Julie Tresco
Julie Tresco. (Photo by Lauren Thomas)
Julie Tresco first moved to New Paltz in 1997 to attend the college. Right now, she lives in West Park — in the part of the district that juts northeast to Esopus. Tresco, who has a master’s degree in nutrition, currently works as a project nutritionist for the not-for-profit called Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetables.
The 36-year-old mother of two has never held elected office before.
Q: Why are you running for school board?
JT: I just was really disappointed to see what has been happening with our school. When my husband and I bought our house, everybody was like: “Oh that’s cool. You’re in the New Paltz School District.”
At the time, I didn’t have kids. I didn’t really know what that meant. But then since I’ve gotten involved with the schools — I see all the things that everybody thought was so great about New Paltz slowly being dismantled.
Having a 3 and a 6-year-old, I’m going to be in the district for a while. And I want a say — more of a say than just voting — in what’s happening in our school.
Q: What are the top three issues facing the New Paltz schools, and if you got elected, how would you address them?
JT: Well I think it seems to be programs being cut — whether it be during school or after-school programs. Class sizes are being increased. And jobs are being eliminated. That seems to be my biggest gripe.
I guess as far as what I would do about them — without really being able to look at a budget and get into a budget — I would have to say, I wonder if there’s other things that could be cut before cutting after-school programs. I just wish that there was a better handling of the money that’s there.
Q: This year school board members settled on a $50.31 million budget that would raise the tax levy by 4.4 percent. Would you have voted yes for that budget too? Why or why not?
JT: I probably would have. But I also feel like they probably could have went a little higher. I understand why they didn’t, because we do need the 60 percent majority to be able to get that 4.4 (percent).
So, you know, if that was my only option, then yes I absolutely would have voted yes for the 4.4 (percent budget).
Q: After briefly promoting $12.3 million in fixes to the four school buildings — known as the “Health & Safety Bond” project — the board took it off May’s ballot. Do you support those repairs? Would you have approached the decision to remove that bond project differently?
JT: I would support any repairs that are needed to the buildings. I think that the safety of the children that are there every day is of the utmost importance. It seems to me that that was taken off the bill because of the way the land vote went — which to me is disappointing. Because if anybody paid any attention to the survey results, a lot of people didn’t want the land, but they felt that repairs to the schools were important.
I know the survey that they sent out, I think only 2,000 of the 9,000 were returned. But it seems like that it was just disregarded — that they didn’t even pay any attention to the answers people responded with. I think that’s a tricky question. I understand why they took it off. But I hope that it comes back soon.
Q: New Paltz school board members are currently developing a long-term facilities plan that could call for the closure of two schools and a consolidation down to two campuses. It could also call for the closure of one school and a consolidation to three campuses. Do you support that consolidation? If not, how else should the district move forward?
JT: I mean, I don’t like the idea of any consolidation. I like the way that the grades are divided. I think that it’s nice that you have K-2. I like that my first-grader isn’t anywhere near freshmen or seniors in high school. And I’m going to like that even more when they’re in middle school.
I would support maybe a three-campus system more than a two-campus system, for sure. Because I know that that would be a money-saving way to go, as far as maintenance, bus routes and things like that. I would like to see the long-term plan and see what that looks like. But I feel that part of what makes New Paltz great is that we do have the separation of the grades and the working up to different grade levels, socially and things like that.
Q: How will your previous experiences help you if you got elected, and how would they be an asset for those who vote for you? In other words, why should people vote for you?
JT: Well I suppose as far as previous experience, I will honestly say I don’t have a lot of previous experience in this field. But as a taxpayer, a landowner and somebody that has two small children in the district – and I’m not going anyplace – what I can bring to the table is consideration for our children’s education. I’m just like anybody else — we’re a two-income family that could turn into a one-income family very easily. You know, considering the economic times. Just like everybody else, I don’t want to see my taxes raised — but I also don’t want to see my children’s future, educational future, slowly dismantled. Something needs to be done, and I hope that maybe if somebody that isn’t jaded by all the — I don’t know if I want to say “political” things that are happening out there in the community. I may have some fresh ideas to bring to the table. ++
Editor’s note: In Highland, the school board race will be pitting battled-hardened veterans against newcomers. Here is a list of the six candidates running for three open seats in that race: Regina Tantillo-Swanson, Vincent Rizzi Jr., Michael Bakatsias, Heather Welch, Michael Reid and Debra-Ann Pagano. Be sure to check out next week’s edition of the New Paltz Times for full profiles of the Highland School Board candidates.
