Meet the School Board Candidate: Elizabeth Cullen

Four residents are running for two seats on the board of education for the Brewster Central School District, and the vote is next week. Polls at Brewster High School will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 21. Voters will decide on a $85,713,070-budget—which carries a 2.29-percent budget-to-budget increase and a 1.94-percent tax levy increase—for the 2013-2014 academic year.Here is a list of the candidates:

• Daniel E. Armstrong: Click for a video of Armstrong, who ran last year 
• Elizabeth Cullen: 48 years old, elementary school teacher who has lived in Southeast for 12 years
• Diane O'Brien: 48 years old, stay-at-home mom who has lived in Southeast for 20 years
• S. Peter Pastore (incumbent): 48 years old, New York City firefighter who has lived in Southeast for 13 years 

Patch reached out to the individuals listed above. Each person who replied received the same set of questions. Response format varied. Here's what Cullen had to say:

Bio

• Substitute teacher – Brewster School District 
• Longtime volunteer CCD Teacher – St. Lawrence O'Toole Church 
• 12-year resident of Southeast 
• Mother of two Brewster students (Henry H. Wells Middle School and C.V. Starr Intermediate School) 

What strengths would you bring to the board? 
As a parent and substitute teacher, I have been in the classrooms of JFK, CV Starr and when Garden Street was open substituting there also. I have spoken to teachers and parents, it is important to connect to the educator that is in the classroom with our children. Students need to come first. 

What issues facing the district do you feel most strongly about? 
I would like to increase school security, as cost effectively as possible, would like to hire school patrol officers (SPOs). The board should consider looking into purchasing future buses that would convert to clean air. Funding is available through New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. We also need to control spending. Administrative school costs in Brewster are highest in Putnam County, as per the Journal News – May 2012. 

Describe the quality of education you think students are getting in the district. Are there measures you would take to improve upon it?
I think our children are getting a good education. I am happy with the quality of education my children are receiving from the HH Wells Middle School and CV Starr Intermediate School. I would like to start a drug-prevention program at the middle school level. 

Contract negotiations just wrapped up. Describe how you see the current state of labor relations in the district.
I personally think it is strained. The teachers gave back $1 million in order for jobs to be saved. However, the district felt it necessary to hire another administrator at a cost of $175,000.

What do you think the long-term impact of the tax cap will be on Brewster schools? (Do you support or think it's hurting public education?)
In theory a tax cap is a good idea, but when expenses such as health care, insurance, pensions and fuel get higher than 2-percent, the district if forced to make cuts. These cuts will hurt our children. The state needs to give relief for unfunded mandates. 

What do you think about the Common Core standards? Will they benefit Brewster students?
The Common Core standards are implemented by the New York State Education Department. I think our students will benefit from them. The English Language Arts test assesses students’ reading, writing and language abilities. The mathematics test assesses student ability to apply mathematical understanding and practices. Brewster students need to be ready to compete with other students from other districts, when applying to college and eventually in the workplace. 

Are there specific ideas you would support when it comes to the future of Garden Street school?
I would work with the Village of Brewster government to come up with options for the future of the building. I would like to see the building sold, and restored to the tax rolls, benefiting all layers of government, which would include an infusion of money to the school district with the sale of the building. A decision needs to be made about the Garden Street School. The building has been empty for a year now. 

Is there anything we haven’t asked that you would like the public to know about you or your candidacy? 
I would make myself available to the taxpayers of Brewster, to hear their concerns and ideas; I want to make our schools the best they can. 

Click here and here for posts featuring the other candidates.

Editor's note: Responses have been edited for style but not substance.