BBP BOE Race: Q&A With John Lynch

Patch is asking all school board candidates to complete a Q&A to offer up insight on why they're running and their respective qualifications and backgrounds for serving on a school board. All board candidates are asked the same set of questions and also asked to provide some bio information.

Here is the Q&A for John Lynch, who is vying against fellow newcomer Mike Miller for the two-year seat now held by current BOE Vice President Andrea O’Neill.

O'Neill is seeking re-election and is running for the three-year seat of current trustee Kathy Heinlein who is not seeking re-election this year.

Full Name: John Lynch
Residency: 50+ years
Children in district: Three all graduated from BBP schools.
Education: a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Marist College and an MBA from C.W. Post L.I.U. 
Occupation: He served as an infantry officer in the US Army in Vietnam and is semi-retired after a career in finance and operations
Related Experience: A trustee and a member of the Finance Committee at Our Lady of the Snow and has served on the BBP Budget Advisory Committee for four years, including the last two years as chairman. 

What is the biggest/top issue facing the school district and what is one proposal you have for solving it?

The major issue facing our district and taxpayers is financial due to the recently passed 2% tax levy cap which I am in favor.  In the past three years, the school district budget has increased on average 3.49 %.  Going forward it will be a challenge to continue to provide and improve educational opportunities for our students while reducing expenses in line with the tax cap. The BOE must ensure that the new superintendent shares our vision that any future proposed budget reductions do not negatively impact our students through program reductions. 

Next year’s budget will likely be tougher than this year’s in the quest to meet the tax cap. Name one specific budget area you believe can be reduced going forward.

As salaries and benefits comprise 75% of the school budget, we must focus on the rate of growth in salaries and benefits through constructive discussions with all the bargaining units, including the contract with our new superintendent.  We should continue to work with our NYS elected officials on the repeal of the Triborough Amendment and relief from unfunded mandates.

Consolidation is a hot topic during budget and board election time. Do you favor consolidating school district operations wherever possible, and what is one specific area you believe would be a substantial cost-savings. If you don’t favor it, name one specific reason why not.

Although consolidation of school districts may result in substantial cost savings in the long term, it will not happen in the foreseeable future.  We must therefore focus on improving the management and effectiveness of our own district. 

Do you believe parents should have access to teacher evaluations? If yes, why, if no why.

No. Evaluations of any employee, including teachers, are meant to provide an honest dialogue and discussion on their strengths and weaknesses and provide assistance to improve a person’s performance.  Teacher evaluations should not be public. 

What is one specific goal you have established if elected to the board?

I will work with the Administration for more transparency for the services provided by BOCES and the associated costs.

There are two referendums Bayport-Blue Point taxpayers will vote on this year. Patch asked candidates to state whether they're in favor or not of the propositions:

Do you favor reducing the BBP school board from 7 to 5? No.
Do you favor the transportation proposal on the ballot this year? No.