In Niskayuna, three current board members are running at large with Debbie Gordn seeking a second term on the board, Deavid Hudson seeking his fourth term and President Jeanne Sosnow seeking her third term.
Jeanne Sosnow
Biography:
Currently president of the board, Jeanne holds a BSBA from Bucknell University. She is president of the Capital District School Boards Association. Since moving to Niskayuna in 1990, Jeanne has been president of the PTO Council, Birchwood PTO and High School PTO and was on the Shared Decision Making Committee at Iroquois. She was a teaching assistant before being elected to the school board in 2004. She serves on numerous committees, including Policy and Audit, and is active in N-Cap and the Community Coalition. Jeanne and her husband Peter have three daughters who graduated from Niskayuna High School.
Why are you running for school board?
I wish to continue serving the community and to use the experience I have gained to keep the district strong academically and fiscally. I want to advance academic opportunities for students at all grades to best prepare them for the success after high school.
If elected, what do you hope to accomplish?
School districts in NY will face significant financial challenges next year and I hope to minimize the impact on instruction and student programming through creative problem solving and innovation. As the construction project ends, I would like to focus on long range planning for instruction, facility maintenance and other initiatives.
What is your opinion of the 2010-11 school budget?
This is a sound budget constructed with input from all levels. It focuses on instruction and enhances recent initiatives while making necessary reductions to keep the tax increase low. It makes responsible use of district reserve funds to prepare for the fiscal challenges coming in 2011-2012.
What would you bring to the school board?
Through my personal, professional and volunteer experiences, I bring leadership, focus, dedication, teamwork, and involvement in the greater education community. I am rooted in parent involvement and student support, and I bring a business/financial orientation, all of which contribute to a thorough discussion of issues to reach optimal decisions.
Additional comments:
It has been a privilege to serve in the Niskayuna School District with dedicated professionals, engaged students, active and involved parents, and a supportive community. I urge everyone to come out and vote on May 18.
David Hudson
Biography (100 words or less, please):
David Hudson of Story Avenue is seeking his fourth term on the Board of Education. He has participated on numerous district-level committees including the Safe Schools Committee, the Internet Safety Committee and Elementary Class Size Committee, and also worked to support the successful January 2006 building project effort. He is as voting delegate to the New York State School Boards Association and serves as secretary for the Capital District School Board Association. A past President of the Board, Mr. Hudson currently serves as school board liaison to Hillside Elementary, VanAntwerp Middle, Craig Elementary and the High School. He also serves as Board liaison to the Health Advisory and District Safety Committees, and is a member of the Board’s Policy Committee.
50 words or less each:
Why are you running for school board?
I enjoy the work I do on the board and would like to see the capital project to the end. Many important decisions will be made in the upcoming years and I hope my experience on the board will prove valuable.
If elected, what do you hope to accomplish?
Great schools and opportunities for our students at a reasonable cost, and a well run organization that is respected by it peer institutions.
What is your opinion of the 2010-11 school budget?
I supported the 2010-11 budget and believe it is the best budget possible given the uncertainty of the economy. It preserves programs for students while modestly increasing course offerings. Most importantly for the long term, it realizes permanent cost reductions in future budgets.
What would you bring to the school board?
Like any candidate, a set of unique experiences that make for a diverse board that represents the community. As a lifelong resident of Niskayuna and a graduate of Niskayuna schools, I have a sense of the history and traditions of the schools.
Debbie Gordon
Biography (100 words or less, please):Debbie currently serves on the School Board and is the Board Representative on the Health Committee, Safety Committee and Van Antwerp PTO. She was previously PTO Council co-president for the Niskayuna Central School District and served on Craig School’s PTO as co-president.
Gordon graduated from SUNY Binghamton with a BA in psychology and earned a Masters degree from Syracuse University. Gordon is a certified social worker who worked as a Rape Crisis Counselor in Syracuse.
Gordon and her husband, Brian, have lived in Niskayuna for the past 11 years. Their two children, Aaron and Stacy, attend Van Antwerp Middle School.
50 words or less each:
Why are you running for school board? I have enjoyed my first term and want to continue to contribute to our school district which has an excellent reputation.
If elected, what do you hope to accomplish? I intend on continuing to build upon the successes of my first term which include an extensive construction project nearing completion, working at maintaining class sizes at low levels and progressing the development of the elementary foreign language program.
What is you opinion of the 2010-11 school budget? I feel that it is a sound budget, especially in light of this economy. We did our best to cut areas that have the least impact on the student’s educational and developmental needs.
What would you bring to the school board? As a board member with children in the district, I thoroughly understand the needs of our students. I feel that my strongest attributes are my approachability and my level headed decision making.
Free response. Take 50 words to say anything you’d like on any topic.
I would like to thank the residents of Niskayuna for allowing me to serve my first term. I have found this to be a challenging yet rewarding experience. I look forward to the opportunity of serving another 3 years and working to maintain and improve the excellent reputation of the Niskayuna School District.
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