Your 2012 School Board Candidates: Peter Bassano

Though the 2012 White Plains School Board election is uncontested we know you still want to get to know the candidates who will be on the ballot May 15, when residents will also vote on the 2012-13 school budget.

The polls will be open from noon until 9 p.m. at six locations. There are three seats up for election. Incumbents Peter Bassano and James Hricay are running along with PTA Council Co-president Rose Lovitch. Donna McLaughling will not seek re-election.

Your 2012 School Board Candidate: Peter Bassano

Age: 56  (turn 57 on election day)

How long have you lived in White Plains?  About 22 years 

What neighborhood do you live in? Highlands

What do you do for a living?  I am a partner in the law firm of Bleakley Platt & Schmidt here in White Plains.  I am a member of the firm’s Management Committee and I am the head of the Real Estate and Commercial Transactions practice Groups. 

Education:  BS.,  Columbia University, 1979;  JD Pace Law School, 1987

Family:  My wife Janine.  Two sons in college, both of which attended WP schools from kindergarten through high school.  Chris is graduating from Cornell University this month and Brian is a freshman at SUNY New Paltz.

Other involvement: I am a member of the Board of Visitors of Pace University Law School and the Key Bank regional Business Advisory Board.  I have been involved with White Plains Little League for more than 15 years.

Have you ever run for school board before?  I have served on the Board for 10 years, having been elected three times. I was appointed to the School Board in 2002 in order to fill a vacant seat. I ran successfully in 2003, 2006 and 2009.

Why are you seeking a seat on the board or running again? 

I can’t think of a more important job at a more important time. We are at the initial stages of major changes in the way we educate our children. Technology has altered forever the way we communicate and is affecting the way we learn and teach. 

There is a new found sense of accountability in education that needs to be focused in a positive and productive manner. Fiscal pressures have resulted in new attitudes regarding how we spend our tax dollars and this means critical choices need to be made about the proper allocation of dwindling resources.  

The need for a better educated population has never been greater.  

What do you think you bring to the board? 

I believe I bring a critical and experienced eye and a willingness to ask the difficult questions. I have 10 plus years of institutional memory. Moreover, I am committed to quality public education for all students. 

What are the top issues facing the school district? 

The delicate balance of asset allocation among competing critical needs.  Meeting the needs of a growing body of students who are not meeting standards, while maintaining the highest of standards for students of every level. 

How would you address these issues? 

There have been a host of changes made (or about to be made) to curriculum, to the configuration of our schools and to the way we train and evaluate our teachers. We need to ensure these changes are properly implemented and properly evaluated. 

How do you feel about the current tax cap and how it affects the school district? 

The concept of funding education via a property tax is fundamentally unsound.  Public education is a as much a national security issue as is our defense budget and should be funded accordingly. 

Having said that, I believe the tax cap and the overall economic pressures of a bad economy have compelled school boards to be more responsible and look critically at every tax dollar spent. 

This has been painful but necessary and right.

How do you feel about unfunded mandates like employee pension contributions and its affects on the schools? 

Every economic analysis of public finance tells us without question that the current pension system is simply unsustainable. Courageous law makers are only now making this a priority. 

It is critical, however, to not demonize the professionals because their pension system is in need of change. Other unfunded mandates, particularly with respect to collective bargaining and school construction make no sense and should be adjusted or eliminated.

You're running unopposed. Why do you suppose more people don't get involved, and what would you say to voters, parents, community members to encourage engagement around school issues?  

People are unengaged for a variety of reasons. Some reasons are cultural.  Some are economic. Many are engaged behind the scenes. Some people are simply apathetic. 

We know that kids do better in school when their parents are involved in their education. 

This does not necessarily mean at the school board level but does mean at the homework level. We also know that decisions are made by the people who show up. This is particularly true at election time.  

What are you planning to focus on as a school member after the election?   

As noted above, we have many initiatives either newly in place or about to be commences.  We need to focus on proper implementation and evaluation.We have many new administrators who will need mentoring and guidance. We need to continue to focus on fiscal responsibility.

What is your favorite thing about this school district?   

The range of available learning and enrichment opportunities, both inside and outside of the classroom,  is immense. 

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