Greenport School Voters Guide 2010

VOTING

2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Richard "Dude" Manwaring Gym at the Greenport School.

THE BUDGET

The district is proposing a budget of $13,835,534 for the 2010-11 school year, an increase of 0.11 percent from the current budget of $13,820,704. The tax levy would rise 2.89 percent to $9,942,675 from the current levy of $9,663,287.

Homeowners will pay school taxes at a rate of $62.28 per $100 of assessed value, a 4.5 percent increase from the current $59.60 per $100 of assessed value.

The proposed budget includes a contractual increase of 4.2 percent in teacher salaries, as well as their step increase.

It also calls for a reduction of 4.8 teachers. Summer school would also be cut and driver's education, which used to be available at no cost, would be "pay as you go" and cost $600.

District website:

greenport.k12.ny.us

THE CANDIDATES

Incumbents Christina Volinski and Heather Wolf are running together against challenger Michael T. Reed for two seats. Terms are three years.

Michael T. Reed

BACKGROUND: Reed, 49, has lived in the district for 42 years. A baseball coach for Greenport High School, Reed previously owned a local automotive repair business, and he has a degree in auto and diesel from Denver Automotive and Diesel College. Reed and his wife, Aileen, have three children, one a graduate from the district and twins who attend school in the district.

ISSUES: Reed said the biggest issue in the district is economics and the infrastructure of the schools. He said the board needs to look at other districts and see how they are making ends meet, incorporating "bits and pieces" into the district. Reed said he wants to explore funds being available through the grant-writing process. He said he recognizes the burden placed on taxpayers and also believes that maintaining the quality of education in the district is essential. "I feel that finding the right balance should be the highest priority of being a responsible Greenport Board of Education member," he said.

Christina Volinski

BACKGROUND: Volinski, 43, has served on the board since 2007. She has lived in the district for 23 years and works as an advertising executive for a weekly newspaper. She and her husband, Darryl, have two children who both attend district schools. Volinski holds an associate degree in business from Hunter College.

ISSUES: Volinski said that with state aid decreasing in these difficult fiscal times, "we need to maintain a challenging curriculum while restoring our building." She said she will work to present a "conservative and responsible bond" to taxpayers and work toward consolidation of services with other school districts. She said she will also listen to parents, teachers, students and administrators and incorporate their ideas into the district.

Heather Wolf

BACKGROUND: Wolf, 49, has served on the board since 2007 and has lived in the district for eight years. She works as a program director for a media company. She and her husband, Andrew, have two children who attend school in the district. Wolf has a bachelor's degree from Tulane University and an MBA from Thunderbird School of International Management.

ISSUES: Wolf said that by next year, the district will have replaced all of its administrative team. "Having hired some great talent, we now face the challenge of helping them drive critical initiatives," she said, including a major building restoration project, implementation of Response to Intervention strategies, and expansion of the math, science, technology curriculum. Wolf said that as a management consultant, she has the "critical mentoring, team-building and facilitation skills that will help the district work through issues, build mutually beneficial solutions and communicate communitywide throughout implementation of change." She also said that as the mother of two students, she is committed to "maximizing the value of every tax dollar."