by Bea Peterson
The four Hoosick Falls Central School Board candidates answered questions in an almost empty cafeteria Wednesday evening, May 12. The School PTA annually sponsors a Meet the Candidates night, moderated by Irene Wynnyczuk of the League of Women Voters. The four candidates, vying for three seats, are Richard Ferrannini. Gregory Laurin, Donald Skott and Dwain Wilwol. Skott and Wilwol currently serve on the Board and are seeking re-election. Laurin has served on the Board many times over the years. Ferrannini is running for the first time.
The candidates were asked to speak about themselves, explain why they want to serve on the Board, what they feel is the most important challenge to the Board and how they recommend addressing it,
are they satisfied with this year’s budget, what projections do they see for future, what do they believe the position of Board member entails and what are the responsibilities involved, how do they feel about the needs of Special Education students, do they believe communication between the Board and the community is adequate and effective, and, finally, to offer a closing statement.
Richard Ferrannini
Ferrannini, General Manager of Harrison Vending, is a lifelong resident of Hoosick. He, his wife and eldest son are HFCS graduates. Their youngest boy will graduate from HF this year. He is a member of the North Hoosick Fire Department, the Lions Club and the Fish and Game Club. He has served as President or officer in all these organizations. He has coached youth sports for many years and is currently mentoring a young person. Now that his sons are older he feels he has more time to dedicate to being a Board member. Ferrannini said, “I don’t enter into an organization casually. I give it my all.” He feels he has the pulse of area people. He knows many things in the school are going in the right direction, and he would like to be part of it. Ferrannini feels the issues of State aid cuts, keeping the taxpayers happy and keeping the vision of the school are the challenge. He believes he has the ability and experience to help make tough decisions in that regard. Ferrannini said, “I think a fine job was done on the budget.” He believes the position of Board member entails involvement in the School District decision making process. His definition of a quality education is that young people leave the school with the confidence they can do and be what they want to be. “If they leave here with a little swagger, then we’ve succeeded.”
Ferrannini said he has friends and family with children with special needs. He recognizes that they need extra care, but it is also important that the school focus on every kid. He believes communication between the Board and the community is adequate, but it can always be made better. Ferrannini said he worked his way up through his company, and he believes he would bring a unique perspective to the Board.
Gregory M. Laurin
Laurin is Senior Human Resource Manger for NSK Steering Systems America, Inc. in Bennington, VT. His three children have graduated from HFCS. He has been HFCS Board President and Vice-President. He has missed being on the Board, and he believes he can help HF become an elite school. The challenge Laurin sees for the Board is the time when there will have to be a tax increase and justifying that rise in taxes. He said recent budgets have been planned years in advance and that process has to be continued. “I think I could add to that. The school is only as good as its balance, and I want to see HF be the best school in NYS.” As for projecting the future, he said there will have to be cuts, that’s the harsh reality. “We have to do the least to hurt the program, but personnel is always the biggest issue.”
Laurin believes the school is the most important thing in a community and development of its children is of primary importance. To be active in that development is an obligation.
Laurin said the definition of a quality education is that a young person, even handicapped, can compete wherever they go, at whatever level they are able, to participate in the democracy. He has a child with special needs and knows how beneficial a quality education can be to such a child.
As a manager, Laurin knows how important communication between the Board and the community is. He feels it can always be improved. He doesn’t have a solution, but he would like to work on it. In conclusion Laurin said, “All the people running are here for the right reasons.” He feels with his business background he has something to offer the District.
Donald Skott
Skott is married with two children in HFCS. He is a farmer, serves on the Pittstown Planning Board and is a member of the West Hoosick Fire Department. He has also coached youth sports. He hopes to be re-elected as he feels it is important for the agricultural community to be represented. He said he doesn’t want to short the kids, but he wants to keep taxes down. He feels the challenge is to keep taxes low and academics high. “The budget this year was not easy,” he said, but he is satisfied with it. “For two years we’ve had no raise in taxes. I’m happy, but I don’t expect miracles again.” Looking to the future he said, “We have to take time to reflect. Cuts are going to hurt someone somewhere.” He believes as a Board member he is a go-between, a liaison between the public and the school administration. “I’m always willing to talk to anyone anytime,” he said. His definition of a quality education is reflected in the school’s mission statement, that is to prepare students to succeed in life in a global society. Skott has no experience with special education. He said he must rely on others for information and then use his own common sense. He is very comfortable with the communications between the Board and the community though he was disappointed no one came to hear the candidates’ comments. Skott said he believes his experience running his own business is helpful in serving on the Board. He still has kids in the District, and he wants to do his best for them and to serve the community.
Dwain Wilwol
Wilwol, a life-long resident of Hoosick Falls, loves his job at Bennington School. He and his wife have been involved with the HFCS Drama Club for 10 years. His youngest child graduates from HF this year. As a member of the Board he has seen tremendous changes in the school over the last five years, and he would like to work to continue those changes. “We’ve come so far,” he said, “and I want to be part of the solution.” The challenge is to keep the school moving forward in spite of the necessary budget cuts. He is satisfied with the results of this budget. “Anytime there is no increase in the taxes is good.” As for the future, he said there is no easy answer. “It comes down to what can you do to cause the least harm to the program.”
Like Laurin and Skott, Wilwol believes the position of Board member is a responsibility to the community in the development of its children and to be a liaison between the school and community. His definition of a quality education also relates to the school mission statement, “to provide someone with the tools and knowledge to make it in a global community.” He well knows the importance of special education. “I deal with kids with special needs every day,” he said.
Communication between the community and Board has improved considerably in the last five years, said Wilwol. “I don’t know how to make it better.”
“I still have things to offer and I would like to be part of moving forward. I have a great loyalty to HFCS and I would like to continue to commit time to the position of Board member.”