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Fair Editorial: Fine-tuning needed, not dramatic change
Issue of May 15, 2009 / 21 Iyar 5769
Some things improve with age, others not so much — Lawrence school board elections come to mind.
In the case of the current board our front page story shows that public school principals, the people who actually have to implement the board's directives and decisions and live with the consequences day to day, give the members of the board generally good grades albeit with room for improvement.
The comment most often heard about the board, echoed by candidates, supporters and critics alike, is that the board falls down on the job of communicating with its constituency. We noted this in an editorial in this space almost two years ago and unfortunately, not much has changed in that regard. That said, much has changed in the district overall, and very much for the better, with all due credit going to the board members who have tamed the budget and simultaneously improved student performance. In that sense, the board itself has the opportunity to improve with age, if only its members would care to make the effort. A lot of good things are happening in the district and if the board did a better job of getting that message out — improving the lines of communication between themselves and their constituents — we are certain it would go a long way toward winning support from public school parents who still don't know what to make of a board of mostly private school parents, or who have already made up their mind to the negative.
The thought has occurred to us that were a public school parent to run for the board who was a proven moderate, with a track record that proved he or she could interact respectfully and fruitfully with private school and public school parents alike — on the board and in the community — that would be someone we would want to endorse. That has not happened this year.
In District 15 Michael Hatten has decided to not run for re-election. We thank him for his distinguished service and endorse Abel Feldhamer of Cedarhurst to succeed him.
Feldhamer has already offered a number of years of service to the community behind the scenes, quietly directing several successful election campaigns. He would be a valuable addition to the board and we urge Dist. 15 voters to support him.
Uri Kaufman is running for re-election and he has our support, as well.
Kaufman's challenger, Barry Ringelheim of Atlantic Beach, has distinguished himself in what we would consider to be the worst possible way. His oftentimes factually inaccurate, usually hateful public statements about public school politics, the board and private school families, in print and in person, reveal him to be a definitively poor choice, at best, for any sort of public office in our community.
We urge voters in Dist. 15 to support the proposed budget. For the first time in several years the proposal is lower than the current operating budget, a goal that was achieved without eliminating any school or extra-curricular programs. Obviously, there will be savings realized by the closing of the Number Six School including the elimination of more than 80 positions. This is a tough but necessary move that reflects a shrinking enrollment.
We also support the Peninsula Public Library budget, which will also be on the ballot in Dist. 15, listed as Proposition Two. A slight increase in the budget reflects increases in materials in circulation and 900 new library cards - 900 new children and adults reading the libraries offerings — issued since last year.
In District 14 we endorse incumbents Stephen Witt, Marcy Goldberg and Jill Stern for re-election. They have done a fine job, collectively, and while their challengers, Mitchell A. Greebel and Fred Usherson are strong candidates in their own rights, we see no compelling reason for change this year.
We also support the Dist. 14 budget that reflects a 3.77 percent increase but also difficult reductions including the elimination of the positions of Director of Technology, and Executive Coordinator of Community Education and Services.
Related Stories:
Good grades for Dist. 15 board but room to improve
