Patricia DeBona-Rosier
Biographical information (family, employer, age, number of years in home, etc.):
I was born in Brooklyn, grew up on Long Island and moved to Central New York, where I put myself through college. I have a bachelor of arts degree in English literature, studied Romance languages at the University of Pisa (Italy) and did my graduate studies in secondary education at SUNY Oswego.
I taught English at Liverpool High School for 33 years and retired in 2008. While at LHS, I was the advisor for the yearbook, student newspaper, school literary magazine and other clubs and activities. I also served as English department chair and director of Student Activities, was a member of the LHS Council, and honored twice by my colleagues as Teacher of the Year.
I am a director on the board of the Liverpool Federal Credit Union and on the Dollars for Scholars board, an organization that funds scholarships for Liverpool seniors. In 2008 I was elected to the Board of Education, where I have served as vice president and president .
My husband, Jim, and I live in the village of Liverpool and we have three children who attended Liverpool schools and participated in the Fine Arts and sports programs.
Why are you running for school board?
This community has been good to me and my family. I would like to “pay it forward” and give back in some significant way. Serving on the Board of Education will allow me to do this.
For me, the most important function of the board is to provide students with a sound educational foundation that will stand them in good stead in future years. I understand what students need, am knowledgeable about educational pedagogy, and am committed to providing both students and staff with the necessary resources to be successful. I view my job and that of the board as gatekeeper, policy maker and guardian.
I can help this board keep its balance — the balance between its fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayer and its academic responsibility to the students. We must work within our financial constraints, but at the same time not allow economic pressures to distract us from our primary function of educating students. We need to be cognizant of the effects of decreasing revenues without abandoning our tradition of excellence.
Why are you the best candidate?
All three candidates are excellent, so I wouldn’t feel comfortable saying that I am the best candidate. I am, however, familiar with the academic challenges we are facing. I believe I have demonstrated to the community that I am willing to make responsible fiscal decisions when required, and can do this without compromising the quality of their children’s educations. I am willing to work diligently on behalf of the students, staff and taxpayers, be a strong advocate for them, and keep the lines of communication open.
I am well aware of the time, effort and level of responsibility expected of a board member and am willing to make that commitment. I conduct myself honestly, ethically and professionally, am a good problem solver, an attentive listener and a creative thinker. I consider various perspectives before making decisions and work well collaboratively. I can be tenacious when necessary, compromise when necessary, am not afraid to ask the difficult questions and. I do not welcome conflict, but I am not intimidated by it either.
What are the issues facing the district and what will you do to address them?
Like so many other districts, our lack of funding and the conflict between spiraling costs and inadequate revenue is our biggest issue. Unfunded mandates, state testing requirements and increasing employee costs contribute to the problem. Additionally, changing demographics in recent years have resulted in a larger number of students needing more and costlier services.
Another issue to consider is our relatively inexperienced board. No one on the current board has served two full, consecutive terms — in the past three years we have had 16 different board members. This has resulted, at times, in a lack of consistency and stability. Having people serve a second term will bring a sense of “institutional memory” or historical perspective to the board and be helpful in establishing some continuity in policy revisions, educational initiatives, facility renovations and contract negotiations.
Finally, we need to address the relationship between board and community. Telling people to trust us will not make it happen. Showing them what we are doing, and how we are doing it, can. Being transparent, encouraging public communications, considering divergent opinions and responding respectfully to people’s concerns will foster a better understanding of the board and its decisions. This was most recently evidenced during the budget workshop sessions.
If we hope to be successful, we must establish a positive culture, one that values education and creates a balance between the needs of our students and the willingness of our community to fund those needs. We have to think outside the box and involve all stakeholders in the important conversations. There is tremendous power in shared decision making and by working together we can more effectively meet the challenges before us. Sometimes it is not the issues themselves, but rather how we respond to them, that makes the biggest difference.
Stephen DiMarco
Biographical information (family, employer, age, number of years in home, etc.):
I am a resident of the town of Clay and have a daughter who attends Liverpool High School and two sons and another daughter who graduated from LHS. I too, am a graduate of Liverpool High school class of 1975, and have been a resident in the Liverpool school district for over 50 years.
I am the chief executive officer and chief fiscal officer of the Summit Automotive Group and a Partner in the business. I am a graduate of Syracuse University School of Management, successfully completing the certified public accounting and business administration major Requirements. I have worked in public accounting for over 15 years.
Why are you running for school board?
My interest in being on the Liverpool Board of Education stems from my desire to contribute to my alma mater and my community. I have reached a point in my life where I can now commit the time necessary to undertake the obligation of being a member of the Board of Education.
Why are you the best candidate?
I bring to the board my experience and familiarity with the district, as a student (K through 12) and as a parent from 1987 to the present. I also bring my experience and knowledge in business and accounting to assist the board in any way I can.
What are the issues facing the district and what will you do to address them?
The fiscal challenge of balancing a budget while maintaining a quality educational experience for our students is what I see as the biggest issue facing our district. By becoming an informed board member I will do my best to contribute to the decision process that the board as a group is challenged with.
Richard J. Pento
Biographical information (family, employer, age, number of years in home, etc.):
Family: wife Amy, daughter Julie, son Jack. Employer: Phoenix Central School District. Age: 44. Number of years in home: Eight years. Number of years in Liverpool: 22 years.
Why are you running for school board?
I would like to continue to help to provide the best possible educational experience for the students of LCSD.
Why are you the best candidate?
There is no best candidate. The BOE works best when it has a myriad of experiences and viewpoints that no one person can provide completely. I believe I have many relevant experiences (i.e. classroom instruction, educational administration, student mentoring, youth coaching, union executive board) that I can use to help the BOE make sound educational decisions.
What are the issues facing the district and what will you do to address them?
Continuing to provide an educational experience that will not disadvantage our students as they compete with students from across the state, country, and world, while dealing with ever decreasing resources. Liverpool continues to be faced with a declining enrollment. We need to prepare our district by placing our limited resources in such a manner that we can service as many of our students as possible. This requires that we look at the current arrangement and develop a plan that will provide the best we can moving forward.
