Two Seek Election to K-L School Board

Two Lewisboro residents announced Tuesday they will run for seats on the Katonah-Lewisboro school board.

Their bids follow from current board members Michael Gordon and Warrent Schloat that they will not seek re-election when their terms are completed in June.

Rich Delin, 46, and Stephanie Tobin, also 46, said they are both seeking election because they have had positive experiences in the schools so far and want to work toward maintaining a high-quality education in the district.

"I'm very interested in curriculum and academics and specifically, maintaining a high standard of academic excellence," said Tobin, mother of four children in the district. "We’ve had to make cuts all around, but excellence doesn’t necessarily cost any more money—it’s an attidude that starts at the top and I'd like to be a part of a board of education that sets a high bar."

Tobin has lived in Waccabuc for 14 years with her husband John and their children, John, a sophomore at , Tess, a freshman, Willa, a sixth grader at , and Faye, a third grader at

Her professional background includes a degree in accounting and former employment as an equity derivitaves trader at O'Connor and Associates in Manhatan. For the last several years she has been a stay at home mother and volunteered in the schools—both assets she believe would benefit the board.

"I have a background in numbers and am confident looking at budgets, but what I believe I bring is the day-to-day experience of observing what happens in classrooms, what comes home in the backpacks at all three levels," said Tobin. She would also add to the female presence on the board, bringing what she said would be an important balance.

Tobin said this is not the first time she's considered running—she put her name in the hat seven years ago but withdrew because "the timing wasn't right"—but this time she said she felt ready and able to make a contribution.

For his part, Delin, who has also lived in the district for 14 years, said his three children have had great success in the district and he wanted to give back, and work toward keeping the education as good as it has been for his own kids.

Delin lives in South Salem with his wife Karin and their kids, Alex, a senior at SUNY Binghamton, Max, a senior at JJHS and Jillian, an eighth grader at JJMS.

"Having put three very different children through the district during a long string of high-tax budgets, I'm very impressed with a proposed buget that's under the two percent cap," said Delin, who works for Siemens as a medical equipment supplier and business consultant to hospitals in the tri-state area.

Delin, who also serves as a girls lacrosse coach, said the high school has just what so many kids need—opportunities to excel for those who want to push themselves and extra help and guidance for kids who need it. "Kids can work at a high level here and we want to maintain that," he said. 

The real challenge, Delin said, is "not spending more than you need to and not spending less than you should."

On being in the public eye, Delin said he didn't mind.

"And at the end of the day you have to do what you believe is right for the students—and others make not like it, but that's life," he said.

Both candidates said they respected the current board and would look forward to working with the district administration. Tobin said she'd like to continue her volunteer work on the science curriculum and would look for ways to "add rigor" to the elementary program.

On class sizes, Tobin said she is sympathetic to the parents who attended the school board meeting to discuss the proposed elementary school eliminations.

"I do think it's money worth spending," said Tobin of adding teachers to the elementary schools. "But I also believe in we have to get creative in solutions and sacrifice elsewhere—it's about prioritizing and making choices in a difficult financial environment," she said.

Other interested candidates may pick up packets from Kimberly Monzon, district clerk, at the district's offices located at School, Monday – Friday during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

A trustee’s term on the school board runs for three years. The election is held on May 15.

Westchester-Putnam School Boards Association will host a workshop for Prospective School Board Members on Thursday, March 29, 2012.  Details on the workshop will be provided in the Prospective School Board Candidate Packets.