NEW SCOTLAND — Voters will have no choice on May 16 for two Voorheesville School Board seats; just two candidates submitted petitions.

Incumbent C. James Coffin is running to keep his seat, and Robert Samson is running to fill the seat being vacated by Cheryl Dozier who has served nine years on the board.

Coffin is twice Samson’s age and has served on the board for nearly three decades; this is Samson’s first time.

Both men, when asked which constituency they would primarily serve said the students, both support the current budget proposal, and both see the need for a capital improvement project. Their views vary on other issues.

The four-year terms on the seven-member board are at-large and unpaid.

On May 16, district residents will also decide on a $24 million budget for next year; on a proposition to spend not more than $230,000 for two 60-passenger buses; and on authorizing the creation of a new reserve of up to $2 million, preparing for building upgrades.

Samson said he was disappointed there was no race for the board this year. “With just two candidates, it’s almost a recruitment problem,” he said. “I was looking forward to a more vibrant election, talking about the issues.”

The issues

The Enterprise asked the two candidates about their relevant experience, their reasons for running, and what they wanted to accomplish, and also asked for their views on these five topics:

— Role of a school board member: Candidates were asked who they serve. Certainly, each must balance the needs of many constituencies, but which is the primary one? Particularly if there is a crunch, would their primary allegiance be to the students, the taxpayers, the parents, the teachers, or the superintendent?

— Budget: Candidates were asked if they support the $24 million proposed budget, and why or why not.

They were also asked if there were specific items they would have liked included, or if there were specific items they thought should have been cut.

And, finally, they were asked if Voorheesville should ever go over the state-set tax levy limit, which requires 60 percent voter approval, to add more programs and services.

— Opt outs: A large number of Voorheesville students do not take required state tests, part of a movement expressing frustration with standardized tests, especially when the tests were tied to teachers’ evaluations. Following recommendations of the governor’s Common Core Task Force, the state’s Board of Regents removed state test scores as part of the teacher evaluation process for four years. The task force also recommended the state develop its own standards.

Candidates were asked how Voorheesville should proceed. Should curriculum be aligned with what is on the tests? Should teachers be free to pursue creative assignments rather than teaching to the test? Did Common Core standards have value? Would new statewide standards have value? Do the standardized tests have value?

— Capital project: Voorheesville hopes to have a vote on a capital project in May 2018 to begin work in 2020. The superintendent has outlined plans for needed repairs and upgrades at the district’s schools as well as a new bus garage. He wants to scale back to keep the project at $12 million.

Candidates were asked what they think the project should total and why. They were also asked what upgrades or changes are most important.

— Grade inflation: A Voorheesville mother this year raised concerns that  90 percent of Voorheesville sixth-graders have averages of 85 or higher — with 70 percent in the 90s — and yet, on the state’s standardized tests for math and English, only 20 to 30 percent score in the top category of four, for mastery.

Candidates were asked if there is a problem with grade inflation. If so, what should be done about it. If not, why not?

Robert Samson

NEW SCOTLAND — Robert Samson graduated from the Voorheesville schools in 1998 and moved back to the community to raise his family, in part “because the schools are so great,” he said.

He has three daughters — ages 2, 4, and 6; the eldest, Emma is a first-grader at Voorheesville Elementary School.

Samson feels he has a good grasp of elementary-school issues and is eager to learn more about the district as a whole. One of his chief goals in running for the board — this is his first time — is to “improve communication and engagement with the community,” he said.

“The board needs to put together a comprehensive framework for community engagement,” Samson said. He would like to see school board meetings posted on YouTube, and he said the district’s Facebook page hasn’t been updated since January 2013.

“For people of my generation, social media is the go-to place for information,” said Samson, who is 37.

He said he could use his work skills to improve communication for the board. “By trade, I’m a programmer,” said Samson, who works in application development for General Electric. He said this involves “ensuring good lines of communication.”

Samson said it was “tough” to say which constituency would be his primary one since all are important.

“At the end of the day,” he concluded, “you ultimately serve the students. All the hard decisions balancing constituencies, comes down to getting the kids the best education possible.”

Samson supports the $24 million budget proposal. “I’m generally happy with how it’s shaken out,” he said.

“The community I associate with — the elementary level — had concerns about the large incoming kindergarten class...It’s right on the cusp between four or five classes. You’d have to cut something to add a teacher.”

Asked if Voorheesville should ever go over the state-set levy limit, Samson said, “I don’t think so. It looks like we wouldn’t have to,” he said, noting, “I’m also a taxpayer in the district.”

Samson added, “I wouldn’t make an absolute commitment about anything. Decisions should be fluid, based on the situation.”

On state-required tests, Samson said, “Standards absolutely have value.”

He went on, about large numbers of students opting out of the tests, “I do see both sides. I don’t have enough information to make a decision yet.”

Noting this will be his first time on a school board, Samson said, “I’m eager to learn. I don’t want to draw any lines in the sand. I’m open to hearing all views.”

On a capital project, Samson said, “Some of the stuff is obviously needed. We have to keep buildings up to date. The high school windows are from when it was built. We have to keep up the roofs and boilers.”

He returned to his theme of community engagement, saying, “I’d like to see broader involvement.” Samson mentioned the forum where Superintendent Brian Hunt had outlined the capital project and said that, after that, there should be more “outreach to the community.”

“At the last board meeting, he talked about alternatives for the bus garage. That’s a sticky point for many,” Samson said. The proposal involves moving the garage, which is old and cramped, next to the elementary school, over to the satellite athletic fields.

Samson noted there was talk of then converting the empty bus garage into a new elementary-school cafeteria, which would likely have to be funded later as a “future project,” he said.

Samson said he was not aware of grade inflation at Voorheesville. He noted that, when he was a student Colgate College, “People complained about grade deflation,” meaning students who were used to getting “A”s in high school found it difficult to do the same at Colgate.

“I’d like to see more statistical, hard evidence,” he said of trends in Voorheesville’s grading. “If there’s a problem, the faculty could be coached on standards.”

Samson concluded of his seeking a seat on the board, “Any time more people get involved, things get better. We have a ton of really good, smart people here in Voorheesville.”

C. James Coffin

NEW SCOTLAND — The longest-serving member of the Voorheesville School Board is taking on another term with vigor.

“We’re headed into new territory for the district,” said C. James Coffin. “A lot is new in the field of education. We need to strengthen our programs to keep up with the times.”

He went on, “We need to fill student time with programs that are relevant. We’re strengthening our science programs. We’re searching outside the district to find new programs for children that may not go  on to college.”

Coffin was first elected in the school board in 1989. He was beaten in one election but, when that candidate resigned, he was reappointed and has been re-elected ever since.

He and his wife have two grown children who are both Voorheesville graduates.

“I’ve got experience,” said Coffin, who at 74 has retired from a 32-year career with the State Education Department. He started his work for the education department in 1967 where for two decades he was involved with school facilities — expertise he believes will be useful for Voorheesville as it plans a capital project.

Coffin said, as a board member, although he serves all constituencies, his primary allegiance is to the students. “I’m excited about what we’re doing for the students,” he said. “That’s motivating me.”

He also said, “In some sense, establishing these programs can be a real battle because of the expense.”

Coffin went on, “We’re missing great opportunities for kids that need other options; they need to be able to find jobs...We walked away from the needs of many children when some in-house programs were dropped.” Schools across New York made cuts when state aid lagged in recent years.

Coffin said he wholeheartedly supports the $24 million budget proposal for which he voted.

“The superintendent we have now, Brian Hunt, has brought excitement to the district,” said Coffin. “He has guided the board of education with new approaches...We have more programs, stronger programs, and relevant programs.”

Speaking of his own priorities, Coffin said, “I personally want to increase the excitement level with our students. In junior and senior year, I want them involved in program. There were children that didn’t have an interest in what we were presenting.”

Coffin noted that there are a number of Voorheesville students who will do “something other than jump to college.” He went on, “So many things do not require a four-year degree and graduate work. There are strong careers in science and technology without going to college.”

Asked if Voorheesville should ever go over the state-set tax levy limit, Coffin said, “I don’t think it’s necessary. I could understand it if it’s truly needed.”

On students not taking required state tests, Coffin said, “We can’t prevent people from opting out. But it’s not a smart move. A test is a test is a test. I don’t understand what the harm is in having children take the tests.”

Coffin suggested it would be wiser to “fight the battle on what the program is.”

He went on, “The tests are part of the preparation for them going forward….These tests are very important for teachers to look at the program and see how children are reacting. The board of education has gotten valuable information over the last several years,” he said of analysis based on test performance.

“The tests form a basis to judge how programs are received. The information is helpful to teachers and students,” said Coffin. “You need a basis to make change.”

Using test results, Coffin said, “You can get right down to the nitty-gritty and see how a particular child is reacting. You have a basis to increase success.”

Coffin concluded, “Without information, you can’t solve problems.”

On the potential capital project, Coffin said, “It’s so important to maintain your facilities. I spent 20 years with school construction at the Education Department...You have to take care of your facilities. You can’t let them deteriorate.”

On Brian Hunt’s estimate for the maximum affordable cost, Coffin said, “Twelve-million dollars is about right for what we have to do. It’s been 30 or 40 years since anything’s been done in some places.”

On grade inflation, Coffin said, “There is a necessity to take a look at it. This is not the first time it has come up.”

During his decades-long tenure on the school board, Coffin said, the issue of grade inflation had been raised “at least three times.”

“Things don’t seem to get better around it,” he said. “People don’t want to deal with it...I’m convinced there is grade inflation to a certain extent.”

He concluded, “The major tests tell the truth. The bottom line is: Something needs to be done.”