Newton Patch Candidate: Lev Agranovich, School Committee

NEWTON, MA — There will be several contested races in this fall's election, including for school committee, which is a citywide vote. Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

There are eight seats, one from each ward, up for election to the school committee. There are only three contested seats - in Wards 4, 5, 6. And there are 11 candidates vying for eight two-year term seats on the ballot.

Lev Agranovich, 49, is challenging Emily Prenner for the Ward 5 seat as Steven Siegel steps off after terming out.

Agranovich moved to Newton in 2003 with his wife Anna. They've got two children.

He has a bachelors in computer science, a masters in accounting and business. For the past 24 years, he's worked as an accountant - the last 15 of which for AGS Tax & Accounting Group. He also owns his own CPA company. He has also helped produce several small films, according to IMDB.

He took some time recently to answer questions Patch sent to candidates. His answers have not been edited.

Read this, too: Newton Election Calendar 2019: What To Know About Election
Got something to say about this election? Submit a Letter To The Editor. Here's how.

Are you running for office in Newton? Contact Jenna Fisher at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Newton Patch.

The single most pressing issue facing our (city, schools, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

As a working accountant, I’m in a good position to address the current budget issues that we have in the Newton School system for the last several years. If I had access to the district’s financial statements to review, I would be able to locate and eliminate wasteful spending like I do for all of my clients every day. I’m not arguing for cuts in teacher pay, because money is best spent at the classroom level. On the contrary, I believe teachers should be compensated well for their work. Further, to ensure that Newton students receive the very best education, a healthy teacher-student ratio must be maintained. Therefore making cuts to teacher’s salaries is counter-productive. The salaries we offer to our educators must remain competitive to assure that year after year, no student loses key mentors on their road to adulthood.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

As a Newton resident, business owner, and father of a Newton student, I’m concerned about the integrity and management of our schools. My financial experience tells me that we can be financially responsible without reducing teacher salaries or needed funds. We should promote high standards for students, while being sensitive to the stresses they feel - an area of special concern for me. I look forward to using my educational, professional, and volunteer experience to work with all stakeholders to make our schools fiscally sound, with higher standards, in a tolerant atmosphere for all students.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)? If you're an incumbent, what is still on your to-do list?

Biggest failure for the Newton in current situation: "Newton City Council Votes To Give Themselves Raises" We can't support this.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

If you ask many students currently attending a Newton High School, they will tell you that the daily stress they have to cope with is both extraordinary and untenable. Between a culture pushing students to expect high levels of success and the high quantities of work assigned by teachers daily, Newton students experience a high level of stress, a well known factor to depression. I believe one of the most impactful yet often overlooked factors to student stress is the early start of the school. Combined with the late nights to accomplish the daily homework assignments, students are forced to wake up at very early hours to get ready, catch the bus, and make it to their first class. I propose pushing the start of school back by an hour to improve student mental health and to easy social and emotional issues. If elected to the Newton School committee I would fight tirelessly for any measure which will help reduce the hardships students undergo at such a formative and pivotal age.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My biggest accomplishment - my children's. I look forward to working with the other Committee members using my educational, professional, and volunteer experience for the children of Newton.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Don't waste your money on things you don't need and Invest in yourself.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have been a Newton (Ward 5) resident for the last 16 years. I am also a parent, volunteer, and professional accountant. I have extensive experience working with government and tax payer funded organizations, I hold an MBA and an MSA, and I have worked as the founder and managing partner of the AGS Tax Group for as long as I have lived here. Before then I have held the title of treasurer for multiple scholastic and professional positions.

Your public social media info (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)

https://www.facebook.com/agstax

My favorite aspect of this city is...

The residents of the city and the community which we have here.

What's your take on all of the development projects across the city?

Biggest problem which we have right now - 24 percent increase for the mayor salary and 44 percent increase for city council and 54 percent raise for the school committee. This is

More on Newton Elections:

• Newton Election Calendar 2019: What To Know About Election
• Ward 5 Residents To Head To The Polls Sept. 10
• Humphrey, Winters Win Preliminary Election In Newton's Ward 5
• Rick Lipof Is Running Unopposed
• Mark Laredo- unopposed
• Becky Grossman, At-Large Ward 7
• Got A Newton Election Related Letter To The Editor?

More candidate profiles:

• Kathryn Winters - Ward 5
• Bill Humphrey - Ward 5
• Rena Getz - Ward 5 (write in)
• Andreae Downs - At Large Ward 5
• Deb Crossly - At Large Ward 5
• Brenda Noel, Ward 6
• Vicki Danberg - At Large Ward 6
• Emily Norton (Incumbent)- Ward 2
• Bryan Barash - Ward 2
• Jake Auchincloss(Incumbent) - At Large Ward 2
• Susan Albright (Incumbent) - At Large Ward 2
• Tarik Lucas -At Large Ward 2
• Jennifer Bentley, At Large Ward 2
• Ruth Goldman - School Committee
• Kathleen Shields - School Committee
• Bridget Ray-Canada -School Committee
• Alex Koifman - School Committee
• Galina Rosenblit - School Committee

From his candidate statement at NewTV: