Next Tuesday, May 20, residents of the North Syracuse Central School District will go to the polls to choose three board members from four candidates and to decide on a $137 million budget. In order to assist them in that endeavor, here are brief bios of the candidates as well as a breakdown of the budget proposal. For the candidates’ full answers, visit cnylink.com.
Budget breakdown
2008-09 budget: $137,143,228
Tax rate increase: 2.99 percent
Of the total budget:
75.9 percent ($104,036,295) goes to instructional programs and transportation.
16.6 percent ($22,712,757) goes to capital projects, maintenance and operation.
7.5 percent ($10,394,176) goes to administration.
Bus replacement referendum (Proposition No. 2)
The district is also asking residents to vote on a bus replacement referendum in the amount of $1,087,489 to be taken from the district’s capital reserve fund. That money will purchase 12 buses.
Judy Sydney-Paduano candidate info
Biographical information:
I am employed as an administrative assistant at Hancock and Estabrook Law Firm. I have four adult children — Michele, Lisa, Douglas and Michael that attended Bear Road Elementary, Roxboro and North Syracuse High School; Michele and Lisa graduated from North Syracuse High School in 1979 and in 1982. Douglas and Michael graduated from Cicero-North Syracuse High School. Douglas was the first class President of C-NS High School when North Syracuse High School and Cicero High School were joined as one high school in the fall of 1983. His class was 1984 and Michael in 1990. Michael was in special education from age 5 to age 21. Michele has a position as legal assistant to a law firm in Syracuse; Lisa attended Niagara University and held a position with the Ryder Corporation for over 15 years until she married and started a family and is a stay-at-home mom; Douglas attended Onondaga Community College after graduation and passed away in 1986 after a six-year battle with liver cancer.
I do have four grandchildren in elementary school. Lilia (12) and Jesse (9) live in Oviedo, Florida (suburb of Orlando); Nick Losurdo (12) at Gillette Road Middle and Jeremy (8) in Cicero Elementary. My husband Len and I also have a foster child in Quatemala, through Christian Foundation for Children and Aging and our Church at St. Rose of Lima. His name is Gerson David Sequen. He just turned 10 years old on April 28 and we are going into our second year of sponsorship. He writes to us in Spanish and CFCA interprets his letters. have been in the North Syracuse Lioness Club since 1981, having been President, V-President, Secretary, Treasurer and editor of the Lioness Press more than once. Our Club has been in existence since 1959 and is one of few in New York State (Lions International), to do vision screening of pre-kindergarten students in our school district, which we have been doing over 35 years. It has been mandatory for many years that kindergarten students have their eyes tested before entering school. If children have not been tested by their doctors, we are able to assist with that process. Two vision screenings were done in April for approximately 75 children out the 600+ that will be entering kindergarten in the fall of 2008. It is entirely volunteer and our most fulfilling project.
Community associations: Syracuse Symphony Orchestra; Syracuse University Orange Basketball; Red Cross blood donor; supporter of Golosano’s Children’s Hospital, at University Hospital and Ronald McDonald House and its charities; Parish of St. Rose of Lima Church, North Syracuse.
Why are you running for school board?
I have always loved children and believe they are the most important assets in our society. After my son Douglas passed away in June of 1986 our family started a music scholarship in the amount of $500 and we are now in the 21st year (totaling over $10,000). My son played trumpet and sousaphone in the Northstars Marching Band so the scholarship is directed at the Northstars Marching Band, color guard and visual ensemble. Many recipients have gone on in education and other worthy professions and I have been most proud to have helped a little along the way.
Also, we have been blessed with grandchildren and you realize just how important being in a great school district is and the need to be ever vigilant for continued excellence. I feel I have developed over these many years the communication and leadership skills, objectivity and a sense of commitment that is needed to be an effective board member and I would take an active role in communicating the district’s message to the community, if you will give me your support.
What challenges do you think the district is facing right now, and how will you address them as a board member?
School Space: Realigning the middle schools — Roxboro and Gillette Middle. And space in the Junior High School is running slim. Many believe the ninth graders should be moved up to the C-NS High School but that would create overcrowding there. Some say an Annex to C-NS should be considered. Apparently Gillette has a little more space than Roxboro but more students live closer to Gillette Road School than they do to Roxboxo. An expansive planning review has been made by a committee and there are seven options the district can take. There were many parents at a recent board meeting in opposition to many of the options. The board will make a reasoned decision on the best avenue to take to affect the fewest students and families.
How do you propose that the district provide continually
improving services and education to our children while maintaining a fiscally responsible budget?
I believe the only way to expect that this will happen in declining economic times is to expect to receive the best informational data from all who come before the Board of Education with their requests.
Pamela Knoop candidate info
Biographical information (name, family, occupation, years in the district)
I reside with my husband, Donald, and two children in Cicero. Our daughter, Janice, is a senior who will graduate from Cicero-North Syracuse High School in June. Our son, Phillip, is a freshman at North Syracuse Junior High School. I have resided in the district for 22 years. My husband was raised in the North Syracuse district and graduated from Cicero High School in 1975 before graduating from Syracuse University. I was raised in Marcellus and graduated from Marcellus High School in 1980. I then graduated magna cum laude from LeMoyne College with a degree in industrial relations. I immediately began working for Donald J. Fager and Associates (the licensed adjusting company for Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company — a professional liability insurance company for the healthcare industry) where I remain today as a claims supervisor.
Why are you running for school board?
I am running for a seat on the North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education since my children will soon be graduating from the district, which means that I will no longer be able to participate as a parent in various district committees and organizations, and I would very much like to continue working with the wonderful faculty, staff and administration in order to assist them in assuring that every child in the district be given the best possible opportunity to reach their individual potential both as students and citizens. I believe that my time thus far as a taxpayer, parent and organization/committee member has given me valuable insight into this district from which I can draw to provide meaningful contributions to school board issues. I certainly consider the position as a member of the NSCSD board to be a tremendous responsibility that I fully respect and look forward to upholding.
What challenges do you think the district is facing right now, and how will you address them as a board member?
In my opinion, the biggest issue facing the NSCSD is the restructuring of the district in terms of how to best educate almost 10,000 students. The Demographic Committee and its proposals to the school board potentially have far-reaching consequences for the current and future students and their parents, the faculty, the staff, the administration and the taxpayers given that the changes may possibly impact grade configurations, building usage, tax issues and, most importantly, the instructional programming. The district is certainly headed in the right direction with their creation of the Demographic Committee and the guidance they seek from local architects with experience in building and renovating school buildings. I propose that the school board continue this undertaking, as they have thus far, in a thoughtful manner that continues to seek input from outside experts, those working within the district and the general public.
How do you propose that the district provide continually improving services and education to our children while maintaining a fiscally responsible budget?
I propose that the North Syracuse district continue to improve services and education to our children while maintaining a fiscally responsible budget by continuing to seek out, research and analyze the new program and services as they become available in the field education that would enhance the quality of our services and programs, while continually evaluating and assessing the existing programs and services. In doing so, I would hope that existing programs or services that are found to be less effective than intended or can be offered in a different manner be considered for revision, replacement or even being phased out in such a way that does not negatively impact the overall quality of the education provided but yet does not create an additional burden upon the taxpayers.
Is there anything else you would like to mention, either about the district itself or about your candidacy?
I have been involved in numerous school organizations and committees. I have been a member and officer for the Bear Road and Lakeshore Road elementary school PTOs, the Gillette Road Middle School PTG, the North Syracuse Junior High School PTO and an attendee at the C-NS High School PTO meetings. I have been a parent representative on the Building Planning Team at Gillette Road Middle School and am currently a parent representative for the NSJHS and C-NS building planning teams. I have been a building representative to the Superintendent’s Advisory Council for Lakeshore Road Elementary, GRMS and currently for NSJHS. While at GRMS, I was a parent representative for the Academic Achievement Committee and the Athletic Advisory Committee. I recently participated as a parent representative for the district’s Demographic Committee and served as a parent representative for several interview committees within the district. I am currently a parent representative for the District Health and Safety Committee and Athletic Advisory Committee. I have also been an active participant in the ArtStars organization, a parent representative in the Community Connections organization, a member of the Friends of the CanTeen and a board trustee for the North Syracuse Education Foundation.
I am very proud of this district and the quality of education that it provides to our students. It is my desire to work with the other board members, as well as the faculty, staff and administration to support every individual student in the NSCSD in reaching their full potential as students and citizens in order to prepare them to be productive and contributing members of society.
Pat V. Carbone candidate info
Biographical information (name, family, occupation, years in the district):
Pat V. Carbone
Wife Annette, Daughters Stephanie (attending College of St. Rose) and Jessica (Senior at C-NS High School).
Received a Bachelors Degree in Political Science with a minor concentration in Accounting from LeMoyne College, and is presently employed as Commercial Loan Officer and Manager of the Liverpool branch of Solvay Bank.
Board of Education Member for 15 years; district resident for over 20 years.
Why are you running for school board?
The key to effecting fair change and having a true impact on the decision making process, is through direct involvement. We must combine all of our talents and ideas to collectively formulate policy that benefits the district, the students, the teachers, and most importantly the community as a whole.
What challenges do you think the district is facing right now, and how will you address them as a board member? How do you propose that the district provide continually improving services and education to our children while maintaining a fiscally responsible budget?
Issues facing the district are increasing student performance and test scores, instituting all-day Kindergarten, securing aide and reimbursement of costs for the continuation of the Main Street Early Education program, district building renovations, community involvement and awareness, and making sure that these are all completed in a fiscally responsible manner to both students and taxpayers. This can be accomplished by working with both district personnel and members of the community.
Is there anything else you would like to mention, either about the district itself or about your candidacy?
Have served on the Board of Education’s Policy Committee, Legislative Committee, Audit Committee and Executive Committee, the Career Education Advisory Council and has served as President of the Board of Education since May 1996. He has served as an officer of the North Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, and was previously President of the North Syracuse Rotary Club. Currently serves on the Board of the Jerome F. Melvin Foundation, Dollars for Scholars, on the Board of the Onondaga Madison School Boards Association, is a member of New York State School Boards Association, and is the Treasurer of North Syracuse Cemetery Association.
Scot McClintock candidate info
Biographical information (name, family, occupation, years in the district):
Scot McClintock
Wife: Lori
Daughters: Sara, Holly, and Lindsay
Head of Value Management for Faithful+Gould, an international cost consultant
31 years in the district
Why are you running for school board?
To continue using my knowledge of the District’s facility needs and Value Management techniques, as I have over my fifteen years on the board, to help the Board of Education make necessary, but cost-effective, decisions. My goal of being part of a successful referendum to renovate our school facilities has been met seven times. Many facility challenges remain and I want to be part of the solutions.
What challenges do you think the district is facing right now, and how will you address them as a board member?
.I think the district faces the facilty challenges mentioned above. I am also concerned about improving our student’s academic performance while state aid is continually threatened by the economy and New York State politics.
How do you propose that the district provide continually improving services and education to our children while maintaining a fiscally responsible budget?
I believe that the District, meaning taxpayers, students, parents, administrators, teachers, and the Board of Education, must work together to solve these problems and many others. We need to keep doing what we have been doing: continually look for areas needing improvement, find ways to improve those areas cost-effectively, and monitor how we are doing in those areas. We also need to continually improve communication between the Board of Education and the taxpayers so the community can understand and support Board recommendations and budgets.
Is there anything else you would like to mention, either about the district itself or about your candidacy?
Our district has many things to be proud of in many areas and yet our average tax increase over the last 10 years is only about 0.6% per year. I want this track record to continue. I request you
