GUILDERLAND — Barbara Fraterrigo, who has been on the Guilderland School Board for 10 years, is seeking re-election with the goal of extending opportunities for "every kid to excel to the best of their abilities."
Describing herself as "patient" and "quietly persistent," Fraterrigo said it has taken a decade to realize some of her goals. For example, she said, she wanted students to learn lifesaving skills like CPR and first aid in school.
"We’re finally beginning that this year with an elective block in high school phys. Ed.," said Fraterrigo. "The kids are very enthused by it."

She’s also pleased that the Foreign Language Early Start program, to introduce Spanish in the primary grades, is included in next year’s budget proposal.
"Not only does introducing a second language help students culturally, said Fraterrigo, who has pushed for the program for eight years, "but it helps them learn their own native tongue."

Fraterrigo was out of the country last week when The Enterprise interviewed the other four candidates, running for three seats in the May 15 election, about a half-dozen issues. She spoke to the issues this week.
Being a school-board member, said Fraterrigo, is a "balancing act."
Asked about which constituency had her primary allegiance, and given the example of choosing between combining English and social-studies supervisor posts at the high school as recommended by the superintendent this year to save $65,000 or maintaining the two posts as the faculty requested, Fraterrigo said, "Yes, we could save $65,000, but at what cost" I strongly advocated maintaining the two posts."
With the turnover in the staff, she said, "It’s critically important to have someone certified in the field." Teachers, she said, are the district’s greatest strength and they need to be mentored. "Our students could potentially suffer," she said, if teachers aren’t properly supervised.
"The students cannot be successful if they don’t partner well with teachers, parents, and community members," she said.
Fraterrigo also said that she "certainly" supports the proposed $82 million budget. "It’s well-crafted," she said, noting she raised some objections along the way. "It’s a democracy, you listen to the people, and take a vote and that’s that."
She noted that she had voted against hiring a technology supervisor at this point. "I wanted to wait until we got the EXCEL program started...I tend to be a bit of a penny pincher," she said.
Fraterrigo also said, "I’m a show-me type person." She said that, although she is "always for enrichment," she voted against the middle-school enrichment teacher because what that teacher would do wasn’t "fleshed out." And, Fraterrigo noted, she was "very supportive" of the additional technology course for sixth-graders. "We’re in the technology age," said Fraterrigo.
She also said about school security, "In light of recent happenings, I would advocate for full-time door monitors...I know it would be a cost, but it would be worth it if it protected one child from harm."
On the qualities needed in a new superintendent, Fraterrigo said, "I certainly would be looking for a leader with a vision...one that has good writing and communication skills and a history of collegiality with staff and employees." The new superintendent, she said, should also listen well.
As far as the superintendent’s relation to the school board, Fraterrigo said, "The superintendent is the only direct employee of the school board. He is not a voting member by law. He works closely with the board and advises us...In the end, it’s up to the school board to thoughtfully reflect on the administration’s views and see how closely they align with the citizens’ views. The board has to weigh and measure and proceed from there."
On the teachers’ contract to be negotiated in the upcoming year, Fraterrigo said, "Right now, we’re in the middle of the salary range for the Suburban Council districts. We need to maintain a good teaching staff...
"On the other hand, we’ve heard from the Citizens’ Budget Committee that raises have exceeded the cost of living. We’ll have to carefully consider the needs of the taxpayers and the needs of the students. You don’t want a brain drain of the teachers because our salaries are not competitive."
Fraterrigo went on, "This will take thoughtful reflection. In the old days, the benefits to teachers for health and retirement were because their salaries were so low." Salaries have gone up, she said, and health-care costs have "skyrocketed."
On Guilderland’s reading curriculum and recent complaints about it from several parents, Fraterrigo said, "I think the board really does have a role in responding to parents’ complaints....Over the years, I’ve been identified as a listener....I’ve heard from so many people, particularly in special ed. areas, to look at the reading program....
"Are we giving enough money to our staff so they are appropriately trained for these situations" Do we need to have more remedial reading teachers""
Fraterrigo said she had done some research on dyslexia and learned, "Specific methodologies allow a dyslexic person to be very successful." She went on, "I’d like to see us with trained people to offer these modalities. One of my main emphases has been to work to get every child to whatever potential they can reach."
Responding to comments made by Chris Claus, the president of the teachers’ union, about "a chilling message of distrust" sent by board members substituting their judgment about an academic program for that of professional staff, Fraterrigo said, "No one said teachers had failed students. They felt the system could have done more...
"When Chris said we’re getting political, that surprises me. The union endorses candidates every year. If that isn’t political, what is" The parents are just saying that there are other methods out there. They want their kids to achieve at a higher level."
Fraterrigo said she would like to see parents on curriculum cabinets. "It brings a fresh perspective," she said. Referring to another board member, she went on, "Colleen O’Connell says it’s important to have members on the board with kids in school; that’s valuable. It’s also important to have as much input as we can from the community."
Fraterrigo concluded of the board, "We are the conduit for people to express their points of view. The reading curriculum keeps surfacing...We need to investigate...collegially with the teachers and administration....If it takes more money to hire more teachers or have more professional development, I’m all for that."
Finally, Fraterrigo served on the committee that studied the length of the school day but came up with no recommendation. She called it "the most frustrating" committee she had served on. "It was like an amoeba," she said. "You push on one thing and it squirts out another part."
She went on, "The only way we can change in our own district is the starting time of the elementary day, which will involve negotiating with the teachers’ union. The trend nationwide is to increase the length of the elementary day. The learning needs have skyrocketed from the days of yore. The kids are capable of it; they embrace it."
Fraterrigo served 10 years ago on the early childhood advisory committee and recalled the committee found it would cost $350,000 at a "bare minimum" to move from the current half-day to a full-day kindergarten program.
She estimated the cost would be at least double that now and termed it "expensive."
"The state will mandate it probably in the next five years," said Fraterrigo, noting that parents in two-income families "really want a full-day program now."
"You’re going to have to come up with the bucks," said Fraterrigo, concluding, "I don’t think, at the moment, we can jump the gun...There are so many other demands and needs we have to fund....
"It breaks my heart when I see all the things we’ve lost at the high school over the course of my 10 years. Children are our greatest natural resource."