Schools

Sayville BOE Race: Q&A With Laura Valente

As the school budget vote and board election nears Patch talks with candidates on the issues.

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.

In the Sayville School District there is one contested election. Challenger Laura Valente is running against current BOE President Raymond Nelson.

Full Name: Laura Valente
Years in District
: 5
Children in District
: 2
Occupation
: University Administrator
Educational Level
: Doctorate in Education Administration
Special skills/licenses/accomplishments you believe will help in your role as a board
:25 years experience in education administration, including supervision in a union environment and management of large budgets; five years as an elected Stony Brook University Senator. Experienced in public speaking including giving presentations at regional and national conferences and offering paid and “pro bono” staff training and development seminars. Founding Director of the Master’s in Higher Education program at Stony Brook University.

Find out what's happening in Sayville-Bayportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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

There is no doubt that the most difficult challenge facing the district for the foreseeable future is maintain the high quality of education in Sayville while adhering to the tax cap. The pressures on the district through unfunded state mandates, reductions in state aid, and generous compensation packages all combine to require a new approach to school budget processes. We must be open to creative solutions and not settle for the status quo.

Find out what's happening in Sayville-Bayportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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.

I will look to seek savings in the area of staff health care costs by reducing the district’s health insurance contribution from 85% to 70% over a period of three to five years.

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.

I am not in favor of consolidating school districts. Many people chose to live in Sayville precisely because of the small school district. Further, I believe the savings would be minimal and would be reduced by necessary changes in transportation and other required services. 

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

I believe that we need to maintain a balance between the confidential nature of personnel matters and the needs of the community.  There may be aspects of teacher evaluations that should be open to the public, but the issue deserves careful consideration before a final determination is made.

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

I will work to make the board more responsive to the needs and wants of the community.  The members of the board must work to ensure that all constituencies are considered carefully. The board is not an extension of the teachers and administration, but rather should work with the administration of the district to ensure that the needs of children come first in any decision.


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