Here is a link to a pdf of the complete Voters Guide
School Board
Part I: Please provide the following biographical information:
Current School Board position, if applicable:
Currently, none. Previously, 12 year, 4-term, Member, Chappaqua Central School District Board of Education
Education:
Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University: MBA, Finance and Real Estate.
University of Virginia: BA, Major: Economics. Minor: History.
Residence: (town only and for how long)
New Castle, 21-year resident. I have lived in all three elementary school boundaries.
Occupation:
Self-Employed equities and derivatives trader
Prior Civic and Volunteer Service:
· 12-year, 4-term, School Board Member, Chappaqua Central School District.
· Volunteer Coach for over 20 teams, Chappaqua AYSO, NCYBBA, NCBSA, etc.
· Participant in various New Castle Forums as panelist.
· CCSD representative to the PNW BOCES.
· Served as BoE Representative to the Horace Greeley Scholarship fund.
· Serve(d) on various Board community committees including both the S-T and L-T Security task forces as well as the RFP Committee
· Worked extensively with the BoE and with various outside groups to get two turf fields at the high school.
· Father of two Chappaqua Fire Department Firefighter/Volunteers
· Commissioner, Billy’s Basement Boys.
Part II: Please respond to each question. Please limit your response to each question to a maximum of 100 words. Responses will be printed in the Voters Guide exactly as submitted.
(1) What experiences and skills do you have that will enable you to be an effective member of the School Board? Experience matters, but so does perspective. First, I have more experience than all the other candidates combined. Second, what I have that the other experienced candidates do not have is perspective. Listening and watching as an outsider this year, I very much appreciate the (often) competing needs of the students, taxpayers, and staff. It is recognizing a fiduciary obligation to all the taxpayers, not just ones with students in school. I have a passion for public education, a complete understanding of the budget, can make practical and reasoned decisions, can balance competing community interests, and I have vision and conviction.
(2) Why do you want to serve/continue to serve on the School Board? Please include what you consider is/are the main issue(s) currently facing Chappaqua schools and how you would address it (them).
There are two major issues facing the CCSD. One is adapting to the new teaching and learning environment. That includes distant learning as well as when the students and staff return to the classrooms. The administration has done a terrific job adapting to the academic “new normal. Two is fiscal responsibility. It appears as if the Board has ignored the economic reality facing our district’s taxpayers. Priorities are askew. Revenue estimates are materially overstated. We can be a leader in academics while displaying fiscal responsibility. They are not mutually exclusive. Prioritize teachers over new administrators. Hire another teacher at Grafflin.
