The candidates have varied views on the $93.7 million budget proposal, on Common Core standards and required tests, on contracts, and on what should be done about excess classroom space in the district.
Catherine Barber, who is seeking a fourth term on the school board, would like to see some of the tasks underway to completion. “So much is going on in education right now,” she said. “There’s a lot of news.”
Timothy Burke, who has regularly attended school board meetings since 2003 and served for five years on the district’s now-defunct Citizens’ Budget Advisory Committee, is making his first run for the board because he believes there is a lack of leadership.
Nicholas Fahrenkopf believes the school district needs to make long-range plans, and that his ability to analyze data to solve problems can help with that.
As a new school board member three years ago, Christine Hayes recalls taking a course where she learned “it takes a board member 2.6 years to become fully functional.” Hayes is at that point now. “I want to give back all that information I’ve been learning,” she said. “I’m learning more every day.”
Seema Rivera is a Guilderland High School graduate, a mother, a taxpayer, and an educator, all of which she says well qualify her for serving on the school board.
The central focus of next year's budget for the Guilderland Public Library is on setting aside funds to deal with problems arising in its 23-year-old building
Highway superintendents are largely pleased with extra state funds to fix winter damage; the Guilderland superintendent called the unlooked-for funds "awesome."
Nine-year-old William Cleveland ended the school-bus bullying that had been tormenting his sister because the bullies knew of his expertise in taekwondo; he used his confidence but no force.
