Croton School Board Candidate: Iris Cross-Bugliosi

On May 21, Croton school district residents will vote on a $44.5 million budget proposal and elect two new school board members. Below is a brief bio for school board candidate Iris Cross-Bugliosi.

Bugliosi has lived in Croton since 1995. She graduated from SUNY Oswego, where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree.  She received her JD-Law Degree from the University of Pennsylvania and has worked as an attorney since 1989. 

• She currently works part-time as a Principal Law Clerk to Appellate Term Supreme Court Justice. Prior to that she worked as a Westchester County Assistant County Attorney and a Kings County Assistant District Attorney. Her husband, John is an attorney and they have wo children: Nicole, a 5th Grade at PVC and Christopher, a 3rd Grade at CET.   She has been active over the past ten years in the following Croton community organizations:   
• Circle School Parent Committee, Co-Chair; Publicity Chair (2 years) 
• Circle School Board, Member 
• Carries E. Tompkins Elementary School PTA, Lunch Program Coordinator for 3 years 
• Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School PTA, Member 
• Class Parent 
• Girl Scout Troop Leader 
• Fifth Grade Religious Instructor at Holy Name of Mary 
• Destination Imagination Appraiser, Regional and State Competition 

Patch: What strengths will you bring to the board?   My decision to run for the board is based on my dedication to supporting the growth and well-being of children, and my belief a quality education is a very important part of their development. Over the past ten years I have been active in Croton working on various committees to support the interests of Croton children.  As an attorney, for nearly 25 years, I know the importance of advocacy, compromise and listening when working with others, and would bring these skills, in addition to critical thinking and knowing the importance of asking the right questions, to the board, if elected.  
 
Patch: What issues facing the district do you feel most strongly about?
I believe we need to be mindful of the burden the budget places on our neighbors, particularly those without children in school.  I would like to see more transparency in our budget and policies and would strive for fiscal responsibility and accountability.  Next, communication between the Board and the community needs to be developed further.  Finally, I would like to see policies that promote academic success for all students, using techniques like differentiation, flipped classrooms, or flexible grouping to engage every student in the district in their learning, allowing them to take ownership over their learning.    

Patch: Describe the quality of education you think students are getting in the district. Are there measures you would take to improve upon it?  
Overall, Croton schools are very good, they offer students a well-rounded, quality education.  We have a lot be proud of.  Our district is exceptional at creating a safe and nurturing environment for students to learn in, we have teachers who truly excel at inspiring their students academically and their creativity.  Our district could do a better job of getting feedback to the students, and motivating them to challenge themselves.    We also should try to strengthen our Math, Science, Grammar and Spelling skills. I would explore how we could introduce foreign languages to younger learners and,  I would support developing a Model UN club in our district.    

Patch: This was another tough year for the district in terms of developing a budget. Are there any areas you would consider cutting during next year's budget process to stay under the tax cap?  
The Board's most daunting task is to approve a responsible budget.  I would approach consideration of the budget with an open mind, looking for ways to contain cost by eliminating redundancies and trying to be more efficient in the way the district does things.  My guide to making cuts would be making decisions as far from the classroom as possible.  I would look to utilize the talent within the community to enhance educational opportunities for students. Whether it is compensation packages, which kick in mandates that are draconian, administrative costs, or other contractual obligations, I would have to wait until I have all of the information before me to determine ways we can reduce the pressure these expenses have on our budget.   

Patch: What do you think the long-term impact of the tax cap will be on Croton schools? (Do you support or think it's hurting public education?)   In 1999, our school budget was $20,388,798, ten years later, our budget was $42,888,020.  In 2004/05 there was a 14.98% budget increase in that year alone.  The pressure these increases have on families with modest incomes or citizens with fixed income is untenable.  Since the enactment of the tax cap, the budget has stabilized releasing some of the pressure increases were causing families.  I believe in the long term the tax cap will continue to help districts stabilize their budgets.  I recognize that mandates unfairly apply pressure on the budget, and forces schools to make difficult choices. I believe we can find solutions, and through advocacy, we can work for the passage of bills pending in the Senate which would release some of these pressures.      

Patch: What do you think about the Common Core standards? Will they benefit Croton students?   On balance, I support the Common Core and the rigor it attempts to bring to the learning standards in education.  The former standards were set lower and often individual school districts decided whether to strive to exceed the standards.  Even NYSUT, New York State teachers union, believes, if done properly, the Common Core standards inures to the benefit of students by enriching and expanding a students learning, critical thinking and creativity. Unfortunately, the decision to link teacher performance (APPR) with the state test, and to align the standardized test to the Common Core merely one year after it was adopted are clouding the good that can result from raising the bar.

Patch: Is there anything we haven’t asked that you would like the public to know about you or your candidacy?   I have told you my opinions on several topics, but at the end of the day, if elected to the Board my goal would be to represent the opinions and interests of the residents of Croton at the Board meetings.  As a Board member I can assure you that I will not go in stubbornly with a set of opinions and that I do not have a hidden agenda only the improvement of our school district.