Schools
B-BP BOE Candidate Race: Profile of Challenger Mike Miller
The 2013 B-BP Board of Education election features one contested race.
With school budget and board elections happening Tuesday, May 21 Patch offers up insight on the four candidates running for Bayport-Blue Point Board of Education.
There is just one contested race this year. Longtime incumbent and Board President James March is being challenged by Blue Point resident Mike Miller, who's making his second bid for election.
The other two candidates are incumbent trustee Leonard Camarda, who is uncontested for his seat, and newcomer Anthony Sanseviro who will be taking the seat of trustee Molly Licalzi who chose not to see re-election this year.
Patch asked each candidates the same questions to provide readers and voters insight on their background, reasons for running and what they hope to accomplish.
Full Name: Michael Miller
Age: 27
Resident of which town and for how long: I have lived in Blue Point for 5 years.
Children: None
Political Party: Democrat
Have you run for any other office, school board or otherwise?
This is my second attempt running for the Bayport-Blue Point Board of Education.
Occupation:
I have been a physical education teacher for five years.
Why are you running or seeking re-election?
The biggest reason I am seeking election to the Bayport-Blue Point Board of Education are the students, taxes, and over budgeting. Educating students is what I know, it is the reason I became a teacher. Taxes continue to rise while the communities revenue stays constant or is declining. We have board members who vote yes to raising taxes, instead of giving back to the community. I have knocked on many doors in the last two years, and the biggest complaint is taxes. This is why I feel we need change, why move backwards while we can make a change and move forward. As a member of the budget advisory committee, the assistant superintendent of finances acknowledges that we are 2.5 million dollars over budgeted. How can the board allow this to happen? People need to be held accountable and realize that business as usual is over. I want to be able to give back to the community and this is the best way I know how.
How do you define the role of a school board trustee?
According to the New York State School Boards Association a school board trustee focuses on vision, goals, and policy. In other words, the board oversees the education of students and is responsible for the school district operations, but does not directly run the districts day-to-day operations. The major roles and responsibilities of a school board trustee is a representative of the entire community, steward of the districts resources, leader of the district, and advocate for public education. If elected I would be apart of setting the districts direction, ensuring alignment with all standards and rules, assessing and accounting for progress, and continuously growing the district.
What is the top issue or concern you want to solve as a trustee in the upcoming school year (2013-2014)?
The biggest issues we are facing is the tax levy cap, over budgeting, and contract negotiations. We need to do more with less. Everyone in the district must understand the economical times we are in. We must work with all bargaining units in order to ensure we are thinking about the tax payer. A fair contract would be one where both sides are frustrated with the outcome but can live with it. If elected I would oppose any over budgeting in next years budget. We do not need to keep funding our fund balance, it is already over 10 million dollars.
Are you in favor of the state tax levy cap? If so yes, if not why.
Yes, the calculations are hard to understand but there are many exemptions. With all the exemptions allotted under the cap, we should always be under the cap. After a school district calculates its tax levy limit, it then adds exemptions into that amount. These exemptions allow the district to propose a tax levy greater than the amount set by the limit without requiring 60 percent of the voters to pass the budget. These exemptions or factors that don’t count against the cap include voter approved local capital expenditures; increases in the state mandated employer contribution rates for teacher and employee pensions that exceed two percentage points; and court orders/judgments resulting in any amount that exceeds 5 percent of a district’s current levy.
Why should residents vote you onto the school board?
I work in a school and know what a school district needs and does not need to run effectively. I am a young fresh perspective who is willing to ask the hard questions and hold people accountable. I worked harder than anyone last year, and I worked harder than anyone this year. I am the only one who is walking around the community knocking on doors, and asking the community what they like and what they would like changed. I just hope my hard work does not go overlooked. I want everyone to see how hard I work and how hard I will work if I get elected. This year comes down to two types of voters, the status quo or the change vote. Let me be the change we need.
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