KNOX — was elected to the board in 2004 and voted out in 2007.  He is making a run to reclaim a seat he lost in a four-way race for two seats last year.

Ackroyd formed his own business in 1985.  A veteran who left Berne-Knox-Westerlo to serve in Cambodia and Vietnam, he is now semi-retired and lives on the Berne-Knox border.  Ackroyd is married and has four grown children.

He said he prefers five-year terms to three-year terms for board members.

“In all honesty, it takes you two to three years on the board before you really understand thoroughly what’s going on,” he said.  “Three years, in my opinion, is too short.

“In discussions with the people who actually voted onto it — the last time we changed it from five to three — the board members who were there at the time said, ‘You know, we made a mistake,’” Ackroyd said. 

It’s since been put up for a revote once, he said, and it was voted down. 

“[I’m] hoping they’ll put it back up again and get it to change back to five years,” Ackroyd said.  “This board here, actually, for the last two years, has neglected to do that — to get it on the ballot in time for a revote.”

This spring, Ackroyd was one of three members from the community who served on BKW’s budget advisory committee.  The committee, with the school board and administration, designed the school’s proposed budget for next year.   

“The committee that I was on gave a lot of input in discussions,” Ackroyd said.  “The majority of the information that was given to us was given to us by the business administrator and the administration.  In all honesty, they were the ones who brought up the figures,” he said.  “With a little bit of guidance from the advisory committee?  Yes.  And one particular member of the board who wanted a low tax increase.”

During budgeting, school board member Helen Lounsbury advocated for a zero-percent tax-levy increase.  Her proposal was defeated 3-2.  As BKW’s budget now stands, the tax levy — the amount to be raised from property taxes — will increase 1.95 percent if the budget is approved on May 20. 

“In my opinion,” Ackroyd said, “I think the board should be more involved into it, with an understanding of the budget and how the budget works.  In all honesty, I don’t believe most of them know how it works.”

On the number of residents who served on the committee, Ackroyd said, “Three was fine.  And, again, in all honesty, it was the administration and the business agent that put it together,” he said.  “We offered our discussions…We didn’t go into the books of the school.”

The budget committee was put into place a number of years ago by a previous administration and a different board, he said, after a budget shortfall was discovered.  “Got the district in trouble, and it took a number of years to get out of trouble,” he said. 

On recognizing BKW’s top two graduates, Ackroyd said, “I was on the board, I believe, when they changed it over to, I think it was a top 10 or a certain percentage, versus just two people.

“I’ve seen most schools are getting away from the valedictorian and salutatorian and agree with it,” he said.  The only thing it would hurt, he said, is when scholarships are available to only those two people. 

“I think that should be looked into and see if it is going to hurt any of the future students at the district.  If it is, then we may have to go back to it,” Ackroyd said.   

“Can we still use this?” he asked.  “Can the students still get this scholarship if they’re seeking it or if they’re qualified?”

On BKW’s programs, Ackroyd said, “I don’t know of any to be added.  I would look at the administration, also the PTA, to come in with any suggestions of new programs, similar to when they brought in…the language in the elementary school.” 

Last year, PTA leaders approached the board and encouraged them to offer foreign language during school hours and said the school’s after-school program had outgrown itself.  Foreign language is now offered in the elementary school. 

“I was on the board then, and we wholeheartedly OK’d it,” Ackroyd said.  “I believe that some of the programs that are going on now, and also classes that are going on now, should be looked at to see if they are still needed,” he said.  “Many times, things are added on and nothing is ever taken away.  And with the population, as we’re seeing, of students going down, do we, in fact, need all the courses that we have now available?”

On unfunded mandates, Ackroyd said, “That’s with working with the legislature mostly and local legislation.  As far as lobbying to have more funded mandates from the state, I am nervous about that happening, just looking at the tax rolls, the taxes in the state, and our new governor looking at cutting expenses for the state.  That makes me nervous on what’s going to be happening to school districts throughout the state.

“In time,” he said, “the school will need tax relief.”

Fuel costs are now going up and fewer people may be moving to rural areas, which would mean less tax revenue and higher taxes for the people who are there, said Ackroyd. 

“So, do we need tax relief?  Sure we do,” he said.

On special-needs students, Ackroyd said, “I would say again that we approach the legislature to grant us money or help us with relief for that.  There’s been an effort in the past to keep as many of the handicapped children with us into the schools to keep the costs down.

“I’m sensitive to this area.  I carry handi-capped myself,” he said,  “and think that every effort should be given to give them the best quality education that they can be given and request…as much help as we can get.”