Brentwood School Voters Guide 2010

VOTING

8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the following elementary schools: Hemlock Park, Laurel Park, Loretta Park, Northeast, North, Oak Park, Pine Park, Southeast, Southwest

THE BUDGET

The district is proposing a budget of $304,088,227 for the 2010-11 school year, a decrease of 1.05 percent from the current $307,322,636 budget. The local tax levy would rise from $68,827,657 to $73,242,760 - a 6.41 percent increase.

The average house assessed at $35,000 would pay school taxes of $3,899 - an estimated increase of 4.95 percent over the current $3,715.

The proposed budget includes a freeze in teacher salaries for both contract raises and step increases, as well $900 individual pay cuts, which will be repaid without interest to teachers when they resign or retire.

Ninety teaching positions would be eliminated through both attrition and layoffs. Because the district is in negotiations with other bargaining units, other staff cuts have not been finalized.

District website:

www.brentwood.k12.ny.us

CANDIDATES

Incumbents George Talley and Lorraine Pace are running as a team against Kaliah Greene and Helen Moss for two seats that have three-year terms.

Kaliah Greene

BACKGROUND: Greene, 29, is administrative assistant to the vice president for planning and dean at St. Joseph's College. She has lived in the district for more than 20 years. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in broadcast journalism from Temple University and an executive MBA from St. Joseph's College. She is single and has no children.

ISSUES: Greene said the most important issues facing the district are "the education and safety of our children and the quality of life within the community." She said she hopes to work with residents, educators, business owners, faith-based and civic organizations and alumni to improve communication between the community and the board. She said she would work to expand gang prevention initiatives to include programs in the elementary and middle schools. She said she also hopes to create more community service opportunities that will instill "a sense of pride in the community."

Helen Moss

BACKGROUND: Moss, 60, works in medical billing at a hospital and previously worked as a financial analyst and a production analyst. She is single and has lived in the district for 33 years. Her two children both graduated from Brentwood High School. She previously served on the board from 2004 to 2007.

ISSUES: Moss said improving education and addressing the issue of violence in the community are her top priorities. "Our students are not being pushed to their full potential," she said. "It's the responsibility of the school board to set policies . . . that enable our staff to deliver the best education possible to each and every one of our students." She proposed instituting a K-12 anti-violence curriculum through the district's School Improvement Teams.

Lorraine Pace

BACKGROUND: Pace, 57, works as a zone manager in sales. She has lived in the district for 36 years. She and her husband, Mike, have two children, both graduates of Brentwood High School. Pace is president of the Brentwood Green Machine Marching Band Parents Association. She has served as president of the Southeast Elementary and East Middle PTAs and vice president of the high school PTSA. She has served as a Boy Scouts coordinator and is a leader in Daisies, Brownies and Cadettes. She has served on the district board for three years.

ISSUES: Pace said the most important issue facing the district is the surge in gang violence and graffiti in the area. "Our children, their families and the community at large have been victimized by their thoughtless acts of violence and defacing of property," she said. She said the district would continue to work with law enforcement and elected officials to rid the community "of this blanket of negativity and promote all that's good about Brentwood." She said she would continue to urge students to take part in the district's after-school activities.

George Talley

BACKGROUND: Talley, 63, has lived in the district for 55 years. He has served on the board since 2003 and is its president. He and his wife, Jane, have five children, three of whom attended district schools. Two others graduated from a Catholic high school. Talley has a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Queens College and is a manager for his family's vehicle leasing business.

ISSUES: Talley said the state of the economy is the most important issue facing the district. He said the economic downturn and unemployment have pushed young people to join gangs and have caused an increase in graffiti and violent crimes in the community. He said he would continue to urge the police to maintain increased patrols. He urged residents to "vote yes on our budget so we can maintain the after-school activities that keep our kids off the streets."