The Pittsford Board of Education will be without Patricia Schwert for the 2010-11 school year.
After nine years of service, Schwert said she decided it was time to give someone else the chance to represent the community, as her youngest child has been out of school for about three years.
“It was a wonderful experience,” she said. “I really enjoyed my time on the board. My fellow board members have been terrific; the staff and administrators in our district are top-notch. I’m just moving on to another stage of my life.”
Two candidates are running for the two open school board seats. Incumbent Edmund Starowicz is seeking a second three-year term, and Peter Sullivan is looking for his first term.
Pittsford Central School District voters will vote on the candidates as well as the $109.7 million budget proposal from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 18 at the Barker Road Middle School gym, 75 Barker Road. A public hearing is set for 7 p.m. Monday, May 10.
Below are profiles of the two candidates:
Edmund Starowicz
Age: 57
Career: Deputy commissioner of public works for town of Pittsford
Education: Associate Applied Science Degree from SUNY Alfred.
Family: Wife Julie; Sons Steven, Adam and Jason all graduated from Pittsford Mendon High School.
Years on the board: three years
What can you do for the Pittsford Central School District?
“Continue to be a positive member of the board and ask questions as I have done in my present term.”
What’s the biggest issue facing students and taxpayers in the upcoming years?
“Maintaining a student-based budget with all the constraints of lower funding from the state and taxpayer fatigue are the biggest challenges.”
How can the school board address this issue?
“We need to continue to reduce costs and budgets at levels that meet student needs and the pocketbook of the taxpayer. This balance is key to continuing to have two top-100 high schools in the nation. Our administrative staff has been very efficient at a time when other districts are top-heavy. This efficiency translated in to an additional $144,000 in funding from the state of New York because of our positive direction. Our teachers and our unions are aware of the funding debacle we are in, and they continue to work with us to keep costs down.”
Why did you originally run for the school board, and why have you continued to do so?
“I ran to continue to give back to the community. I also ran to learn more about the district and be involved first-hand in decisions. I believe I am a positive leader and use my abilities the best I can on this elected volunteer board.”
