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BEDFORD, N.Y. All three Bedford Central School Districts Board of Education races will go uncontested this election season, and only one of the candidates is a newcomer to the board: Lee Goldstein.
The eight-year Pound Ridge resident is running for one of three open positions, the one being vacated by Graham Anderson, who has declined to run for another three-year term.
Im running for school board because my two girls are in (Pound Ridge Elementary) school and Im very committed to public education in general and to Bedford Central specifically, Goldstein said. I really want to participate in preserving Bedfords outstanding education for every child in our district.
In 2011, Goldstein, a former English teacher, applied as one of five applicants for the seat vacated by Mark Chernis that year. The seat was awarded to Andrew Bracco of Mount Kisco, who is running for the remaining two years on Cherniss seat.
In addition, longtime board member and current president, Susan Elion Wollin, a resident of Bedford Village, is running for another full term. On the day of the May 15 public vote, school district voters will also rule on the 2012-13 budget.
Goldstein has a BA in literature from Yale and makes her living as a professional editor and writer. She has been active in the districts Budget Advisory Committee and is highly involved in the Pound Ridge Elementary PTA, she said.
Goldstein cites her experience on the Budget Advisory Committee as being one of her major assets as a future board member, both because its given me a real understanding of district finances but more, I think, that its given me an appreciation of the concerns and priorities of other community members.
She said she is worthy of the communitys trust when it comes to navigating the financial challenges ahead, like those brought on by the 2 percent tax cap and unfunded state mandates.
I think mandate relief is very important, both on the financial side because the mandate spending is unsustainable. Thats just truth, that doesnt come with political baggage, she said.
Goldstein said that while the intention of these state mandates may have been to help schools, local control of educational financing is what is missing from the picture.
Our teachers and administrators and Board of Education members understand our children and our community and should be making the decisions, she said.
Goldstein said she is excited and honored to take on the job. She is ready to work together with the board to preserve what is special about the districts schools, she said.
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