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ELMSFORD, N.Y. – As the Elmsford school board readies to start the new academic year in September, it kicked off the season by re-electing Matthew Evans as president and Betty Funny-Crosby as vice president.
On Wednesday, the board convened in the Alice E. Grady Elementary School's library for its annual organizational meeting. Evans and Funny-Crosby were joined by Superintendent of Schools Barbara Peters and Trustees Josephine Bazan-Bass, Felice Habersham-Harris and Michael Colasuonno.
"We want to continue improving," said Evans, who has served on the board since 2007. "It's a mentality of having continuous improvement. You never settle, and you keep going with that cycle. And you make sure that you're meeting the needs of the students and meeting the needs of the community."
In May, the Elmsford community passed the school district's $30.2 million budget. Funny-Crosby said that with the money, she hopes for academic improvement and more community outreach.
"My hope for the year would be that we serve the students and the community of Elmsford to the best of our ability," said Bazan-Bass.
"Our focus is to look at student achievement on every level," said new board member Habersham-Harris, who was elected in May. "We want to prepare our students for life and for a lifetime of learning."
Colasuonno, who was elected to the school board alongside Habersham-Harris, is a former trustee who returned after a few years off. Colasuonno estimates that he has been an Elmsford Board of Education member for about 25 years.
"I'm always glad to help," he said, "and since my forte is the financial end of it, I look at the finances and stuff like that."
Evans is beginning his second year as Elmsford school board president, and he thanked his fellow board members for re-electing him to the position.
"It's an honor to be president and for your colleagues to have that level of faith in you," Evans said. "But something I believe in is that leadership is not in your title. It's in the things that you do. So it's an honor just for them to have that level of confidence in me, but the work will get done regardless."
The board will next meet at an undecided date in late July or early August to discuss goals for the coming year.
Comments (1)
Possible Board agenda for the coming year:
1. Hold administrators accountable for the performance of their staff (teachers).
2. Fill vacancies strategically, you get what you pay for, let's hire tried and true professionals. Its nice to give someone their first shot at the "big chair" (everyone has to start somewhere), but sometimes you need a veteran (we need veterans).
3. Realize the impact of the school tax burden on the average tax payer (maybe this should be #1);
- Elmsford property values are at an all time low, the ratio of taxes paid versus property value is one of the highest in the County;
- A cost benefit analysis should be part of any discussion for plans to implement programs, capital projects, staff, tree plantings, anything having to do with real $$ expenditures
4. Investigate the potential of a collaboration with another school board. One that may be considered better performing. Essentially a mentor program for our School Board. Share ideas on policies, strategic planning, overcoming obstacles with staff, etc.
5. Think out of the box and as if the money was coming out of your wallet. The community depends on your dedication and choices, take them seriously and act for what is right not is what is popular.