CURZIO REFLECTS ON FIRST SIX MONTHS AND OUTLINES NEW IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CARMEL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
In May of 2016, I ran for a seat on the Carmel Central School District Board of Education for two reasons:
1. I believe in Carmel Schools and want all our students to succeed in all academic endeavors.
2. The current tax situation is a burden for the taxpayer. This is a deterrent to young people who would love to raise a family here, and a challenge for seniors who want to enjoy their golden years in a place they love.
Upon taking office, I was appointed to the Education and Assessment Committee. I work alongside another Board Trustee. While district policies are under constant review and it has been an ongoing process every year; we have reviewed several major policies that haven't been updated since 1999. We're making them relevant. Changes in a course's curriculum or a newly proposed course passes through this committee for our review before being recommended to the full board for adoption.
As a board, we are deeply engaged in many efforts to support our schools:
• We've discussed many of the initiatives presented to us at the New York State School Board Association conference in Buffalo, New York, and are looking for creative ways to implement them in our district. An example is "Parent University", which is a program that provides learning opportunities that help families become full partners in their children's education.
• Participating in a "Carmel Café" forum to allow our community to offer their ideas on how to improve our district.
• Participating in strategic planning meetings to renew our mission statement and vision for our district. We sought to implement goals to improve our communication with parents and the community as well as to advance our curriculum. The board set self-oriented goals for students.
As a new Board Trustee, I have:
• I have had the opportunity to introduce a "Stop Common Core" resolution originally adopted by the Putnam County Legislature and other legislatures in New York State into our board for an upcoming discussion and vote.
Looking ahead to the next four months, I intend to work diligently during our board's budget discussions, while still maintaining our commitment to our educational process and phenomenal staff. It would be beneficial for our district to see how neighboring school districts have provided tax relief and I would like to see Carmel work toward that same goal if it is feasible.
To help craft a fiscally responsible budget along with the other Board Trustees, I intend to take a page from the budgets passed under the leadership of Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro and Kent Town Supervisor Maureen Fleming. I consider both of these people role models and exceptional public servants for their communities.
I am honored to work alongside fantastic Board Trustees who bring a wealth of knowledge to the job in addition to an administrative team that is second to none. Together, we always strive to do "what's best for kids". Thank you for the opportunity to serve our community. "
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact John Curzio II at 845-902-8477 or email at John.Curzio@gmail.com.