Four candidates are running for three vacant seats on the Board of Education in the Cornwall Central School District.
Voters will also be asked to approve school district budgets as well.
If the budget passes, the CCSD’s tax levy calls for a proposed 1.38 percent increase.
The Local asked each candidate for their educational and professional information, as well as to talk about their community involvement and what they can offer to the Board of Education. Meet the candidates here:
Larry Berger
Education: Larry has a B.A. in physics education from William Patterson University and a master’s in educational leadership from Long Island University.
Professional Background: He was a physics teacher at O’Neill H.S. for 16 years. Then he was a director of technology for Pine Bush and O/U BOCES (17 years).
Community Involvement: Mr. and Mrs. Berger organized and participated in the first five All Night Graduation Parties. He is a 14-year member of the school board and a former school board president.
Offering: The perspective of a 40-year community member with experience as an educator and administrator. Through BOCES, he has worked with each school district in the county. His knowledge base is diverse and yet timely.
Theresa Budich
Education: After graduating from high school, she had continuing education in sales and marketing as well as independent courses in business and banking.
Professional Background: She began her sales career in the 70s with Xerox in NYC. After several years, she transitioned into the management side of retail sales. During the past 24 years, she has been a top producer with BHG Rand Realty.
Community Involvement: She was a founding member of the Special Education PTA in Orange County and a parent member of the Committee on Special Education. She served 18 years on the Monroe-Woodbury Board of Education, including 11 years as vice president.
Offering: The ability to hit the ground running. As the mother of four, and the grandmother of five young children, she can balance the needs of the taxpayer with the desire to provide a quality education for all children.
Margaret Quinn
Education: Margaret has a B.A. from Franklin & Marshall, an MBA from George Washington and a teaching certificate from Ramapo College.
Professional Background: In addition to being an adjunct professor at Mount Saint Mary, she has experience in hardware/software maintenance and training, sports management and events management.
Community involvement: Mrs. Quinn lists 14 activities. She is a school board member, a coach, a vice president of Little League, and a former PTO president to name a few.
Offering: Due to her many roles in the community, she has a multi-layered perspective and continues to have a connection to students in many grades (and their families). She appreciates the diversity of the current Board of Education.
Richard Schaffner
Education: He is a member of Cornwall’s class of 2020, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree at SUNY New Paltz.
Professional Background: As a recent graduate, his experience has been limited to volunteer positions. He’s a teacher’s aide at his local parish, a cabinet member on the student council, and a co-founder of the Women’s Voices Youth Group.
Community Involvement: In addition to serving in the positions above, Richard qualified for a Community Service Diploma Endorsement by logging more than 200 hours of community service.
Offering: After spending 12 years in Cornwall schools, he has a first-hand knowledge of the district. As a teacher’s aide, he has helped kids who are struggling. As a cabinet member, he’s worked collaboratively to get things done.
Editor’s note: In Cornwall, voters are also being called upon to vote on a library budget where the tax levy is increasing by 2.45 percent; below the state’s mandated tax cap. Cornwall’s candidates for library trustees were introduced in our May 22 issue.
