Meet the Candidate: Liz Cullen

The Brewster Board of Education election—along with the vote for the proposed 2012-2013 budget—is just days away.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday (May 15) at . The budget comes in with a 1.8 percent tax levy increase, and a 2.2 budget increase, at $84,074,419. Three spots on the Board are open. Members serve three-year terms.

The following candidates will appear on the ballot, along with the option to vote for a write-in:

Patch reached out to each of the individuals listed above and asked the same set of questions. We also spoke to Liz Cullen, who is running a write-in campaign. Cullen is bilingual, a teacher at a local head-start program and a 10-year Southeast resident. She does not currently sit on the Board.

Here's what Cullen had to say:

• Why are you seeking a seat on the board, and why should people vote for you?

I lived in Southeast for over 10 years, have two children in , one in , one in . I interviewed in March to fill the vacancy caused by Roger Gross resigning. I never heard a word from the Board after the interview from any Board members, never thanked for interviewing. I believe the Board did not like my opinion that all options should be looked at to stay within the tax cap, including the number of administrators in our district. Cutting teachers should be a last resort, as teachers are the people that actually teach our children, and are on the front line of education. That is why schools exist, to teach.       

• With three openings and three candidates, this election is uncontested. Why do you suppose more people don't get involved, and what would you say to voters, parents and community members to encourage engagement around school issues?

No question serving on the school board is a big commitment in time, but parents need to be involved in their children's education. If not serving on the school board, they should join the PTA, and let their thoughts be known. The school budget is 80 percent of your property tax bill, so taxpayers should look at where the district is spending their money.  

• What are the top issues facing the board for the 2012-13 school year?

No question the consolidation of schools, with being closed. What will become of Garden Street? Can it be sold? Will the district be able to absorb more children in our schools if the population of school-age children increase?  There is a approved development in the works on Deans Corner Road, which will have at some point 100 new homes, maybe an additional 200 children can enter our system down the road. How are we going to save money in 2013-14 school year? Would privatizing the district's transportation and food services save the district money? After two years of no new school buses, are we going to need to buy several buses all in one year, if we do not privatize the transportation department?   

• Do you support repealing the Triborough Amendment that keeps terms of expired union contracts in place until new agreements are reached?

Yes, but that is out of the school board's hand, it has to be done on the state level. There is no incentive for teachers unions to negotiate a new contract, if the current expired contract remains in place. Some districts (Buffalo) have expired contracts for years, because the unions do not want to accept any givebacks, in these tough times. 

• Would you support changing the state's pension systems for teachers and other public employees? If so, what type of changes would you want to see?

I believe that was done with the New Tier 6. This is not going to produce any savings for decades, because this is for new employees only, and I do not foresee new teachers being hired for sometime. I think the district needs to look at health care costs for employees and retirees. My husband asked the school board several weeks ago in a email how many years an administrators has to work in Brewster to be able to receive health care upon retirement, and what percent of health care costs the retired administrator has to pay, and they never answered him. Administrators tend to move from district to district in their careers, and while having enough time in the state teachers retirement system, they may have only worked for Brewster for a couple of years. Health care cost is a big expense to the district.      

• Are you in support of the property tax cap? Why or why not?

I am not in favor of the tax cap. It places a big burden on the district to remain in the cap. Let the voters decide what they will support when they vote on the budget. 

• What is your position on the current "last in, first out" system in place that gives priority to retaining teachers with more seniority, in situations of job cuts?

I do not agree with the last in first out system. This does not give an incentive to more senior teachers to teach to their best ability, since their job is protected by these rules. Some of the best and brightest teachers will be laid off this year, just because they were the last hired. Again, this has to be addressed at the state level, by the Governor and state legislature.    

• Is there anything we haven’t asked that you would like the public to know about you or your candidacy?

While my name is not printed on the ballot, I ask the voters to consider me, as I will be a independent voice, and my only motive in running is to give our children the best education possible. C.V. Starr is already classified as a school that needs help, according to New York State. A big reason for this, is class sizes being large, making it hard for teachers to teach. We as a district need to look at all line items in the budget to save money, and laying off teachers should always be the last choice possible. So, please fill in the oval for write-in, and print neatly "Liz Cullen."

Click here for more information on the budget.