FLBOE Candidate: Larry Loprete

Laurence Loprete has two boys, an eighth grader at FAMS and a Fourth Grader at Colonial Road School. He has lived in Franklin Lakes with wife Mary, a trustee on the Education Foundation, for more than seven years. The Lopretes, of White Pond Road, are parishioners at Most Blessed Sacrament (where Larry does Liturgy of the Word). He is also the Commissioner for the third and fourth grade baseball league.

Experience: On a professional level, my current position as Global Director of Education and Training at Standard & Poors requires me to assess training needs for the firm and devise programs to satisfy these needs. I develop a training curriculum for the company at the beginning of each year and then adapt, add or delete programs as deemed necessary. Prior to S&P, I was the Chief Administrative Officer for Equities at Citigroup. In this capacity, I managed a staff of 50 professionals, dealt with personnel, budget and several other issues that are similar to what we face in the school district. On a personal level, since I have a son about to graduate middle school and another in the 4th grade. I have had the opportunity to become familiar with many of the teachers, administration, programs and curriculum. I can see how changes are being implemented and make comparisons on their effectiveness. My sons have also taken numerous academic courses outside of school which allows me to bring new ideas to the table and help determine what is pertinent to prepare our students to compete in the 21st century.

Why do you want to serve on the school board? 

Larry: I am very passionate about public schools, particularly in Franklin Lakes. We have an extremely successful school system and I would like to expand the programs that work well, ensure we continue to hire and retain the best teachers while remaining a fiscally responsible district. I want to make certain that any changes that are proposed are to better our school district and the education of our students and ensure that we have the support of our teachers and the Franklin Lakes community prior to implementation.

What challenges do you see in the next three years on the board? 

Larry: On a state level, we face budget issues along with other changes that the governor is proposing, particularly in the areas of tenure and teachers’ evaluations. In our own district, we are going through a variety of changes including new positions that have been filled. We have a new superintendent, new middle school principal, new director of curriculum, as well as several new policy and curriculum changes. Our district is currently undergoing an efficiency study to determine what revisions to the current structure may be necessary to operate more effectively and efficiently.  It is vital to ensure that with new management, personnel, and operations, all areas continue to run smoothly and changes are not made just for the sake of change.

What do you see as the district's greatest assets and liabilities?

Larry: The greatest assets have always been our teachers and principals, first and foremost, along with parental involvement. Our teachers have been incredibly committed to their students and do an overall outstanding job. Our parents are very involved in donating volunteer time and supporting PTAs and the Education Foundation. They, along with the local community, have been incredibly generous with monetary donations that help fund things our limited BOE budget cannot. Both school and community have a great partnership in educating our children, which is critical for a successful school system.

What problems would you like to see corrected in the district and how would you go about doing them? 

Larry: I feel we need to continue to work at being as transparent as possible. We need to change the perception that decisions are made behind closed doors and make certain that the community’s voice is heard before major changes are implemented. We have made some improvements in the area of communicating with the public, such as the implementation of “News and Views” and the new district website, but we still have much work to do.

What personal/professional strengths do you bring to the table that you feel will help to make the district better? 

Larry: Having worked with over 850 people and managed 50 on the Citigroup trading floor, I feel I have developed strong interpersonal skills and am a very approachable BOE representative. At Standard and Poors, when we develop a training program, it is imperative we not only get the content correct, but we also present it in a way that’s easy to comprehend. When I deliver the training, I always encourage audience participation and enjoy getting questions, some I can answer immediately and others that require more time and understanding. I believe I'm an attentive listener who can assess a situation and determine a sound, effective solution. As a personal note, My father was a 20 year veteran of the NYPD and I'd like to think some of his "street smarts" was passed down to me, which I also feel is invaluable when dealing with people.  I have never been shy in stating what I believe is right and voicing my opinions.

How do you feel about the governor's proposal to end teacher tenure and institute pay raises based on merit? 

Larry: I believe all employees should be rewarded based on merit rather than longevity, yet I feel this issue needs to be resolved with care. While this may be simple on Wall Street and in many other professions, implementing this in the teaching profession may be more difficult, particularly if student test scores are the only measure.  Many areas need to be addressed; how do teachers that teach Art, PE, Music, etc., in which there are no test results, get evaluated? What about great teachers in poor performing districts? There needs to be a variety of factors that measure a teacher's success and the ability to perform successfully in the classroom.  Rewarding teachers needs to take into account all of these issues, while remaining committed to educating the students to the highest levels possible.

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We previously heard from board candidates Susan McGowan, Craig Urcioli, and  Carolyn Reitz. Check back tomorrow to hear from another FLBOE candidate "In Their Own Words."

More information on the school board elections, including the budget figures for both the local and regional districts is available here. To learn more about the candidates, watch the videos on the district website or on the borough's two cable channels, Verizon FiOS channel 46 and Cablevision channel 77.