New Scotland Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, April 19, 2012
Timothy Blow
By Anne Hayden
VOORHEESVILLE — Timothy Blow is finishing his fifth year on the school board, and has decided to run for re-election this year.
“I think the current board has had some good success at achieving our goals and objectives, and the relationship between the board, administrators, and teachers is a good one,” said Blow. “I feel I could continue bringing value to the board.”
Blow is the chief financial officer for Ballston Spa National Bank, and has lived in the school district for 22 years. He has three children — the oldest has already graduated, a daughter is a senior, and the youngest is in the eighth grade. Blow is active in the community, and with Catholic Youth Organization sports.
“Drafting the budget was very difficult,” said Blow. “There are always trade-offs; I wish we could do more to save certain programs, but the burden is on the taxpayers first and foremost.”
Blow said his ultimate goal is to make sure the district is spending money in the best way possible.
“It may be beneficial, at some point in the future, to go over the cap, if the case is compelling, but I’m not really in favor of doing that,” he said.
Blow said the board has to keep the tax situation in mind, and remember that there are a lot of senior citizens living in town, who may not be in favor of going over the tax-levy cap.
At a recent board meeting, during which parents protested some of the cuts the board proposed, Blow said, “A good majority of our voters are senior citizens, and to them, going from 2.43 percent to 2.5 percent is a big deal.”
He said this week, “It is ridiculous to live and work in New York State with the tax situation, and we have to keep our mind on that.”
The administrators have been creative in finding different revenue sources, and Blow said he believes the board must continue in that direction.
“It’s somewhat difficult to do in some respects, but I think we have to keep being creative,” he said.
Blow encouraged the boys’ freshmen basketball team and the boys’ volleyball team to put together a plan for self-funding, after the two teams were cut from the proposed budget for 2012-13.
“There is certainly a cost to the kindergarten program, but I think the benefits will far outweigh the costs,” said Blow this week. “I believe we’ll be able to tie the cost into the budget over the next two years.”
When parents, during the budget process, voiced concerns over large class sizes for second grade in 2012-13, Blow offered to discuss the issue with administrators.
“I believe we understand the second-grade class-size issue,” he said. “If there is anything we can do to address the problem, we will.”
At the next board meeting, Blow indicated that a discussion between parents and administrators had led to the decision to employ two teachers’ aids for next years second-grade class.
The “huge challenge,” according to Blow, is going to be trying to maintain and improve programming.
“I really think budget, revenues, and expense control will be hard to manage with the handcuffs we have,” he said this week.
“Everyone is trying to do what is best for the kids,” Blow concluded. “I think we have got three very good candidates, and taxpayers will be well represented no matter who wins.”