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Light Rain Board candidates square off
Gergen and Lester field questions on school finances, curriculum
There was a sparse showing at the Board of Education candidates forum hosted by the Central Council PTA at City Hall on Monday.
About 30 residents gathered in the auditorium to hear board President Lynn Gergen and former Trustee Roy Lester field questions about district finances, the East School, school curriculum and board meeting policies.
In addition to the contested school board seat, residents will vote on Tuesday on 2010-11 budgets for the school board and the public library, as well as a proposal to repair the high school swimming pool's water filtration system and part of the middle school roof.
Gergen, who is finishing a three-year term as a trustee, said she has been integral in implementing new and challenging programs, including the International Baccalaureate and Foreign Language in Elementary School programs.
Lester, who served three terms as a trustee before losing his seat in last year's election, said he decided to run again when he began to see the board moving in a direction he did not agree with. He cited the quick approval of a teachers' contract that has not been released to the public, the hiring of trustees' family members and a proposal to limit public comments at board meetings as reasons he is running.
The candidates were asked how they would keep the budget and tax levy stable given the increase in the cost of the teacher retirement system and cuts in state aid. Lester stressed monitoring small expenses as closely as large ones. "You have to watch every penny," he said. "We're going to be hit really badly next year with the retirement monies."
Lester noted that the district's purchase of sour cream in large jugs rather than cheaper small jugs was costing 30 percent more, and that the board's membership in an islandwide school board association, which he said duplicates what is offered by another organization the board already belongs to, costs $5,000 a year. He also said that tough negotiating would help keep the costs of contractual agreements to a minimum.
