Meet Your School Board Candidates: Dr. Randy Stein

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 with Dr. Randy Stein. Also check our interviews with and parent .

Candidate Name: Dr. Randy Stein

Age: 58

Neighborhood: Gedney Meadows, has lived in White Plains since 1985

Career: Stein is an endocrinologist, with an interest in diabetes, at who practices out of and Greenwich Hospital

Education: SUNY Albany, biology with a minor in chemistry; and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, certified in endocrinology and internal medicine

Family: Stein is married to Jack Berger, a rheumatologist at WESTMED Medical Group; they have three children who all graduated from White Plains High School: two sons Daniel Berger, 30; Joseph Berger, 26; and Evelyn Berger, 19

Other: Stein is a WESTMED partner, on ’s Board of Trustees and serves on the school board’s pupil services (special education), finance and safety committees. She also enjoys speaking in public on health issues and is fluent in English and Spanish

Dr. Randy Stein, elected to the White  Plains Board of Education in 2008, says she is seeking a second term to finish the work she has started with the board.

“I’m passionate about public education,” said Stein. “I want to stay on the school board because I started to work on the finance and special education committees. You can really do more after you’ve spent a term, and know how things work.”

Stein says her health expertise can also be helpful to the district in a time where childhood obesity and diabetes are spreading throughout the nation. Having gone through three school budgets, she says her knowledge of complex budgetary issues—like reduced revenues and unfunded mandates—will help the district push through the next three budget seasons.

“Our biggest challenge is maintaining educational excellence in the face of current economic policies and downturn,” said Stein.

She stressed the importance of being fiscally responsible while making sure the district’s diverse population of students are having all of their needs met, while being challenged.

“I think we do a wonderful job,” said Stein. “It’s a challenge because we have less resources—we've loss 14 percent staff in last the last three years.”

Stein said she was pleased with this year’s budget process, and would like to continue to find new cost saving initiatives, like ones the district has implemented: such as the Honeywell energy efficient improvements; sharing services with the city; contract negotiations; finding other entities to take over district programs, like adult education and pre-kindergarten.

Stein says she would like the chance to again serve on the board to help continue to foster the district’s diversity and small-town feel in a district with 7,200 students.

“I think I can represent all of the 7,200—I don't have any personal agenda, other than it’s all about the kids,” Stein said. “I love the school board, I spend a countless number of hours here. The children are so important, it really is about these kids who will someday be our leaders. Watching them grow is an incredible gift for me. Being able to give back to a public education, that was so wonderful for my children, is really important.”

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