School Board Candidates Face Off In Debate

HARRISON - The two candidates who will square off in this month's school board election provided a group of about 25 spectators with their plans to improve the district on Tuesday night at L.M.K Middle School. 

Naomi Oppmann and Jason Schechter will run for the open seat left by Robert Amato, who will not seek re-election. Incumbent Abby Mendelsohn, who spoke briefly at the beginning of the event, will run for her seat unopposed.

Schechter, who cited financial and fiscal management as two of his strengths, said that he has had close ties to the district for several years and has considered running for the board in the past. He added that he has been quick to discuss important issues with school administrators and has a good connection with the district.

"When I thought things were wrong, I questioned them. When I thought things were going well I let people know that as well, and when I have questioned certain decisions and the track we are on, I have also voiced my opinion," Schechter said.

On the other hand, Oppmann, a relative newcomer to the school board scene, said that her strengths are her ability to communicate and bring new ideas. She said that she is a product of several private and public schools and has volunteered with several organizations.

Oppmann and Schechter painted slightly different pictures of their goals for the district during the 45-minute debate. Although each spoke at length about key issues including fiscal management and budget constraints they varied, widely at times, with their proposed solutions.

With drops in property assessments and cuts from Albany creating a dwindling revenue stream for the district, both candidates were asked repeatedly how they plan to either save money or create revenue. Schechter said that he plans to scrutinize future budgets in order to find ways to save.

"It's really a matter of how you organize yourself and adjust to the changing times and adjust to a lower expense budget," said Schechter.

He added that since salaries, benefits and pensions for school workers make up a large portion of the budget, looking into those areas to save money is something that needs to be considered.

Oppmann chose to focus on outside-the-box ideas to create revenue and small money saving ideas to cut spending. She said that she would like the board to consider selling naming rights of gyms or cafeterias as well as placing advertisements on the roofs of schools (out of the sight of students) in the view of planes flying overhead. To save money she suggested using sensor lights and other smaller money-saving techniques.

"We need to focus on the big picture and make the schools more self-reliant because I see the aid from the state coming down and I think eventually it's going to go away," said Oppmann.

Although the cost-cutting ideas proposed by Oppmann could potentially save the district a few thousand dollars, Schechter pointed out that with a budget over $100 million, he would rather see energy focused on bigger items.

"If we are going to need to save millions of dollars, given that our revenues could go down by a couple million dollars over the next couple of years, you are going to have to hit major line items and not the incidentals," said Schechter, adding that he would consider lighting changes but it wouldn't be on the top of his priority list if elected.

Oppmann disagreed, saying that adding up enough small ideas could result in large-scale savings.

"I think you need to take all the little things and every little thing can add up to a big victory," she said.

When asked about programs in the district that could be cut to save money, both candidates tip-toed around the issue. 

"It's a tough question," said Schechtor. "The goal here is to try to keep all programs running for as long as we can and that really means looking for other ways to cut expenses if necessary."

Oppmann said that she would again look toward alternative revenue sources or other solutions to avoid cuts, but said that she wasn't familiar enough with each program offered by the school to point out specifics.

The audience was allowed to ask questions throughout the debate by filling out an index card and passing it to the front of the room. Moderator Nate Levin relayed questions to the candidates to make sure that each was appropriate. The event was hosted by the League of Women Voters.

Voting for the school board candidates will take place on May 18 and booths will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information on the voting day process click here.