White Plains will vote on the 2011-12 school budget on May 17, as well as for two school board members.
Click for information on the school budget.
If you missed Thursday's candidate's forum no worries! You can learn about your school board candidates here: below is our interview with elementary school parent Lori Hardy. Also check out our interviews with incumbent , and .
Candidate Name: Lori Hardy
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Age: 43
Neighborhood: Woodcrest Heights, live in White Plains for 15 years
Career: Pharmaceutical sales care specialist for Novo Nordisk pharmaceutical company
Education: Iona College, political science; law degree, CUNY School of Law at Queens College
Family: Hardy is married to Wade Hardy, a corporate security specialist for Con Edison and a retired White Plains Police lieutenant; they have two children who attend School: son Miles, 11, and daughter Kiersten, 6
Other: Hardy is a member of the Westchester Chapter of the Jack and Jill of America Inc., and the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority
Elementary School parent Lori Hardy wants to become a school board member to give a voice to parents in the district, as well as help communicate the board’s plans and initiatives to the community.
“I always valued public education,” said Hardy. “As a parent you see the challenges your child goes through. I think I can have a great impact for parents who want to become a part of the process.”
Hardy says there is a “disconnect” with the elementary school parents and the board.
“I just think that the school board could do a better job communicating,” said Hardy, “Especially with children in elementary school. A lot of parents I speak to feel there’s a bit of a disconnect with some of the decisions that are made and the impact it has on younger children.”
Being an elementary school parent herself—Hardy says she can help bridge the gap between these parents and the board.
“Just being a connected parent, I think it so important to have a parent’s vision, and someone that’s really going to hear them,” said Hardy. “Our elementary schools make up 50 percent school district. I think I can represent them all to the best of my ability.”
Hardy said she would like to focus on curriculum as a school board member.
“I do have a a particular interest in the curriculum committee,” said Hardy. “I feel that’s very important, especially given the fact we need all our children brought up to par with standardized test scores.”
Hardy said if policies are implemented she wants to make sure they are clearly communicated to the parents; how it will affect them and their children; and what direction the board is headed in.
“One of the biggest issues we have is a huge diverse population of students, from their academic ability to their socioeconomic status,” said Hardy. “It’s challenging to take children from different backgrounds when you have a large population and try to make sure you give everyone a quality education—while balancing fiscal responsibility and meeting the needs of everyone.”
To ensure fiscal responsibility, Hardy says she would make sure there are ways to measure the success of district programs.
“I think when you have to decide where to cut it's very hard,” said Hardy. “One of the things you have to find out is where are we at as a school district, and how can we best see if the policies we've implemented are working.”
Hardy acknowledged the board’s efforts to reach out to the community during the budget process, and says the proposed budget is “fair.”
“I think it was a tough decision,” said Hardy. “ I know it was not easy, but they did take the time to listen to the people who did come out to speak about their concerns with the budget. I’m a taxpayer as well, it’s important to me not to have skyrocketing tax increases—but also as a parent it’s important to make sure my children and everyone else’s children have the resources they need. I support the budget.”
Hardy said she is looking forward to the challenge of becoming a board member.
“I’m just really looking forward to learning a lot about what a school board member can, and cannot do,” said Hardy. “I know there’s going to be a lot to learn, and I am wiling to put the time and energy in, if elected, to do the best job I can.”
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