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School Board Election

By John Roach

Lost in all the attention of the Congressional race is the upcoming Batavia School district budget and Board election.

If you live in the Batavia City School District, May 17th will have a bigger and more immediate impact on you than who goes to DC.

There are two seats open on the School Board and three candidates. One is an incumbent, Wayne Guenther. The two new people are Al McGinnis and Amy Barone.

I am hopping you vote for Al McGinnis. He is the only one, so far, to say he wants to end the monthly school tax on our cell phones. He is the only one who has said he wants to end the practice of paying twice as much to retired Batavia teachers ($170 per day) to substitute than what is paid to a teacher who did not retire from the Batavia district ($65 per day). No other school district in Genesee County pays such a high rate. He is the only one who has said fix Van Detta Stadium, but will not ask you to pay the excessive cost for extras that was just voted down. He is also the only one who has said he wants the district to get rid of its property at the end of North Street. He will also try to end the policy of family members being hired by the school district by members while serving on the Board. We want the best qualified, not the best connected, hired.

Declining State aid, a poor economy and an aging population are going to make running our schools more difficult than ever. We cannot keep doing things the same old way. We need new people and new ideas.

Vote for Al McGinnis on Tuesday, May 17th.

 

Chris Charvella

Al McGinnis is a very conservative guy, so it may come as a shock to some of you when I say:

I am wholeheartedly endorsing Al McGinnis for school board. Al will be a watchdog for your tax dollars; that's the type of person we're going to need during the coming year when Albany starts cutting aid to schools.

When it's time to start constructing next year's school budget, I want a guy like Al in the room who is willing to take a stand on spending. It's not just about taxes either, it's about using the resources we have in the most efficient manner without overreaching or placing excessive burdens on residents.

My daughter will be entering public school in a couple years. I trust Al McGinnis and I want him to be on the school board when she gets there.

May 13, 2011, 11:02am Permalink
John Roach

Thanks Dan. Too bad Al McGinnis doesn't have the money the other two do for signs. But at least I know he has them worried he might win.

May 13, 2011, 11:04am Permalink

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