Support Diana Armstead and re-elect Michael O’Donnell and Brian Cournoyer
I am writing to enthusiastically express my support for BOE candidate Diana Armstead. Diana has spent her life offering support to vulnerable youth, she has formative experience in the BOCES Beta program and is a guest lecturer at SUNY, teaching students about the opioid epidemic and crisis prevention — what a gift for our schools! Diana is also co-founder of Concerned Parents of New Paltz, a group that has been advocating for students and their families for 28 years now, spanning the terms of three different superintendents. Diana has proven, time and again, her dedication to the issues that face our school community.
I would also like to urge people to re-elect Michael O’Donnell and Brian Cournoyer, both of whom have shown us that they understand what it means to serve. Brian and Michael have shown their ability to work on a variety of issues, both individually and in concert. Their fearless commitment to speaking out in the best interest of our children is in the public record.
We, as a community, have worked hard to hold our school district accountable to all of our students.
Rachel Markowitz
New Paltz
Brian, Diana and Michael don’t just walk the walk, they deliver
I met Brian Cournoyer almost a decade ago when the district was facing huge state budget cuts as a result of the 2008 recession. Brian came to every school board meeting during many budget seasons to chime in during public comment about the need for us to preserve programs without severely burdening property taxpayers. Brian is now asking for us to send him back to the school board for his third term.
Michael O’Donnell showed up with similar concerns as a regular public commenter a few years later and now is running for a second term on the board. Their commitment to our school district has not wavered through very difficult times, and they are two of the most thoughtful, caring and intelligent people I have had the pleasure of working with in our community. I am supporting them for that, as well as their stellar financial acumen. They paid close attention for years to district finances and brought that knowledge to our school board budgeting process. As a former school board member, I know all too well how incredibly difficult it is to maintain educational program without significant tax increases. Cost drivers like utilities, pensions and health care costs can increase at rates well above the 2% tax cap and it’s impossible to deliver the same or better program without skillfully budgeting with a keen eye for savings in other places that won’t be damaging. Michael and Brian have proven that they excel at looking out for taxpayers and the education we deliver by helping navigate our district through challenging financial times.
I have only recently met Diana Armstead over the past year due to her work with the Racial Equity Coalition. Diana has been doing racial equity work in our community for decades and now that the district is seriously taking a hard look at racism she is exactly the person I want at our school board table contributing to this incredibly important and long overdue initiative. Hate crimes are up across the nation since November 2016, and ugly overt racism has increased right here in our schools. We need to take a hard look at racial inequities in everything ranging from academic outcomes to our system of discipline, and I want Diana to be a part of identifying and creating our local remedies to these problems.
Brian, Diana and Michael are proven progressives. They don’t just walk the walk. They deliver. Please join me in voting for them on May 15.
kt Tobin
New Paltz
Why we need Armstead, Cournoyer and O’Donnell
Sometimes getting to what’s best for our kids takes some twists and turns but working with solid research, following a process and asking informed questions are worth the time and energy. This was proven true with the start times discussion.
As a public health issue, the research is clear: At the onset of puberty, a teen’s sleep natural sleep-wake cycle shifts up to two hours later. Lack of sleep at this age has negative effects on mood, academic performance and other aspects of a teen’s life. It was the responsibility of the BOE to take this issue on and investigate possible ways to have kids start school later. The BOE rejected all administrators’ proposals that shifted start times but hurt sports programs and other extracurriculars. The concentration of the discussion shifted from start times to sleep times — which led to the transportation director Maureen Ryan to develop shorter bus routes that benefitted the communities of Esopus and Gardiner. Shorter bus routes led to 15-30 more minutes of sleep for those kids. This positive change would not have happened if the investigation of start/sleep times had been cut short. We have Brian Cournoyer and Michael O’Donnell, plus the work of all the administrators, especially Ms. Ryan, to thank for that.
I anticipate that the discussions about safety and security will go along the same path if we elect Diana Armstead, and re-elect Brian Cournoyer and Michael O’Donnell. We need the same evidence-based research, informed questions and thorough process to get to what will be best for our kids. Diana has experience in this area. She shared with me the effectiveness of crisis intervention personnel that are present in schools as advocates for kids to confide in, able to de-escalate situations and anticipate problems before they come along.
Let’s continue valuing research, data, process, and experience. I urge you to vote for Diana Armstead, Brian Cournoyer and Michael O’Donnell on May 15.
Cathy Sanchez
New Paltz
I support the re-election of Brian and Michael
To serve on the New Paltz Central School District Board of Education certainly requires a steadfast commitment, the willingness for critical thinking and regular active engagement concerning a multitude of dialogues and perspectives. But, in my mind it also requires four vital character traits that we as parents strive to instill in our own children: integrity, humility, patience and strength. All four of these traits are vital to effective leadership and representation within any community, but they are especially critical in a position and mission so impactful and so personal as our children’s education.
To shape policy, promote the betterment of our students, all the while delivering fiscal responsibility, takes strength — not of the physical variety, yet rather strength of character. Strength rises when we are able to step back from our individual families and consider the interests of others as equally as our own. Strength allows us to hold tight to our own convictions in the midst of controversy; however, it is also called upon when we must recognize our own weaknesses, turn and learn from those around us. At such times, the best of leaders will exercise strength through both humility and patience. Rather than assuming or camouflaging opinions as facts, a leader will notably pause, seek appropriate counsel, and listen. And, should the answers to the questions being sought not match one’s own perspective, a leader will plainly and without deception, demonstrate the integrity to admit the difference.
We have all observed and experienced situations where an expected leader has lacked one or all of these qualities. In such cases, frustrations rise, constructive community dialogue is under-valued or even absent, and the welcoming of any alternate perspective is repelled — like rain on an umbrella. Inevitably, these deficiencies manifest deeper struggles across the community and do so disproportionally, despite potential efforts to claim otherwise. For, with any effective leader all four of these critical traits must work together at his or her core to create a focused, empathetic listener, as well as a fact-based advocate for the entire community to whom he or she serves.
Our community has been fortunate. Over time, we have witnessed these specific leadership traits meaningfully exercised by two of the trustees who serve us today: Michael O’Donnell and Brian Cournoyer. Through their record of accomplishment and observable actions, Michael and Brian have exhibited the necessary integrity, humility, patience and strength that is required to lead and serve as trustees of our New Paltz Central School District Board of Education. I will therefore be heartily supporting the re-election of Brian and Michael on May 15 on behalf of my own children — and yours.
Patricia O. Culp
Gardiner
Meghan Goodnow will be a terrific addition to the school board
I am writing this in regards to a wonderful young woman whom I understand is running for the School Board. I have always known Meghan Goodnow to be a compassionate, caring, motivated person who rises to the top wherever she is. No matter what setting she has been in — a busy emergency room caring for the sick and injured,managing a store or business, being a mother and taking care of her family, volunteering for PTA and other community groups- Meghan is always front and center , working hard to get the things done that need to be done. I believe she will be a terrific addition to your school board.
Kevin O’Connell
New Paltz
Vote LaPolt
We are excited to endorse and support our good friend Glenn LaPolt for the New Paltz Board of Education on May 15. We have known Glenn and his family for many years, and feel like we have become part of the beloved “LaPolt Family” here in New Paltz.
The qualities Glenn possesses make him a perfect fit for our New Paltz Board of Education. Both he and his wife Melissa are teachers, she works at the New Paltz Middle School and Glenn at Wallkill High School. In Glenn’s 23 years of teaching, he has the experience, knowledge and wherewithal to handle the difficult tasks that come with running a district. His experience in the Wallkill School District make his transition to a Board of Education trustee in New Paltz very easy. He already knows all the workings of a district (larger than ours) and how to handle the day-to-day issues that arise between teachers, administrators, students and staff. Glenn’s impeccable record of service in Wallkill is unsurpassed and we would be lucky to have him serve us here at the New Paltz Central School District as well.
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention how we know Glenn LaPolt best — as an elite athlete, an Ironman! Glenn’s family and our family have traveled extensively together in the triathlete world…to Lake Placid, NY, where he completed two Ironman competitions (a third is on its way next year) and to Mohonk every year to compete in the “Survival of the Shawangunk” annual race, which Glenn has completed eight times. Training for an Ironman competition is grueling — many months of long hours spent on a bike, running on trails and swimming in pools and lakes. Glenn handles this with ease, determination, positivity and humor. He is a role model both to adults and children alike. His years of coaching both the New Paltz Hawks Swim Team and the summer Seahawks Swim Team has endeared him to many families and students. We probably can’t even count the area swimmers who have benefitted under Glenn’s tutelage.
We believe Glenn LaPolt is the perfect fit for our district, our community and our students. He will make an amazing trustee on the New Paltz Board of Education.
Please join us in voting for Glenn next Tuesday, May 15.
Doug & Teresa Thompson
New Paltz
Stand for our pledge and stand for our children
It’s so sad that four New Paltz School Board members are so disrespectful they will not stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and give respect to the American flag and all that democracy and America stands for. Thousands of miles from New Paltz, on the Mexican/California border hundreds of people and families are waiting to come to America. Millions of people around the world want to come to America. Why? Democracy. The only country in the world that a half black, half white son of a poor white single mom could rise from nothing to become a two-term president of the United States. Would these four board members stand if Barack Obama walked into the room? Of course they would. So why would they not stand for the American flag, which represents the country that elected Barack Obama to two terms as president of the United States. These four people (half the New Paltz School Board) were elected to our school board by the taxpayers of New Paltz to represent the best interests of our children and our childrens’ education. They should Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance or leave the New Paltz School Board immediately. They should not represent our children or the people of New Paltz. In fact, I believe two or three of the four are up for school board re-election on May 15. Please, Town of New Paltz taxpayers and parents — vote them out!
Todd P. Wiedenkeller
New Paltz
Public school for all
As a parent of young children, I like to think I reflect deeply about the world our kids experience as their own. What gives them joy and a sense of confidence? Where will they need extra guidance? Areas that particularly concern me include the omnipresence of the digital world, the existential loss of “truth,” and the rise of hate and violence in our society, and around the world.
On the other hand, I am incredibly heartened by the world my kids live in. Our kids are fortunate to be growing up with beautiful friends, playing sports and music, regularly experiencing the natural world — all in a community of caring and engaged parents.
This community that my family enjoys is pretty much entirely defined by the fact that we live in the New Paltz (public) School District. I am grateful my kids are in a public school and I am grateful for our (public) School District because it has exceptional teachers, parents that care and a school board that shows exceptional competence and diligence.
The primary job of board members in public school districts is to set policy that protects the interests of all students and not just any one particular issue that favors a subset of kids in our community. Michael O’Donnell and Brian Cournoyer have demonstrated they represent all of the children in our district and not just a single issue. Whether it is competent management of the school budget, responsible choices regarding the school safety conversation, or confronting “uncomfortable” issues such as racial equity, Michael and Brian are working for all of us. Best yet, they do so with hard work, rigorous preparation and a respect for the opinions of others.
Diana Armstead is the right choice to join the board. Diana understands our community as a parent, a grandparent and as a professional with extensive experience as a probation officer. She is committed to the district, as evidenced by her decades-long fight for racial equity. As a community member, she consistently shows up to school board meetings and Diana will show up for all of us as a board member.
My concern about the upcoming school board election is that we will replace competent, thoughtful management with divisiveness and a narrow-minded focus on the few over the many. Our Pledge of Allegiance ends “with liberty and justice for all”. Our public school district should indeed provide the best possible education for all of our students.
Please join me in voting for Diana Armstead, Michael O’Donnell and Brian Cournoyer.
Tim Allred
Gardiner
Diana Armstead, Michael O’Donnell and Brian Cournoyer are the candidates we need to elect
We are knit together in this place, some of us more tightly than others. If we look beyond those closest to us, we see we are much the same as we are different. Our love for this community compels us to action and engagement, sometimes frustration or disappointment, joy and most of all hope. If we didn’t care so much we wouldn’t be so invested in the outcomes, especially for our children.
In this school district our common ground is our unwavering love for our children. We all hope to provide ample room for their growth and development. Space to fall down and get back up, make mistakes and overcome. As parents, educators and concerned community members, we do our best to provide the tools and environment they need to become their best selves.
In that vein, Diana Armstead would bring with her a history of more than 20 years of community service in New Paltz. Working directly with a broad cross-section of people from the school board and administrators, to the town board and police department, all in service of supporting our most vulnerable students and families. For the past year I have had the honor of working with Diana, holding the district accountable with regard to it’s racial equity work as members of Sisters of Sojourner’s Truth. I can attest to her ability to be thoughtful, measured, knowledgeable and a fierce advocate for our children.
As current BOE president, Michael O’Donnell’s attention to detail, thorough research — and data-driven decision-making have helped our district expand our educational program, increase our fund balance, maintain all of our extracurricular arts programs, and increase the athletic budget and his re-election will help continue this direction of informed advocacy for our children.
As our most senior member of the board, Brian Cournoyer is a compassionate, big-picture thinker, who listens and has tested experience and know-how. His ability to work collaboratively with board members and administrators to find common ground is essential as we take on our districts current and future challenges.
I am convinced that Diana Armstead, Michael O’Donnell, and Brian Cournoyer are the candidates we need to elect to help us make the necessary changes to grow and progress. This year’s election is more critical than ever in that our next BOE will more than likely be in the incredibly challenging position of hiring the next superintendent and building administrators. We have an amazing opportunity to build upon some of the incredibly necessary work the current board has begun. We need BOE members that truly listen to their constituents more than they speak; dedicated advocates for our community whose decisions are not only rooted in anecdotes and personal feelings but informed by research, careful study and consideration in order to find solutions and best practices for all our children.
Chiara Bartlett
New Paltz
I will be voting for Brian Cournoyer
Although I am no longer a New Paltz School Board member, I have come to know Brian Cournoyer as a neighbor and friend. His primary attribute is that he is thoughtful in both senses of the word: consideration for the needs of other people as well as showing careful attention, reflective.
Since moving to Esopus, Brian has reached out to offer neighborly assistance when I’ve needed some helping hands. As a board member, he demonstrates a passion to attend to the needs of all students: high achievers and challenged learners, eager participants and the disaffected, those who are economically fortunate as well as those struggling to get by.
In personal conversation, Brian is calm, deliberate and open to contradictory ideas. As a board member, he has been the same. During his tenure on the board — including as vice president and president — New Paltz schools have continuously improved despite the state’s imposition of budgetary limits and expensive new mandates.
I will be voting for Brian to continue this successful stewardship of our schools.
Barbara Carroll
New Paltz
Meghan Goodnow should be your choice for the New Paltz School Board
It is my pleasure and honor to write this letter of recommendation to Meghan O’Connell Goodnow for New Paltz School Board.
I had the pleasure to work with and supervise Meghan at the Kingston and Ulster County YMCA. Meghan’s work ethic and dedication to children and their welfare is to be commended. She truly cares for the youth in our community and does all within her means to provide strong leadership and service to that end.
Meghan worked as our summer camp nurse and receivables department at Camp Seewackamano, in Shokan NY. She never called in sick, she worked until the job was done and she never complained. She is a problem solver and a solutions person. If there ever was an issue or concern, it was always followed up with suggestions or ideas of how to resolve that issue or concern. Meghan always gave what she expected to receive- dedication, trust and hard work.
On a personal note, since my career changed from the Kingston and Ulster County YMCA, I have kept in touch with Meghan. Whether through Facebook or social events. Throughout those years, the “themes” that I have read or heard about all seem to revolve around family, her children, her husband, her farm and her community. All of which she loves and cares for very deeply.
This is the type of person you want to give input into education, policy and children. Meghan should be your choice for the New Paltz School Board.
Justin Ihne
Plattsburgh
I’m excited to vote for Cournoyer/O’Donnell/Armstead!
I’ve been active in New Paltz schools since 2010, founding the Facebook group New Paltz School Budget Watch (now NP School Talk), and active in NPASA (New Paltz Arts in the Schools Association), Future4NPZ and several political campaigns over the years. I know that our schools are in great hands with current Board members – Brian Cournoyer and Michael O’Donnell, and Diana Armstead — who has 20 years community service in New Paltz. That’s why I’m excited to vote for Cournoyer/O’Donnell/Armstead!
Eric Schwartz
Esopus
Elect Diana Armstead and re-elect Michael O’Donnell and Brian Cournoyer
I am writing in support of the election of Diana Armstead and re-election of Michael O’Donnell and Brian Cournoyer to the New Paltz Central School District Board of Education (BOE) on May 15.
Brian’s commitment to public education and his calm demeanor are something I have always admired. He has tremendous listening skills and when he speaks, I know I’m going to hear something moving and thought-provoking, always with so much purpose. And his early involvement in the capital project and ultimately committing so much volunteer time to see that the bond did pass has been instrumental as the project winds down under budget. He has the history and knows exactly what questions need to be asked and to whom whenever the time comes. With the end of the capital project in sight, it would be such a pleasure to have Brian at the board table to see its success. Lastly, Brian knows policy like no other, having spent five years as the chair of the Policy Committee, which is no easy task as well as four years as a member of the Legislative Action Committee. If you’ve ever attended a meeting and a specific policy gets brought up, you can almost guarantee Brian can recall how and why it ended up in place, its most recent changes and what prompted them.
Michael has been a board officer during the first two years that I have served, most recently serving as board president. We had a significant number of community forums this year and his ability to run those meetings, listen and turn feedback into actionable items has been instrumental in the formation of the Racial Equity Committee. His ability to view a data-heavy presentation and immediately digest the content and immediately have discussions on it is something like I’ve never seen (and I write software for a living and have worked with many data analysts).Finally, when budget season is upon us, his ability to analyze each line item and find areas to reduce while working with the administration to ensure there are no negative consequences to education or program is unparalleled while reducing the tax burden on the community.
I admittedly do not know Diana, but her commitment to this town in various means of community service are truly admirable. And Diana is the only non-incumbent who has consistently attended meetings throughout the 2017-2018 school year, contributing greatly to the Racial Equity Committee. To me, that shows a level of commitment for someone who is very much ready to serve. They know the processes, they know the board objectives, and I have no doubt that Diana will be able to hit the ground running and contribute so much to this upcoming board.
Serving on the Board of Education has been an eye-opening experience. Seeing so much occur just over the past few years is staggering: increasing our fund balance to over $2M, returning our standing with the State Comptroller to having a clean bill of a health, hiring a fantastic new principal at Lenape and athletic director, taking a stance and showing opposition to the appointment of Betsy DeVos to head to the US Department of Education, opposing the Pilgrim Pipeline that would be built adjacent to the High School, showing continuing support to our immigrant student population to ensure their right to a public education and opposing high-stakes testing are just a few things of many that have been accomplished in such a short period of time.
I want to see this trend continue. Please join me and cast a vote for Diana Armstead, Michael O’Donnell and Brian Cournoyer so I can complete the last year of my term with them sitting at the board table.
This letter expresses my personal opinion and not that of the New Paltz Board of Education.
Matthew Williams
Highland
