BERNE — In a district where unopposed races are common, four candidates this spring are seeking one open seat on the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School Board. They range from a school board veteran looking to return after a year off to a high school senior seeking his first public office.

Board member Karen Storm is not running for re-election. The candidates are John Harlow, Judd Krasher, Robert Rue, and Leo Vane.

At the May 16 election, voters will also decide on an $18.5 million budget and a proposition to extend the term length of board members from three years to five. If approved, the new term length will apply to members voted in at next year’s election.

Posts on the five-member board are unpaid.

John Harlow

After Harlow’s first term on the school board ended in 2005, he decided not to run for re-election in the interest of diversity.
"I wanted to ensure that someone from Westerlo got on the board," Harlow said.

That’s exactly what happened. Running unopposed, Maureen Sikule took over Harlow’s seat.

Now, Harlow, 63, wants back on. He enjoys making a contribution to the community, he said.

A 32-year resident of East Berne, all of Harlow’s five children have graduated from the district. His wife, Karol, served two terms on the school board.

Harlow is retired from the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory. He now runs his own business, reselling technical equipment over the the Internet.

If elected, Harlow hopes to accomplish his one unfinished goal from his first term.
"My unaccomplished objective is to introduce language training at the earliest possible time," he said.

That language, he said, is Chinese. With the emergence of China as a major economic power, Harlow said, American children must learn Chinese in order to compete.
"Just go to Wal-Mart, or go to any store, and see where what you buy is made," Harlow said.

Judd Krasher

Seven years ago, Krasher and his family left the Burnt Hills School District for BKW because their house had burned down. As horrible as that experience was, Krasher said, in a way it was the best thing that could have happened to him because it brought him to BKW, where he was able to grow academically and as a person like never before.

Krasher, who is 17 now, will be 18 by the time of the election; he is graduating this June. He wants to stay in the district as a school board member.
"Berne has give me so much, so I want to give back, to not only the students, but to the school in general," Krasher said.

The teachers at BKW offer a far better education than the larger districts he’s been in, Burnt Hills and Shenendehowa, Krasher said.

It’s rare anywhere for a school board candidate to be as young as Krasher.
"My hope is that people don’t think this is a joke," he said. He wants his candidacy to inspire other young people to get involved in, or at least pay attention to, the district government.

As a student in the very selective New Visions Law and Government program, Krasher said, he’s gained political experience interning for the state attorney general and the assembly.
"That’s something that I’ve really enjoyed," he said. "That’s something that Berne has given me."

He’s also been attending school board meetings and studying the minutes. As a school board member, he wants to help formulate a plan to replace the valedictorian and salutatorian honors with broader recognitions. He’s already on the committee charged with the task.

Krasher is headed to The College of Saint Rose in Albany in the fall. He’s been accepted into a dual bachelor’s-master’s degree program in history and political science.

Robert Rue
Robert Rue wants to keep the school board on track with the "great job" it’s been doing.
"I think I have some fresh new ideas that can help better the education of our children and keep the district fiscally responsible," Rue said. "I just want to keep moving the school in the right direction."

Rue, 43, of Knox, is running for public office for the first time.

A BKW graduate himself and a lifetime Hilltowner, Rue is an active member of the elementary school PTA and the BKW Little League and Softball League. He has a son and daughter in the district.
"I’m very children oriented," Rue said.

The best thing about BKW, Rue said, is its size.
"It’s a nice small district, and all the kids know each other and all the teachers know all the kids," he said.

Rue works for the town of Guilderland, as manager of Keenholts Park.

Leo Vane
"I’ve lived here for about 11 years, and in those 11 years, I’ve seen my taxes increase exponentially, and I’m not really happy with that," said Vane.

On the school board, Vane said, he can do his part to help control the tax rates.

Vane commended the current school board for keeping the tax levy increase in the proposed budget down to 2.4 percent.
"I think one of the things I’d like to do is continue work in the area of keeping the increase at 2 to 3 percent annually," Vane said. "I think if we can do that, the people won’t have too much to complain about."

As a pilot for American Airlines, and a former union president, Vane said, he has had experience with budgets and cost-saving measures. Concepts that have worked for the airline, like conserving fuel by using only one engine on the ground, Vane said, have counterparts at the school, like consolidating bus stops.
"I think the thing I found most appalling was I was going through town and I saw a school bus stop directly across from the school," Vane said.

When he was growing up in the Colonie School District, Vane said, it was common for students who lived near the school to walk and for others to walk to a single bus stop designated for the whole neighborhood.

After graduating from Colonie, Vane, 50, learned to fly in the United States Army before switching to a civilian fleet.

When he’s not flying, Vane works as a substitute teacher at BKW, and he and his wife, a flight attendant, visit classes during aviation week.
"I’m involved with the faculty and staff on a regular basis," Vane said.

He’s been able to become close to a number of the students, as well, Vane said.