Victor school board candidate: Kathryn G. Hart

Incumbent - Kathryn G. Hart
DISTRICT RESIDENT: 10 years
EDUCATION:  B.A. with Highest Distinction in Political Science - Pennsylvania State University; Juris Doctor with Honors in Law - Ohio State University College of Law
PROFESSION:  Attorney
YEARS ON THE BOARD: 3 years

Why are you running for the school board and is your unique contribution to the Victor school district?
I am running for another term on the VCSD Board of Education because I believe that there is still  much work for me to do for the children and the community. My husband and I chose to live in Victor largely because of the school district and it was one of the best decisions we've ever made. I have been actively involved in the district for the last decade as a parent representative on a variety of councils and committees, as an officer of Partners In Education (PIE), as the founder of our K-8 chess clubs, and, most recently, as a member of our Board of Education. I feel strongly that parents are a critical component in the success of any school district and I have done everything I could over the last ten years to ensure that parents and community members are fully represented in our shared decision-making process at all levels. I would like to continue that important work.

How would you characterize the budget challenge faced by VCS currently and what is your outlook for 2010-2013?
The budget challenge facing VCSD can only be described as dire. You cannot lose over two million dollars in state aid and not recognize that the situation is absolutely critical. I am extremely proud of how Superintendent Santiago-Marullo and our entire staff approached this budget challenge and adopted a "shared sacrifice" model across the entire district K-12. Everyone gave up a little, so that we could retain as many programs and staff positions as possible. We have made cuts in everything from athletics to supplies to transportation and utilities. It was a team effort designed to keep the cuts away from the classroom as much as possible and that message came through loud and clear during the budget process.

My outlook for 2010 - 2013 is extremely positive. We have to deal with the realities of the economic challenges that we face every day, but I am confident that the children at VCSD will still receive an excellent education, next year and beyond. I am truly grateful that my own daughter is here, in a district that is so proactive, creative, and student-oriented. And I can assure you that my son has been very well prepared for his college experience at the University of Notre Dame. Good things have been happening at VCSD — and good things are going to continue to happen on our campus in the years to come.

What do you see as the greatest strength of Victor Central Schools?
Our greatest strength is our commitment to the vision of "Excellence for ALL Students.” That means excellence in special education, excellence in Enrichment, excellence in athletics, excellence in the arts, and excellence in every single facet of our district.  We have very high standards at VCSD and expect everyone — staff, students, and parents — to be committed to reaching those high standards.  Excellence doesn't happen by accident.  It takes proactive planning and constant vigilance on the part of everyone at the district, from the Superintendent to the classroom teacher to the bus driver to the members of the Board of Education.

What do you see as the area most in need of improvement?
In these turbulent financial times, as we all learn to do more with less, it is critical that the adults in our community increase their participation and volunteerism in our district. Success breeds complacency and, as our District has become stronger academically over the last decade, we have seen an unfortunate decline in the number of parents and community members volunteering to work with our parent groups, on our shared decision-making councils, and in our classrooms.  That trend must stop.  We need parents and community members to help us now more than ever to make sure that we maintain the level of excellence we have achieved over the last decade.  Good things do not happen if good people stay on the sidelines!

If you could accomplish one thing done in your tenure on the Board of Education, what would it be and why?
The most important thing that the Board of Education does it to hire an excellent Superintendent to lead the District.  I participated in our recent Superintendent search and am very proud that we chose Dr. Dawn Santiago-Marullo to lead us through these challenging economic times.  Our goal was to find someone who is committed to educating the "whole child" (body, mind, and character); someone who is completely committed to the district's vision of excellence for ALL students, from Pre-K - 12th grade; and someone who is fiscally conservative.  I believe that we succeeded on all three counts.  I am proud to have been a small part of such a critical decision, one that will impact the lives of thousands of students, hundreds of staff members, and our entire community.     

How would you propose dealing with the increased number of special needs children in the district?
Our district is firmly committed to meeting the educational needs of ALL the students in our community.  We are fortunate to have an excellent staff in our Pupil Personnel Services Department.  We are committed to growing our Special Education programs, and all of our other educational programs, as needed by our growing student population.  Of the 7.4 full time equivalent (FTE) positions in the proposed budget for 2010-11, two of those positions are for Special Education teachers, one at the Primary and one at the Jr. High.  I feel confident that we will draft future budgets as necessary to meet the educational needs of all the students on our campus.  As a growing district, we must constantly evaluate our commitments and our resources to assure that we provide an excellent education for all students in a fiscally responsible manner.