Lawrence School Board Elections: David Sussman, Row A

Row A

By Dr. David Sussman

Issue of May 7, 2010/ 23 Iyar, 5770

There is a perfect storm about to hit the Lawrence School District. This time you have the chance to divert its damages. Three seats are up for grabs as incumbents Blisko, Marcus, and Sussman (ROW “A”), are preparing to hunker down for another three-year term. At the same time,  the Lawrence teachers’ contract is up for renegotiating. As some of you may remember, the last time the teachers’ contract was up for renegotiating, the existing school board awarded a sweetheart contract with not even  as much as one minute of extra teaching time for the children of the Lawrence School District. A repeat of this scenario, coupled with the fact that over 50% of the public school population is on free-or-reduced lunch, which places these youngsters in an at “risk situation” and in need of extra programs and extra teacher contact time, will create a devastating financial  blow to the Lawrence School District. You, my friends, will be responsible for cleaning up the mess, by incurring huge tax increases and decreased services from the school district.  Remember, even if budgets fail, labor will still get their raises.

The opponents who label themselves as community-minded candidates for “Pride in Diversity”  are part of and are backed by the same folks who sued the district in federal courts saying,” the Orthodox were turning the public school system into a Yeshiva.” They argued that Nachum Marcus should not be permitted to sit on the Board of Education because he is a rabbi. They further argued that the Orthodox Jewish community is a cabal of anti-American values. That is their definition of community. Agree with them or leave.

Today the incumbents,  Blisko, Marcus, and Sussman are part of an historic school board. We have followed a path that is educationally and financially sound and, in many ways, innovative. We discovered that only approximately 40% of the minority children entering the first grade could read. As a result our Board  instituted the ONLY full day Pre-K program on Long Island. Today, four years later, 96% of our kindergarten children read.

We tackled the question of increasing student contact time, within the limitations of  contractual obligations with our teachers. With thoughtful and creative scheduling, students have 30 days of additional teaching time at the middle school, with no increase in costs. That has allowed 5th grade middle school students to add a world language and home and careers courses. With additional changes we will now be able to fully integrate Academic Intervention Services (AIS) with no loss of classroom instructional time.

Every aspect of the Lawrence School District physical plant is being improved: every gym is being updated; every field is being refurbished; every building is being made handicap accessible; every lab is being redone; every locker is being replaced; auditoriums are being air conditioned; heating systems are being replaced;  roofs are being repaired; and, much, much more, is being done, to the tune of $17 million. And, what’s more, the taxpaying public did not have to sustain even the first dollar to  pay for these improvements! The proper and timely consolidation of under-utilized school buildings provided the revenue for these maintenance projects that were previously deferred for more than 30 years.

How can our opponents argue that they are prepared to negotiate a teachers’ contract when they admit to never even reading the existing contract? Look at their friends and supporters. They talk of “community.” What sort of “community” do they support? Even the federal judge called their lawsuit frivolous and those who brought it “nefarious.”  Focus on that word “nefarious.” Asked to distance themselves from the lawsuit and its supporters, the opponents not only refused, but admitted they did not even care to read the lawsuit because they aligned themselves with those that  initiated it. With all that has been accomplished by this Board, the opponents continue to support those who pervert the truth and embrace the concept that Orthodox Jewish voters do not even have the right to participate in community school board decisions

My friends, this year there is much at stake. With three seats up for grabs and the negotiation of the $200 million teachers’ contract on the agenda, every vote counts. So, do you vote for those who talk the talk but do not walk the walk? Or, do you vote for three dedicated individuals, Blisko, Marcus, and Sussman who are homeowners, parents, and proven incumbents who have demonstrated concern for an entire community by improving the educational opportunities of all community children, and the taxpaying public that supports the schools? I urge you to consider that the devastation that could follow this perfect storm could cripple our community for years to come. Vote Row “A,” Blisko, Marcus, Sussman. Every vote is needed.