Susan Parker announces candidacy as a Syosset School Board Trustee

I live and work in Syosset, and have been a proud Syosset School District parent for 21 years.  Prior to that, I earned a BS in Marketing from Binghamton University, and an MBA from Boston University.  Since the eldest of my 3 sons entered kindergarten more than two decades ago I have been an active, visible and effective participant in our school system.  I’ve attended the majority of school board meetings since 1992, served in volunteer leadership roles in elementary, middle and high school PTAs and sat on various District committees.  In the process, I’ve developed a deep insight into the inner workings of our district, as well as a reputation for integrity and honesty.   I’ve chosen to run for the School Board to couple all of this experience with my deep and personal commitment to the success of our children.   

The role of a School Board Trustee was always an important one, as it is the Board’s responsibility to set policies for the District.  That role has become increasingly difficult, however, as the District struggles to maintain its outstanding achievements during the tough economic times we are currently all facing.  In addition, the New York State tax cap, APPR, mandatory testing, and other New York State unfunded mandates add to the complexity.

As a result of the many requests from the community for budget workshops, the Board instituted them this year.  The current draft of the proposed budget for the 2013-2014 school year provides for the retention of every student program and teacher, while staying within the tax cap limitation.  With state aid still being an unknown, it is likely that a fairly large percentage of the District’s reserves will have to be utilized to offset the proposed expenditures.  Some of the funds, if unused, can be “returned” to the taxpayer in the following year’s budget.  The budget draft does not provide enough detail to see if there are certain items which can be combined, reduced or renegotiated to lower the total dollar expenditures, which is something I would pursue as a Board Trustee.

The Board is in a “transitional” state, and I hope to bring knowledge, intellect, and respect which fulfill the expectations of our community.  As an independent thinker, it’s exciting to be able to be part of a changing and evolving Board with diverse viewpoints and experiences. My own background would certainly be an asset  Please vote on May 21, 2013