Daniel Brodsky, Candidate For Parkway School Board

Biographical Information

• Name, Age, Address Daniel Brodsky, 62, 424 Sorrento Dr., Manchester, MO  63021
• Occupation:  Executive Director, New Mt. Sinai Cemetery; professional musician
• Education: Bachelor of Music, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1971; Master of Music, University of Illinois, 1973
• Family: (spouse/children and their schools)  Jonathan (son), age 10, Sorrento Springs Elementary; 2 older children living outside St. Louis
• Years lived in the Parkway School District:   Since 1982

Brief Background

I have been a resident of St. Louis since 1980, moving here from my hometown of Champaign, Illinois.  I have lived in the Manchester area since 1982, and I have had 3 children all attend Parkway schools.  I currently operate the oldest and largest Jewish cemetery in St. Louis--New Mt. Sinai Cemetery, and I have also been the Music Director of B'nai El Congregation in Frontenac since 1985.  I have also a member of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus since 1982.  I have performed professionally throughout the St. Louis community, performing many styles of music.  

Reasons For Running
 

My initial motivation for running for the Parkway Board of Education was the tragedy that occurred last December in Newtown, CT. I decided shortly after that horrible event that I would try to prevent any such atrocity from occurring in my son's school district. I have spent the past 6 weeks familiarizing myself with the inner workings of the Parkway School District: I have met with school administrators and teachers, as well as many of the department heads within Parkway, and even the Superintendent.  My goal is to serve on the Board and make Parkway an even safer environment for its students, faculty and staff.

• What qualifies you to be a Parkway School Board member?

30+ years of living in the district, plus being extremely involved in the activities of the Parkway schools that all 3 of my children have attended over those years.

• Do you feel Parkway Schools are as reasonably safe as they can be in the wake of the Newtown school shooting? What is the most important thing you would like to see the district do with regard to school security moving forward?  

Yes, most of the schools are reasonably safe, but I think there are many areas that can be improved. My highest priority in working toward improved school security is to explore the mental health component of those people that attend Parkway schools, as well as the teachers, staff, and even the families of the students in the district.

• Identify the most significant area where you disagreed with the majority decision made by the Board of Education over the past two years and tell us why?

I have not identified any decisions by the Board that I would disagree with. 

• Is there a program or area of the school district budget that should be more closely scrutinized when it comes to evaluating possible budget cuts in future years?

Teacher salaries need to be further examined when considering any future budget cuts.

• Do you support the merger of continuing education classes and programs with the Rockwood School district?

If Rockwood is in fact interested in combining programs with Parkway, I think that would be a cost-efficient way to continue offering quality classes and programs within Parkway. However, if it dilutes the reputation and image of Parkway throughout the community, I would not favor such a joint venture.

• What is your process for establishing priorities when it comes to budget cuts which could impact student instruction?

There is--and always has been--only one top priority in Parkway:the highest quality education that we can offer our students. Anything that takes away from the quality of that education must be avoided if possible. When contemplating budget cuts, the Parkway Administration should confer with representatives of the students and teachers within the district in an effort to dialogue about any proposed cuts.  Everyone should be "on the same page" before any cuts would be instituted.

• What do you desire to change in Parkway?

I would really like to elevate Parkway's reputation even higher in the St. Louis (and even national) community.  We have a great reputation, but there are other school districts in this area which enjoy an even better reputation than Parkway. I think our goal should be to make Parkway the best school district in the area.