founder
foun·der | \ ˈfau̇n-dər \
foundered; foundering\ ˈfau̇n-d(ə-)riŋ \
Definition of founder (Entry 2 of 4)
1: to become disabledespecially : to go lame
Efforts To Schedule Finance Commissioner Debate Founder
Two different organizations have attempted to plan a debate between Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan and her challenger in the upcoming June 25th Democratic primary, Patty Morrison. Both efforts have been unsuccessful so far.
As reported in an earlier post Eddy Miller, of the Independence Party which had endorsed Commissioner Madigan, had secured a room at the Racino for a debate. To ensure fairness they had a commitment from Chad Beatty, the publisher of Saratoga Today, to be the moderator. When Ms. Morrison responded that she was unable to attend on that date, Mr. Miller on May 14 offered her 6/17 and 6/19 as alternate dates. Ms. Morrison never responded.
The League of Women Voters has now been trying to organize a debate between the two candidates.
I contacted Michele Madigan who forwarded me several emails she had sent to the person in the League organizing the event. Madigan sent her many dates beginning at the end of May up to the primary when she would be available for a League event.
Patty Morrison notified the League that she would not be available until June 19th (the Wednesday before the election). Interestingly June 19th was one of the two dates for a debate that the Independence Party offered Ms. Morrison that she did not respond to.
The date finally offered by the League was June 21, the Friday before the Tuesday primary and Michele Madigan’s anniversary. For obvious reasons Michele Madigan was unavailable for that date. Oddly the venue offered was a small space in the Unitarian Church. Commissioner Madigan had given the League a number of dates when she was available when the much larger space in the Library was also available.
After once again offering Ms. Morrison a number of dates that she again rejected, the League has announced that their forum will not be happening.
Meanwhile Independence Party Chair Eddy Miller has again reached out to Patty Morrison with a new offer of June 14 for a forum for the two candidates with Chad Beatty moderating and is hoping for a response. The forum is scheduled to take place in the Riley’s/Arrowhead Meeting Room at the Saratoga Casino Hotel, 342 Jefferson Street at 6:30 with the debate scheduled to run from 7PM to 8PM. Commissioner Madigan has accepted the invitation.
I am not aware of any events at this point where Ms. Morrison will be available to the public but will let readers know if I learn one is scheduled.
It is unfortunate that Ms. Morrison has such limited availability. The public would benefit by having the opportunity to hear from the two candidates together.
Ugly Anonymous Website Appears on Saratoga Scene
Someone sent me a link to a new website being promoted by Bob Turner on his Facebook page. The site is a sorry example of the way the web can be used to manipulate the public.
On the website’s “about” page it begins with “Who Are We.” It offers:
“X (I am not giving ithe website’s name as I want to do nothing to further promote this enterprise ) is a group of citizens that loves our city. We want our children and grandchildren to grow up here and enjoy this wonderful place for years to come. We are made up of citizens from all walks of life and varied political affiliations…. (It goes on at some length with more of the same).”
The next section is entitled “What will we do”
It offers:
“X (Website name) will create forums and opportunities through which all citizens will be able to express the civic values embodied in our Mission Statement (I could find nothing on this website that called itself a mission statement). X will also provide an organizing platform, when necessary and desirable, to advance public policies that reflect these core values.”
The site offers no information as to who the people managing this website actually are. In fact, under “contact” there is no email address or telephone number. There are places to put your name and email address and then offer a “comment.”
I used this option to ask them who they were ( hopefully they will not paste in the pablum from their “who we are.”) .
I still haven’t heard back from them, but I went on the site today and saw that Ellen Egger-Aimone had successfully posted a comment.
As making a comment will apparently be the only way to participate in this group, and its mystery managers will excercise their powers of censorship and control over what comments are published this really is a parody of what a community website should be.
There are several articles on the website with the kind of shrill accusations that sound very much like the stuff that the people who were guilty of the worst excesses of the city manager charter campaign put out.
Interestingly, there was a previous website with the same website name that went moribund for a while. The following is a screen shot from the people who posted a “Like” for it. Of the six people listed, three were active with “It’s Time Saratoga” which was the group formed to promote passage of the city manager charter and they also served on the charter commission that drafted the plan. They are Gordon Boyd, Jeff Altamari, and Bob Turner. In addition, Susan Steer is married to Bob Turner.
This city deserves better.
Campaign Donations To Michele Madigan
BBL PAC
PO BOX 12789
ALBANY , NY 12212
200.00
CITIZENS FOR FANCK
511 BROADWAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
500.00
FITZGERALD MORRIS BAKER FIRTH PC
16 PEARL ST PO BOX 2017
GLENS FALLS , NY 12801
250.00
FRIENDS OF PETER MARTIN
PO BOX 313
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
200.00
KODIAK CONSTRUCTION, INC
PO BOX 657
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
MUNTER ENTERPRISES, INC
881 MURRAY RD
MIDDLE GROVE , NY 12850
100.00
NOLAN & HELLER LLP
39 N PEARL ST
ALBANY, NY 12207
100.00
NORTHEAST GOVERNMENT CONSULTING LLC
501 ST DAVIDS LANE
NISKAYUNA, NY 12309
250.00
NRCC NY NON-PARTISAN PEC
111 STATE ST
ALBANY, NY 12207
250.00
PJS BAR-B-Q
ROUTE 9
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
SARATOGA COUNTY INDEPENDENCE PARTY CHAIRMAN?S CLUB
102 LUDLOW ST
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
500.00
SARATOGA HARNESS RACING INC
CRESCENT AVE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
150.00
SARATOGA PELICAN ASSOCIATES LLC
232 SOUTH BROADWAY 12866
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
150.00
SARATOGA SPRINGS DEMOCRATICE COMMITTEE
PO BOX 124
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
1,000.00
STEWART?S SHOPS CORP
PO BOX 435 SS 12866
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
TURF HOTELS
792 WATERVLIET SHAKER RD
LATHAM, NY 12110
250.00
BELMONTE, PETER J
145 JACKSON ST
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
BONACIO JR, ALFIO
18 DIVISION ST SUITE 401
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
CLEMENTS, BRUCE H
28 CLINTON ST
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
125.00
COLLINS, DAVID J
8 TOMMY LUTHER DR
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
CORBETT, CYNTHIA A
45 WALTON ST
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
150.00
DAKE, GARY C
PO BOX 435
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
DAKE, W P
90 BRYAN STREET
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
500.00
DAKE, W P
90 BRYAN ST
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
DALTON, ROBIN
78 CAROLINE ST
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
DEMARCO, DAVID
7 INGERSOLL RD
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
DICARA, TAMMY
??
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
HIGGINS, RICHARD L
100 UNION AVE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
500.00
HIGGINS, RICHARD L
100 UNION AVE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
HOFFMAN, MICHAEL
38 HIGH ROCK AVE, UNIT 6K
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
HOFFMAN, MICHAEL
38 HIGH ROCK AVE, UNIT 6K
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
500.00
HOLLOWOOD, CYNTHIA D
144 5TH AVE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
HOVER, MARK AND CATHERINE
43 LONG ALLEY
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
IRELAND, KIMBERLY
3 FRUITWOOD DR
BURNT HILLS , NY 12027
100.00
JONES, MATTHEW J
2 VICTORIA LANE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
1,000.00
JORGENSEN, DIANE M
5 WIEBECKE CT
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
LEWIS, TOM L
60 FRANKLIN ST
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
LUCAS, JOY A
30 BRAIM RD
GREENFIELD CENTER , NY 12833
150.00
LYONS, CHRISTOPHER
2163 ROWLEY RD
BALLSTON SPA, NY 12020
100.00
MADIGAN, MICHELE D
7 EMERALD LANE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
154.03
MADIGAN, MICHELE D
7 EMERALD LANE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
154.03
MALLORY, PATRICIA
12 ROBERTS LANE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
MATHIESEN, DMD, CHRISTIAN E
154 WEST AVE 12866
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
MCCLENEGHEN, FRANK D
2189 COOK RD
GALWAY, NY 12074
500.00
MCCLENEGHEN, FRANK D
2189 COOK RD
GALWAY, NY 12074
250.00
MCLAUGHLIN, PATRICIA M
6209 EMPIRE AVE
SCHENECTADY , NY 12306
100.00
NEWKIRK, THOMAS R
553 CRESCENT AVE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
PARILLO, FRANK
4 THERESA TERRACE
MALTA , NY 12020
250.00
PARTRIDGE, JANICE
2 MAGNOLIA DR
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
200.00
QUINN ZANELLA, KELLY
27 COLLINS TERRACE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
ROOHAN, J THOMAS
514 BROADWAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
ROOHAN, J THOMAS
519 BROADWAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
500.00
SELLERS, RICHARD
PO BOX 789
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
200.00
SHIMKUS, TODD
139 JEFFERSON ST
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
SOBOL GOMEX, ELIZABETH
15 ADAMS ST, 12866
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
SOBOL GOMEX, ELIZABETH
15 ADAMS ST
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
500.00
SUTTON, RODNEY J
12 FIFTH AVE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
VON SCHENK, STEPHAN
75 COOLIDGE LN
DIAMOND POINT, NY 12824
100.00
WAIT, CHARLES W
658 N BROADWAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
WAIT, JR, CHARLES V
8 LAKEVIEW DR
GANSEVOORT , NY 12831
100.00
WALSH, MICHAEL J
16 ROSEWOOD DR
CLIFTON PARK , NY 12065
250.00
WILDER, NANCY
6 HORSESHOE DR
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
ZANGRANDO, JOANNA
24 COLLINS TERRACE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
ZIEKER, MELISSA
10 MAGNOLIA DR
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
WILLIAM B WILMOT AND JOAN M. TAYLOR
46 UNION AVE, UNIT 204
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
,
1,763.00
Total Contributions:
17,296.06
Contributions To Pattie Morrison
CAPITAL WOMEN POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
97 WOODS LN
ALBANY, NY 12204-1613
1,000.00
FRIENDS OF BILL MCTYGUE
15 YORK STREET, APT B
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
200.00
FRIENDS OF BILL MCTYGUE
15 YORK STREET, APT B
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
500.00
SARATOGA HOSPITALITY LLC (Max London’s Restaurant and other owned by this company)
466 BROADWAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
175.00
BEDERIAN, STEVEN M
8 WOODLAND DR.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
50.00
BOYD, GORDON M
99 STATE STREET
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
500.00
BOYD, GORDON M
99 STATE STREET
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866-1425
300.00
BULLOCK, ANN C
86 LINCOLN AVE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
DANA, LEZLIE
170 SPRING ST
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
50.00
DEMARCO, JANICE
22 CASSIDY DRIVE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
50.00
GERHARDT, JOAN
4 BROOKVIEW TERRACE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
75.00
GRISIO, GIUSEPPE
185 BALLSTON AVE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
50.00
GROBER, BRENDA S
133 RAYLINSKY RD
BALLSTON LAKE, NY 12019
25.00
JOHNSON, KATHERINE K
32 DOTEN AVE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
MCTYGUE, THOMAS G
251 COUNTY ROUTE 68
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
200.00
MCTYGUE, WILLIAM J
15 YORK STREET
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
100.00
MORRISON, CHARLES C
88 COURT STREET
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
200.00
MORRISON, PATRICIA M
67 UNION STREET
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
250.00
PINGEL, MARK
1 VICTORIA LANE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
50.00
SMITH, ALICE A
6 WOODLAND COURT
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
40.00
SPAULDING, SHARON
36 MT MCGREGOR RD
GANSEVOORT, NY 12831
75.00
STANLEY, WILLIAM R
1 1/2 MEADOW LANE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
50.00
WALCZAK, LINDA L
66 LAKESIDE DR
MECHANICVILLE, NY 12118
100.00
WATKIN, RAYMOND
9 WOODLAND CT
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
400.00
YEPSEN, JOANNE
68 VISTA DR
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
50.00
Total Contributions:
4,690.00
City Council Adopts Paris Climate Agreement Goals
Saratoga Springs City Council Unanimously Approves Resolution in Support of Paris Climate Agreement
For Immediate Release: May 22, 2019
The Office of Commissioner of Finance, City of Saratoga Springs, Michele Madigan
Contact: Michele.Madigan@Saratoga-Springs.org
Saratoga Springs, NY – At the May 21st City Council meeting, the Saratoga Springs City Council unanimously approved a resolution in support of the Paris Climate Agreement. Commissioner of Finance Michele Madigan brought forward the resolution, which was provided by Climate Mayor’s, a bipartisan network of U.S. elected officials working together to demonstrate leadership on climate change through meaningful actions in their communities. The resolution also recognizes the guidance provided by the State of New York, specifically through Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order #166 which mandates a statewide reduction of GHG emissions to 80% of 1990 levels by 2050.
Commissioner Madigan stated, “The City has and continues to take material steps on the sustainability front, from the Spa Solar Park on what was previously a landfill to the City-wide push to improve energy efficiency across City-owned facilities. This resolution recognizes the positive steps taken by the City to date and gives guidance to the current and future City Councils on our emission reduction goals. Nations around the globe have agreed to the Paris Agreement, and I’m proud to live in a city, and a state, that is committed to fighting against climate change and protecting our environment for future generations.”
The resolution calls for three steps to be undertaken by the City, which are:
- The creation and implementation of a Climate Action Plan to reduce emission;
- Collaboration with other Climate Mayor municipalities supporting the goals of the Paris Agreement; and,
- Committing to explore policies and programs that promote emission reduction.
Much like the Sustainability Hub on the City’s website unveiled earlier in 2019, this resolution represents a collaborative effort between the Finance Department and Mayor’s Office. Mayor Meg Kelly stated, “Sustainability projects have shown themselves to benefit the City environmentally, financially, and in an improved quality-of-life for City residents. Communities around the nation are being negatively impacted by climate change, and as elected officials, it is our responsibility to work toward a solution. I look forward to the creation of the City’s Climate Action Plan, and our continued efforts to achieve the climate goals outlined by the Paris Agreement.”
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS IN SUPPORT OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT
WHEREAS, consensus exists among the world’s leading climate scientists that global warming caused by emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities is among the most significant problems facing the world today; and WHEREAS, documented impacts of global warming include but are not limited to increased occurrences of extreme weather events (e.g. droughts and floods), adverse impacts on ecosystems, demographic patterns and economic value chains; and
WHEREAS, the State of New York through Executive Order #166 has mandated statewide reduction of GHG emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050; and WHEREAS, responding to the climate change provides communities an opportunity to access first mover advantage in the range of products, services and know-how that transitioning to a climate-compatible future brings; and
WHEREAS, the Paris Agreement resulted in a commitment from almost every nation to take action and enact programs to limit global temperature increase to less than 2 degrees Celsius, with an expectation that this goal would be reduced to 1.5 degrees in the future;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS: 1. Indicates its commitment to reducing GHG emissions through the creation and implementation of a Climate Action Plan; and 2. Joins other US cities in the Climate Mayors network in adopting and supporting the goals of the Paris Agreement; and 3. Commits to exploring the potential benefits and costs of adopting policies and programs that promote the long-term goal of GHG emissions reduction while maximizing economic and social co-benefits of such action.
School Vote Results
According to the unofficial results on the District website John Brueggemann (3,362 votes), Dean Kolligian (3,069 votes) and Natalya Lakhtakia (2,898 votes) are the winners. These were the three candidates endorsed by the Saratoga Springs Teachers Association. Dean Kolligian was also endorsed by Saratoga Parents for Safer Schools. I can’t remember when candidates endorsed by the Saratoga TA have lost a School Board race. This year was no exception.
The other results were:
Shaun Wiggins: 2,819 votes
Heather Reynolds: 2,800 votes
Ed Cubanski: 2,575 votes
Connie Woytowich: 1,008votes
The proposed budget passed (4,687 votes) as did Proposition #1, a proposal to spend $1,195,000 to purchase school buses (4,873 votes).
Matt Taibbi’s Devastatingly Brilliant Critique Of The Media
Matt Taibbi is among the most insightful and stinging critics of American culture. He mixes razor sharp analysis with humor.
Here is the second half of an interview with Taibbi done by Chris Hedges. Interestingly this interview was done on RT Network which is the Russian supported media which unfortunately might prompt some to dismiss it out of hand. I think it’s worth a listen. Much of what he has to say can relate to the current Board of Education campaigns we have been experiencing here in Saratoga Springs.
Elect Connie Woytowich To The School Board
Any of the candidates running for the three seats open on the Saratoga Springs Board of Education would serve the district well. It should be apparent that I prefer some to others, but all of them care deeply about our schools, and it is to their credit that they are willing to take on the very demanding job of being a School Board member. Voters will be able to vote for any three of the seven running this coming Tuesday, May 21.
I do have one candidate I especially support: Connie Woytowich.
Connie Woytowich has dedicated her professional life to secondary education. She has been a teacher for 19 years.
Connie holds four degrees and is a Master Teacher. According to the State University of New York which manages the Master Teacher Program, the program is a “statewide network of the highest-performing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) teachers dedicated to sharing their expertise with peers and attracting high school graduates to careers in STEM.”
Connie was also the president of the Division Street School PTA which has been designated a National PTA School of Excellence.
In 2017, Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner honored her as a “Woman of Distinction” for her “Excellence in Education.”
I could go on about her many achievements, but if the reader wants to explore them more they can go to the earlier post where the candidates answered my questionnaire.
The central issue for me is that she is a person who truly understands what goes on in our schools from concrete, personal experience. She brings to the table a documented exceptional standard of teaching.
I have also found her to have a skill that seems all too rare these days: she listens.
Although Connie has many items on her platform (see earlier blog on candidate questionnaires) I should note that she supports re-arming the monitors with additional training, and she is able to present her arguments in a thoughtful way. While I agree with her arguments, I would have supported her even if she took a different position.
As noted at the beginning, we are fortunate to have a fine set of seven candidates to choose from to fill three seats on the Board . For qualifications and character Connie Woytowich is a clear choice for me.
School Board Candidates Respond To Myths
This post is meant to address myths being circulated regarding the candidates who support re-arming the school monitors. These candidates are alleged to be single issue. The candidates who are endorsed by the Saratoga Parents for Safer Schools are alleged to be under the control of SPSS. It is also alleged that all these candidates have accused their opponents of not caring about the safety of the students, teachers, and staff at the schools.
All of these accusations are untrue but they seem to be finding considerable traction.
At the risk of being snarky, I decided to do what most of the people circulating these kinds of things should have done, which is actually ask the candidates to address these accusations.
As comes as no surprise to me, the following statements from the candidates show that this stuff is utterly without foundation.
——————————————
Connie Woytowich’s Response
1. Several candidates have asserted that the candidates who support re-arming the monitors are single issue candidates. I know that your answers to my questionnaire indirectly addressed this but I am asking that candidates address this issue directly.
Over the past decade, I have tirelessly served the educational community of our school district. I have volunteered on a multitude of school building and district initiatives, including serving as the PTA President at Division Street School. I have dedicated my entire career to K-12 education as a science teacher and am a designated NYS Master Teacher.
Categorizing me, or any of the other candidates, as a single issue candidate demonstrates a failure to be educated on the candidates and their work in the community. Such accusations are unfounded, insulting, sensational, irresponsible and superfluous.
2. During this campaign period there have been accusations that the people on the school board who voted to disarm the monitors did not care about the safety of the students, teachers, and staff in our schools. Could you share your thoughts on this?
I find it hard to believe that anyone who is willing to volunteer a large amount of their precious time to our school community does not care about the individuals that work or attend our schools. I will restate here that such accusations towards the five people that voted to disarm the monitors are unfounded, insulting, sensational, irresponsible and superfluous.
The five people that voted to disarm the monitors have stated why they voted the way they did. Never once did they state that they did not care about safety. They have stated their personal opinions and perspectives based on the information that they had at the time and voted no as a result. I respectfully disagree with their votes and will work collaboratively to rearm qualified, trained and evaluated law enforcement in our schools in order to provide a safe learning environment for children, teachers, administrators and all staff in our buildings.
—
Connie Woytowich
——————————————————————-
Shaun Wiggins’ Response
Are there issues beyond the question of whether or not the monitors should be armed that motivate your campaign to be on the school board?
ANSWER
Education occurs at the intersection of learning and teaching. This is where what I refer to as the “Teacher-Student Exchange” occurs. Where, in a safe and secure environment, the teacher and student meet, and the teacher imparts knowledge to the student and in exchange receives fulfillment. It is the role of the Board of Education to ensure teachers have all they need to deliver on student achievement. To accomplish this, I am running on THREE issues:
1. Safety – I will work to increase the safety and security across our schools. This will include a comprehensive program that includes armed personnel.
2. Education – I intend increase support for teachers and help enhance the quality of education for all students in Saratoga Schools. This includes support of the teachers’ push to “Correct the Tests” campaign. I fully support the call for the establishment of appropriate benchmarks to ensure ELA and math tests accurately measure student knowledge and learning, to reduce the amount of testing appropriately, to make the tests developmentally suitable, and to improve the rollout of computer-based testing. Finally, and it is important to note, I will also support students’ desires to learn in a safe, secure and friendly learning environment, allowing them to use clean bathrooms void of activities such as vaping. I also intend to lay out a path to allow greater student access and voice with the School Board.
3. Transparency – I will increase communications with the voters in our district exponentially, allowing easy access and understanding for the budgeting process, decision-making, and planning. We live in an age of ideation and communication. With greater transparency, not only will the voters be more informed through proactively pushed information, I believe that they may offer new ideas and methodologies for better student achievement. I will ensure that their thoughts and ideas are easily communicated to the Board. This will allow the School Board to “bring the voter along” as opposed to last minute revelations or discoveries; or, only allowing community members to participate through (what are perceived) meaningless procedures where the Board does not even respond, and in some cases send texts during this process, disrespecting the community members. The School Board is elected by the voter and represents their values, beliefs, and priorities. I will make sure there is full accountability to the community for all Board actions.
There has been quite a bit of controversy over the Saratoga Parents for Safe Schools group which supports your candidacy. Would you describe your relationship to this group?
ANSWER
My relationship with the SPFSS is straight forward, I am running on a “ticket” that is endorsed by the organization. This means that I accept financial support. With this acceptance, I maintain the responsibility to report all fund received from SPFSS and I approve all messaging that that has me quoted (approval means that I agree to messaging or I edit the messaging). I have no involvement in the day-to-day operation of SPFSS — this includes who they decide to hire or fire, how they raise money, what funds they accept or reject. That is solely their responsibility. Conversely, they have no involvement in how I run my campaign.
It has been alleged that some candidates who support re-arming the monitors believe that those supporting their disarming do not care about the safety of the children in our schools. Would you address this allegation?
ANSWER
These allegations are patently false. To address the accusation that I am of the mindset that the Board members who voted to disarm the monitors do not care about our children’s safety, let me be clear: I am absolutely positive that they care just as much as I do about our children’s safety. They are simply of the belief that we do not need armed personnel to ensure that our children are safe. It is our collective experiences that are foundational in shaping our beliefs. With that, my experiences constantly remind me that there are bad people in our world…and I will take it a step further, there are evil people who, for whatever their reasons, seek maximum harm/disruption. While I wish that Saratoga Springs existed in a bubble void of violence, hate, and all other bad things, the fact of the matter is…we don’t. We face the real risk of an active shooter(s), and my belief is that having at least one armed personnel on each site during an event will save lives. I am uninterested in reading or discussing various reports that point to facts that armed personnel make no difference; I can point to other reports that point to facts that armed personnel DO make a difference. This is where my experience overrides academic beliefs. I have been very clear with voters, informing them that I will work my hardest to bring back armed personnel (whether they be in a security guard, School Resource Officer, or regular law enforcement capacity).
Of course there are many details that will have to be worked out, but that’s the job. I have the experience to find consensus and path to reintroduce armed personnel and better manage other risks that our school system faces.
——————————————-
Dean Kollgian’s Response
My top 3 priorities are as follows:
1. Education Quality
2. Safety & Security
3. Infrastructure monitoring and long-range facilities planning
Education Quality – I believe that our school district as a whole is great and I completely value and support the public school education system. Saratoga Springs City School District is one of the best in the Capital District, supports students academic and athletic aspirations and has strong graduation rates. We could certainly work on and continue to monitor things such as; class sizes in our elementary schools, challenging educational opportunities (STEM, honors programs, etc) and our athletic and extracurricular opportunities.
Safety & Security – This priority is relatively self-explanatory. We need to bring back the common sense security that we have had for the past 30+ years within our District. Having highly trained and educated law enforcement personnel (active and retired) on our properties on a daily basis provides for the most safe and secure learning and teaching environment for our students and teachers.
Infrastructure monitoring and long-range facilities planning – Our largest capital expenditures will always be “brick and mortar”. We need to make sure that we are taking a proactive, versus reactive, approach to the ongoing maintenance / renovations / construction of all of our facilities. Taxpayers want to have a better understanding of the needs of the District when it comes to these large expenditures. Although the largest expenditures may not happen on a regular basis, it must be made well known that ongoing costs are going to be incurred and we need to perform these tasks with great fiscal responsibility.
As for my “relationship” with Saratoga Parents for Safer Schools it goes no deeper than the fact that we have a similar interest in the safety and security of our students, faculty, staff, administrators and visitors within our buildings and grounds. When I agreed to be “endorsed” by this group, we met and hashed out quick a few ground rules. One ground rule was that at no point in time could I direct them what to say anything within their platform and the same went for them toward me. We agreed that we would join, in collaboration, with 2 other candidates that they would also endorse as all 3 of us had one goal in common – again, safety and security. When fundraising began, we agreed that the 3 candidates would have a shared account. We would see each and every transaction that came in, and went out, of the account. We would approve every single expense, without question. We agreed on this three months ago and we haven’t had one problem since. The 3 of us; myself, Shaun Wiggins and Ed Cubanski are independent in the fact that we have many other issues that we would like to see addressed if we are fortunate enough to be elected. To think that any of us are “one issue” candidates is preposterous. There are many other issues that we discuss publicly and look forward to discussing with the Board of Education in the future. We have spent countless hours going door-to-door, attending “meet-and-greets”, attending Community events and talking with all of the stakeholders (parents, teachers, administrators and most importantly students). We look forward to continuing this over the next few weeks to continue to educate ourselves on the myriad of issues that different people see within our community.
At no point in time have I, personally, ever eluded to the fact that the other candidates “don’t care about the safety of our children in the schools”. I am sure that each and every person, current Board members and those running, cares about the safety of our children. What we differ on is the approach to managing the safety and security within our schools. I look forward to the opportunity to listen to their opinions, as well as the ability to share mine. At the end of the day we all want what is best for our children. After all, they are the future of our community!
Thanks,
Dean Kolligian
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Ed Cubanski’s Response
Kaufmann Questions 2019 May 01 – Cubanski
Q1. Are there issues beyond the question of whether or not the monitors should be armed that motivate your campaign to be on the school board?
A1. Yes, I’ve stated my campaign focuses on the three pillars of safety, education, and advocacy.
First, Safety. Safety is an all-comprehensive program from physical security, identifying students and school adults that may be having issues that may negatively impact the school and those around them, counseling, and having the resources to resolve an active shooter in a timely manner.
Second, Education. We need to have programs to address each level of student from those struggling to pass a class, those that do very well in school, to those that do not feel challenged in our school district. We must provide resources to meet the needs of every student.
There is some thought that kids that don’t feel challenged will leave the school and will go to a Charter School or private school. Does that benefit every student? Isn’t it better to have students that may be near the top of their school serve as role models for those ranked lower? What about the benefit of a diverse education skill level work together on a class project? Would such grouping benefit the student that learns a new study habit or how to gather information as part of a team project? I firmly believe the answer is yes.
Would smaller class size K-3, less than 20:1 improve the core math and ELA skills to have students flourish in grades 4-12? The common-sense answer would state the answer is yes to reducing class sizes K-3 to less than 20:1. The Center for Public Education studied 19 different class size programs throughout the country over the last 20-years and came up with the same verdict.
Third – Advocacy. I have heard directly from teachers that many new programs that come out were not at the request of the teachers. Additionally, many of that same group told me that it was rare for school administrators to take action on resource requests and are provided the answers, “we cannot do that due to budgetary reasons.” Additionally, the teachers also reported that most of the programs rolled out by Administrators relied mostly on the teachers training the teacher on the new program versus having a structured professional development program to teach the teachers as a group.
I want to be part of a school board that listens to the teachers. I would survey the teachers to solicit anonymous responses (if they so desire) to a list of 1) fill in the bubble questions, but also 2) provide space for them to write down their issues. This written feedback is essential to gain the trust of the teachers that the school board is listening to them and can address their concerns, and maybe implement their solutions to a variety of school issues.
I also want to be an advocate for the students. I would query the parents to find out how many are receiving tutoring outside of school and why. Having this data will truly measure the success of our schools because it will identify an uncaptured set of data that may show why so many kids are failing or not performing as well as they could because they don’t have the financial resources to pay for outside tutors.
Q2. There has been quite a bit of controversy over the Saratoga Parents for Safe Schools group which supports your candidacy. Would you describe your relationship to this group?
A2. I have a great relationship with the group. The joint candidates of the shared campaign account had an agreement that any campaign purchased material or press releases with our names on it must have all of our approval.
Q3. It has been alleged that some candidates who support re-arming the monitors believe that those supporting their disarming do not care about the safety of the children in our schools. Would you address this allegation?
A3. I’ll only talk about what I am running on – Safety, Education, and Advocacy. I’ll also talk about how Shawn, Dean, and I are aligned.
I’ve stated from the beginning that I will not comment on other candidate’s positions. I don’t know their strategy, mindset, details of the reasons why they are doing x, y, or z because I don’t know the facts surrounding their strategy. Any comment I had would not know those details and would only lead to adding to the fray of negative discourse that is uniformed and show that I did not complete detailed research on their position, which should involve a direct quote from the other candidates.
