I bring a lifetime of experience working with and for children and the issues which impact their education and lives. This includes 34 years as a middle and high school science teacher; 40 years as a swim coach, including 27 at Amity; and membership on numerous committees and commissions studying related issues.

In addition, as an elected official I have worked in the public sector as a state representative, Orange Board of Selectmen, and Amity Board of Education member, giving me better perspectives on how legislative bodies address taxpayer and community concerns.

I would like to continue to work with other Board members, the District Administration, and Staff strengthening our efforts in building an educational community based upon respect, tolerance, and acceptance of differences.

In this type of environment, students will feel safe in expanding their knowledge and striving to reach more challenging educational goals.

One of the most important duties of the Board of Education is the hiring, oversight, and evaluation of the Superintendent of Schools. To do this job properly, the Board and the Superintendent must develop a respectful and trusting relationship in serving as a joint leadership team. Together they will identify areas of focus for the district and how they should be addressed.

Once that is done, it is the Superintendent’s job to execute the plan. This should be the basis of the major parts of an evaluation. How other duties are carried out forms the rest of the evaluation. This process should be, and currently is, spelled out by mutual agreement in the contract between the Board of Education and the Amity Superintendent.

I think the Amity budget should reflect the communities’ commitment to quality education balanced by its ability to pay. I believe it reasonable to expect small increases each year because of inflation and educational program changes, but it is the Board of Education’s responsibility to operate in the most fiscally efficient manner which could reduce cost to levels lower than predicted.

While expecting small increases is the norm, the Board’s goal should always be providing outstanding education at a reasonable cost.

The State establishes both educational and some curriculum requirements, but the individual school districts develop the full curriculum which meets those requirements.

On the district level, the administration brings together individuals with expert knowledge in an area to write the curriculum, while the Board Curriculum Committee reviews the proposed curriculum and makes suggested changes as necessary.

When the curriculum is finalized, the full Board reviews the recommendations of the Curriculum Committee and votes on the final product.

In summary, curriculum development is the result of a joint team approach in the District.

All the curricula should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis, usually every five years. Outdated curricula could result in students missing newly identified concepts in many areas.

Updating and rewriting curricula is a time-consuming process, and the Amity Board of Education should make this a priority and dedicate greater resources to speeding up the process if possible.

Amity has an extensive selection of extra-curricular and co-curricular activities on all levels. The Board, however, needs to work with the administration and staff in providing materials and paid knowledgeable supervision to make these educational experiences more fulfilling.

The State of Connecticut places responsibility for establishing rules for how library media centers operate, including selection of materials, squarely on the shoulders of the local Board of Education.

Last school year, at the urging of speakers during public sessions, the Board developed a new policy on these issues. Selection of new materials is left to our professional library-media specialists as it should be, with regulations which permit public review.

The Amity Portrait of the Graduate was developed with extensive input from all segments of the community. It is designed to serve as both a guide and an end point which represents the aspirations we have for all our learners. It does not express a particular philosophy or specific approach to education. It is constructed to work together with high academic standards, so we know when our students graduate they have the tools necessary for success.

Amity’s Portrait of the Graduate has become an important guide for the District in striving to meet 21st century educational expectations.

The primary responsibilities of the Board of Education are enacting policies which guide the district, and providing oversight which makes sure policies and educational laws are followed.

By establishing policies which promote respect, tolerance, and appreciation of our differences, we create an environment in which everyone can feel safe and included as part of the community. In reviewing the supervision by the administration and staff in enforcing our policies, we provide leadership in making sure that everyone is treated fairly and with respect.