To the Editor:

I am writing to address the Berne-Knox-Westerlo district resident.

After much thought and consultation with friends and family, I have decided to become a candidate for one of the vacancies on the BKW Board of Education.  My decision came after I attended a recent board of education meeting during which Superintendent Timothy Mundell laid out a positive plan to address the needs of our students and the future of our district.

These are challenging times. There is much work to be done to implement this vision. As I listened,  I recognized that my skills and experience are uniquely suited to helping  move our district forward.

As many of you recall, for over 15 years, I was consistently re-elected to our board of education. It is my belief that our school district would  benefit from my knowledge about the district’s inner workings.   For the past several years, family commitments necessitated that I not run for re-election.

However, I did continue to regularly attend the meetings and stayed current with district matters. Now that my husband has passed, I again have the time, energy, and desire necessary to become actively involved in the BKW District and would like to play a role in  shaping its academic and financial future

I believe I bring many important pieces to the board including: a senior-citizen viewpoint; a belief that our expenditures must be fiscally sound; extensive educational experience encompassing elementary, middle school, high school, college and the arts; a respect for the ideas of the students, parents, employees, and taxpayers; and an understanding that at school not only do the faculty members and administrators help to shape our children’s lives and attend to their safety but so do our bus drivers, aids, cafeteria workers, mechanics, maintenance, and office staff.

It is my personal goal to continue my long-term commitment and dedication to BKW by joining the superintendent, and all of you, in the ongoing effort of improving and enriching our children’s education, promoting the positives about our district, and ensuring that the BKW District is recognized as an outstanding place to live, work, and be educated.

I am asking for your support and your vote on Tuesday, May 16.  Feel free to call me with any questions  at (518) 872-0041.

Helen Marie Lounsbury

Berne