What do you see as the greatest challenge facing the school district right now?
Our greatest challenge right now is being able to function with the means that we’re given; the limited state aid and working within the parameters of our budget. Each and every year that I’ve been on the board, it’s been a tight budget, and we try to do more with less; we try to do as much as we can with the limited resources we have.
The state keeps placing more mandates on us and we have to face those challenges. I hope that at some point in time, Albany will realize the needs of the school districts and understand that everybody is entitled to a valuable education and part of their responsibility is to fund it.
And, you’ve heard it many times, the gap elimination adjustment; hopefully the Legislature and the Assembly will realize that the time is now to put an end to that and restore some of the funding to the districts so they can survive and move forward. With us, it’s almost $10 million over the last six or seven years that’s been pulled away from us to reduce the overall state financial problems, and the district didn’t cause those. That’s a lot of money.
If elected, what are your top two priorities?
The capital project is one. And we have two outstanding labor agreement contracts that have expired that we’ve been in the process of negotiating over the last several years. [The Highland Teachers Association (HTA] contract and the Highland Essential Labor Personnel Association (HELPA) support services contract.] I’d like to bring that to closure, hopefully within this fiscal year. Labor negotiations are tough, to try to balance what the district can afford and what will make those units happy.
Heather Welch
Heather Welch is running for the seat currently held by board member Kim Sweeney, whose three-year term is ending. Welch served on the Highland School Board previously as an appointee, replacing resigning trustee Maria Peterson in November of 2011. Welch ran unsuccessfully to keep the seat in the following year’s election.
Welch was born and raised in Highland. She graduated from Highland High School in 2000, going on to the University of Connecticut, Storrs, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting in May of 2004 and a master of science degree in accounting in December of that same year.
Welch is employed as a supervisor in accounts payable and financial records for Central Hudson Gas & Electric in Poughkeepsie and is a certified public accountant (CPA), licensed in the state of New York. She is married with a 19-month-old daughter and expecting a second child in August.
Why did you decide to run for a seat on the School Board?
In November of 2011, I was selected to fill a vacant seat on the Board of Education. My experience during this time was an extremely positive one. Ultimately, I want to be able to give back to the community and school district that I grew up in and has shaped who I am and what I have been able to accomplish. I feel that with my background in accounting and business, this is the perfect forum to do so. From having the experience of growing up in Highland and benefiting from the education I received in this district, I have a strong desire to ensure that all children growing up in Highland (including my own children in the future) have the opportunity to benefit from the same great opportunities that were presented to me.
What experiences, skills or positions will make you a competent board member?
I feel that my background in accounting and business has provided me with good and relevant experience as a trustee on the Board of Education. I believe that I do and will continue to bring an independent and fresh perspective that is necessary to contribute to the often tough decisions that need to be made. After growing up in this community and school district and planning to raise a family here in the future, I am committed to finding the right balance between our taxpayers support for the long-term financial stability of our schools and the best educational opportunities possible for our children.
What do you see as the greatest challenge facing the school district right now?
The biggest issue continually facing many school districts, including Highland, as I’m sure everyone could agree, is the tough times that we are facing economically. This includes increases in taxes combined with cuts in state aid. As part of the Board of Education, I think it is important to continually look at ways in which the district can reduce its costs as well as making sure that our voices are heard in Albany to ensure that the district receives the state aid that we are entitled to.
Although it is important to always consider how and where costs can be cut, after a significant period of time of doing so, these cuts in cost begin to affect everyday operations. Therefore, it is important to also consider different ways of doing things as well as just what costs can be cut. Working with the administration to continually look for these areas of improvement is vital to the financial stability of the district.
If elected, what are your top two priorities?
It’s difficult to say what my top two priorities are; however, I would say my top priority in joining the board is to help the district ensure its long-term financial stability. In times of financial distress, it is often hard to look to the future as there is continual concern over what will happen tomorrow. However, I think the key to regaining and ultimately maintaining stability is to consider both the short term and the long term today.
