Herald Community Newspapers
The Herald is endorsing incumbent trustees Mary Clark and James Scannell for another three-year term on the Board of Education. Both have worked hard lobbying for more state aid, staying in touch with the community and boosting services for students.
Clark and Scannell have remained aware of the burden that homeowners in Baldwin shoulder when it comes to taxes, and their work with administrators has kept per-pupil spending relatively low, while enriching a curriculum that has boasted improved test scores and high graduation rates over the years.
The budget-to-budget increase has declined in the past four years during their tenure, and as board members, both have been mindful of residents' concerns about increasing population, special education services and school safety.
Clark and Scannell are aware that a recent survey showed that school officials need to do more to inform residents about the budget process. We agree, but we also believe that they - and other school officials - have been working to correct that lack of communication this year by holding additional budget forums for the community as well as reaching out to senior-citizen groups, PTAs and the media.
The board pledged to lower the tax levy increase with additional state aid this year, and members kept their promise: The tax increase was reduced from the current budget's 5.97 percent to 4.98 percent for 2007-08, after Baldwin received $23.6 million in state school aid, $1.5 million more than last year. The school board's lobbying efforts paid off, and Baldwin's state representatives are to be commended for securing the additional funding.
Challenger Stanley Gittleman had some interesting ideas, and it's clear that he is passionate about serving the community. But we feel the current board is doing a good job at representing the interests of Baldwin residents, and will continue to do so. We encourage voters to re-elect trustees Clark and Scannell. We also encourage voters to elect Ethell Smith library board trustee. We believe that Smith, who is running unopposed, will be a strong advocate for the library and the community.
