,000, “Equipment — Lease #2” at $160,000, and “Equipment — Lease #3” at $250,000. That adds up to $590,000. No details are given as to what the equipment is or how it is used. Just “Equipment.” This is true for 2010 and 2011.

A proper plan should list exactly what the equipment is (computers, printers, monitors, etc.), how many units of each, their age and their purpose. Most of all, the plan should indicate what goals are being met by the money being spent. Ridgefield can no longer afford a school technology plan that does less.

Finance board: Vision for future

by Marty Heiser

I have served on the Board of Finance for 14 years and am currently the chairman. During this time Ridgefield has had three first selectmen, four Board of Education chairpersons and four Board of Education superintendents. I also serve on the boards of the Boys & Girls Club and Young Life. I have been a lacrosse coach and a hockey coach and referee.

During my tenure Ridgefield has completed more than $150 million in capital improvements to its education and town facilities.

I have encouraged private/public partnerships with some of Ridgefield’s most generous philanthropists and best idea people. As a result, our town has Founders Hall, the Ridgefield Playhouse and Tiger Hollow. All were completed without tax increases to the town residents. I would love to see a similar approach for the much needed improvement of our public library.

One of the focuses of my time on the Board of Finance has been expanding open space. With the incredible help of Rep. John Frey, Ridgefield has been able to add hundreds of acres to its open space in turn receiving state grants.

When the storm clouds of an economic downturn became apparent, under my leadership the Board of Finance proactively sought to tighten Ridgefield’s financial belt and pushed for the reduction of spending and a zero tax increase.

My vision for the future is to negotiate with the teachers’ union towards a reasonable, affordable and, most importantly, fair contract with Ridgefield. The education budget is the largest and most important aspect of Ridgefield’s budget. As a town, we must maintain the excellence in education we are known for without sacrificing our relative affordability in Fairfield County. My hope is that this will result in security for our teachers while keeping our schools top notch.

Ridgefield is a fantastic town. Its people and sense of community along with its natural beauty have made it a pleasure to serve.

I humbly ask for your support to continue my service on the Board of Finance.

Finance board: Experienced

by Jill Bornstein

A seven-year Ridgefield resident and mother of four boys, I bring a proven real world track record in budgeting, financial analysis and long-range planning — skills I believe are prerequisites to serve on the Board of Finance.

The charter defines the Board of Finance as “the chief financial and budget-making authority of the town with primary responsibility of establishing and maintaining the town in a sound overall financial condition.” Given these difficult economic times, the ability of the board to guide the town is even more critical.

My qualifications are built on 11 years of extensive experience in finance and accounting at GE. As a vice president of finance at GE Capital, I participated in GE’s annual budgeting process that looked at both financial and operational effectiveness. As a GE auditor I rotated annually through three different businesses. I developed the ability to quickly and thoroughly analyze processes and the financial books of a division, devise an audit plan, identify accounting issues, or routine and control deficiencies, that could be improved. Having also spent one year on Wall Street as a lead auditor for GE working closely with the U.S. attorney’s office, the SEC and FBI piecing together the activities and trades of a rogue bond trader in order to bring the case to trial, I fully appreciate the differences between trading financial instruments and managing a budget.

My experience, combined with seven years of active community involvement in a number of disparate organizations, gives me a solid foundation and value set to understand the trade-offs required to maintain the town’s financial soundness without sacrificing quality education, good roads or public safety, and to maintain a level of taxes that doesn’t make Ridgefield unaffordable to many. On Nov. 3 I ask for your support.