4 candidates vying for 2 seats on Red Hook’s school board

Dawn Morrison

Dawn Morrison

How long have you lived in the district and in what other ways have you been involved with it?
I have lived in the school district for 14 years. I was much more involved in the schools when my kids were younger by being in the PTA and volunteering in the classroom. As my kids got older and I went back to work, the school board was a good way for me to be able to contribute.

What are your affiliations — other volunteer positions, your work?
I am the Executive Director for the Northern Dutchess Hospital Foundation, a board member of the Red Hook Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Northern Dutchess Hospital Mothers’ Club and the Rhinebeck Rotary.

Name 1-3 issues you feel are the biggest challenges facing the district.
Keeping our wonderful reputation as a school district of choice with shrinking venues, the safety of our students, and continuing to provide a challenging and creative environment for our kids while adjusting to a new set of standards, the common core.

How does the 2% tax cap make the board’s role in guiding the budget more challenging?
Shrinking revenue and rising costs are always hard to manage. We have been spared some difficult decisions due a declining enrollment and teacher retirements, but that story may change moving forward. We have many unfunded mandates that make balancing the budget even more burdensome.

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RHCSD_BOE_Maggie_RothwellMaggie Rothwell

How long have you lived in the district and in what other ways have you been involved with it?
I have lived in Red Hook 27 years. My son graduated from Red Hook High School in 2012 and our daughter is in seventh grade. I’ve enjoyed raising and educating them at home before entering them into the district and I look forward to our daughter entering the high school in 2015.I’m an active member of the PTSA and I serve on the Post Prom Committee.

What are your affiliations – other volunteer positions, your work?
I am a volunteer for the Red Hook and Tivoli Library story times and an active member of both Friends of the Library organizations. I am a former volunteer for the Northern Dutchess Hospital Mothers’ Club. I have been a public school music teacher in Pine Plains, a counselor for at-risk youth in Ulster County, the director at a nursery school for drug-exposed infants and preschoolers and an adjunct professor at SUNY New Paltz. I also host the weekly open mic at Taste Budd’s Café and perform locally.

Name 1-3 issues you feel are the biggest challenges facing the district.
The Common Core Curriculum is an important issue that challenges our school district. I feel that standards need to be raised, but the testing of our children must truly evaluate where they are as students and what they need to do to maximize their full potential. The strength of our schools is in the excellence, creativity, and dedication of our teachers. They need to be able to do what they do best — teach.
Maintaining a safe learning environment for our children through policies that address bullying, cyber bullying, unhealthy stress levels, and alcohol/drug use is another big concern of mine.

The 2% tax cap challenge
Providing quality education in a fiscally responsible way is a crucial challenge facing our district. Taxpayers are overburdened and are facing many hardships. Community members should not feel forced to relocate due to high taxes. The 2% tax cap presents a challenge to maintain the quality of our programs with limited resources.
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RHCSD_BOE_Ryan_McCann ADJRyan McCann

How long have you lived in the district and in what other ways have you been involved with it?
I went to kindergarten at Mill Road Elementary, graduated from Red Hook High School, and have been a math tutor at the high school library. It’s been my privilege to serve on the school board and give back to the district that provided me with such a fine education. I agreed when asked to run for a second term, especially as I now have an eight-month-old daughter.

What are your affiliations — other volunteer positions, your work?
I’m a math professor at the Bard Prison Initiative and Dutchess Community College. I was president of the Red Hook Area Chamber of Commerce, and a member of Red Hook Town’s Economic Development Committee and Landing Use Working Group, and also was a founding member of the Northern Dutchess chapter of Business Network International.

Name 1-3 issues you feel are the biggest challenges facing the district.
The veterans’ exemption is something I’d like to see settled in the next year. It’s important to honor those who served our country, but also critical that we determine an appropriate level of exemption and understand the impact it will have on the rest of the taxpayers.
One of the primary reasons for Red Hook’s excellent reputation is the quality of our teachers. With concerns over the implementation of APPR and the rollout of the Common Core, it’s vital we continue to recruit and retain high-caliber faculty.

The 2% tax cap challenge
It’s clear that the driving factor in the budget is the salary and benefits of our outstanding faculty and staff. It’s difficult to continue to cut from other areas while maintaining the outstanding programs that Red Hook offers. We have to keep a close eye on what choices other less fortunate districts are making, such as attempting to exceed the tax cap by vote or drastic cuts to program and layoffs. I’m proud of our schools and hope to continue to be a part of maintaining that excellence.

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RHCSD BOE election_Helvia TauseltHelvia Tauselt

How long have you lived in the district and in what other ways have you been involved with it?
I was a reading specialist at Linden Avenue Middle School for 39 years before retiring last year. I also taught English as a Second Language for a number of years and helped the foreign language department with school trips to Europe. I served on many committees, such as the district’s employee health insurance committee, and hiring committee, and have a great deal of experience with the management of the school district and the budgeting process. Now it’s time I feel I can give back.

Other volunteer positions and hobbies?
I own a classic car and I like to go to car shows, I swim on a regular basis and I have a Jack Russell Terrier that I take just about every place with me. I attend school board meetings regularly and have maintained relationships within the district.

Name 1-3 issues you feel are the biggest challenges facing the district.
I know the obstacles the district faces with finances. There is only so much that the taxpayer can afford to pay; it seems like older people can’t afford to pay more and young people can’t afford to move into the district because housing prices are so expensive.
I also feel that we need to do more for the students who are not college-bound. There are opportunities at BOCES and other trade schools where they can learn things that will lead to beneficial employment.
Common Core was not rolled out the right way. We live in a district where students have always been highly prepared for whatever they are going into, especially college students. Common Core has become like a recipe book for educators, but Red Hook has always hired very good teachers who are highly qualified and don’t need a recipe book.

The 2% tax cap challenge
I think the 2% tax cap makes districts aware that there is only so much money to go around and they have to be fiscally responsible. In Red Hook in particular, we have an excellent business manager. I feel the district has been very fiscally sound and everyone has tried to keep spending under control.

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