Sign up for aKT Tobin Flusser, School Board candidate, 2009
The New Paltz Green Party is currently in the process of interviewing candidates for local elections. We will be posting the completed candidate questionnaires on this site as we receive them from candidates.
Here are KT Tobin Flusser's responses to our Candidate's Questionnaire. KT is running for School Board.
Name: kt tobin flusser
Office Sought: npcsd school board
Telephone: 845.256.9691
E-mail: ktobinf@gmail.com and kt4schoolboard@gmail.com
Mailing Address: 6 lincoln place np ny 12561
(Web site): kt4schoolboard.blogspot.com
Campaign slogan n/a
Please list names and contact information for key staff members (Campaign manager, treasurer, webmaster, etc.)
nikki koenig nielson, treasurer nniel@earthlink.net
theresa fall, terryfall@gmail.com
rebecca rotzler, rrrotzler@gmail.com
QUESTIONS
Why are you running?
After being active in the district and a regular attendee at school board meetings for the past 18 months, I have decided to formalize my commitment to the schools by seeking a seat on the school board. If there are any issues residents would like to discuss with me, please email me at kt4schoolboard@gmail.com. For more information about me and my campaign, people can also visit www.kt4schoolboard.blogspot.com.
What are the goals of your campaign?
* I am a strong proponent of educational programming, curriculum, and facilities that prepare our children for success in their 21st century lives and careers.
* I support a critical look at how we fund public education. We desperately need property tax relief and reform, not only out of fairness to lower- and fixed-income property owners, but also so state budget crises don't create educational and tax crises here at home.
* I believe we need to focus on the continued greening of our classrooms, buildings, and transportation with an eye on conservation and cost savings.
* I am an advocate for increased transparency in our district which includes an open flow of information, more detail during the budget process, greater opportunities for the public to participate, and a wider incorporation of community and local business involvement.
* I believe we need healthier food in our cafeterias. We absolutely need to implement the Nutrition Task Force recommendations and to purchase more local food.
* Lastly, with grade sizes fluctuating as much as they have in recent years, we need to keep at least one unencumbered teacher in the school budget as this would ensure smaller class sizes at the elementary level and varied course choices at our middle and high schools.
Of course, there are many issues, and I invite the community to contact me to talk about the upcoming election, my candidacy, and the challenges our district will be facing in the next few years by emailing me at kt4schoolboard@gmail.com.
Do you foresee any conflict of interest between the office you are seeking and any current position, paid or unpaid? If so, how would you handle this conflict? Please explain. NO
What resources are available to you, both financially and otherwise, to fund your campaign?
In terms of people power I believe I can count on numerous letters to the editor, petition signature collectors to deliver 100 signatures, and a healthy group of callers for GOTV.
Will your campaign accept contributions from corporate entities, PAC's, etc.? NO
What other political party lines are you seeking and why?
None, school board elections are non-partisan.
What endorsements are you actively seeking? No political party endorsements
How much time are you personally willing/planning to spend on your campaign?
Right now probably about 10-15 hours a week, increasing as election day gets closer.
Are any members of your staff paid? NO
Have you ever attended a Green Party Meeting? YES
Once elected, how often will you meet with the Green Party, and what role will the Green Party have in your administration? Please be specific. 1) I have met with the Green Party in the past, and expect to continue to do so in the future. As a registered Democrat, I appreciate that the party allows non-Green Party members to attend their meetings. 2) The Green Party can not play a formal role in my organization. If there are members that would like to contribute time, money, or ideas- that would be fabulous.
Do you disagree with any of the Green Party Ten Key Values (which you can read about at newpaltzgreens.org)?
NO
GREEN VALUES
Listed below are the Green Party’s four defining characteristics. Please explain briefly how your campaign will embody each of these values, or how you have been working for a strengthening of these values in our community.
• Ecological Responsibility:
· steering committee member, New Paltz GreenWorks
· commissioner, Village of New Paltz Environmental Conservation Commission (EnCC)
· member, SUNY New Paltz Environmental Task Force
· activist opposed to two recent development projects: Crossroads and Stoneleigh Woods
· chair of “Save the Middle School”, a strong commitment to renovating the Middle School green, sustainable, and keeping it in the center of our community
• Nonviolence:
· parent representative on the Lenape Climate Action Team, where we have focused on broadening the responsive classroom program throughout the school in both structured and unstructured settings, with the goal of increasing the physical, social, and emotional safety of our students. (www.responsiveclassroom.org/about/aboutrc.html#Guiding)
• Grassroots Democracy:
· I seek to generate more interest in the community about school district issues, with the goal of increasing public participation in school board meetings and activities. I am an advocate for increased transparency in our district which includes an open flow of information, more detail during the budget process, greater opportunities for the public to participate, and a wider incorporation of community and local business involvement.
• Social and Economic Justice:
· I intend to be vigilant about ensuring that there are no marginalized groups in our district when it comes to both treatment in our schools and in educational outcomes.
MAJOR ISSUES
Please choose two major issues confronting our community, and then list one innovative, Green-friendly idea for dealing with the issue.
• Issue #1: Conservation, we need to go paperless. Seriously, not just lip service. Other districts have done it, here is an example: www.paperlessclassroom.org.
• Issue #2: Middle School renovation: needs to utilize cutting-edge green design and construction. This project has the potential to be a template for the region on how we design and build our schools for 21st century education.
WHY GREEN?
Please explain briefly why you are seeking the Green endorsement, and what support you expect for your campaign from the New Paltz Green Party.
I am not seeking an endorsement and have no expectations about formal support.
QUESTIONS
What is your position on punishment for student drug use as opposed to counseling and education?
Depends upon the specific incident, but certainly punishment should never be the singular reaction.
Would you be in favor of or against efforts to eliminate the DARE program?
I think we need to take a serious look at the effectiveness of the DARE program. I have heard anecdotally that the program is ineffective – and perhaps does more harm than good. I have not done any focused research on the topic, but as a parent of a child who most certainly would not have been able to identify cocaine (in a movie!) had he not been a graduate of the program, I have my suspicions about whether or not the program is meeting its stated goals and/or producing negative (unintended) consequences.
Do you endorse the teaching of creationism or religious-based instruction in schools?
NO
Do you support teacher’s unions and unions in general, as well as Wicks Law (the law requiring union labor based on project size)?
YES. I am a member of UUP, United University Professionals and am seeking NPUT’s endorsement.
I would like to point out that the Wicks Law, while often perceived as strictly implementing union labor protection, actually includes requirements for multiple contractors on major elements of construction after a certain dollar amount. As a result, for me, this law is primarily about anti-corruption and prevents cronyism. In a nutshell, my support for union membership is separate from my support for Wicks Laws, as I find the critical piece to the law is its ability to prevent corruption and cronyism in taxpayer-funded construction.
Do you support mandatory state tests to the degree that they are currently implemented in public schools?
I am not sure what you mean by “currently implemented”. Certainly the “test” industry has exploded in the past twenty years, not without its critics, myself included. I am concerned about teachers “teaching to the test” and losing time to creatively act in the classroom independent of preparing for standardized tests.
If you don't support these tests or support a scaling down of the tests, what alternatives do you have in mind for gauging student progress? I do believe in accountability, but quantitative standardized testing cannot be the only guidepost, and qualitative measures need to be integrated into the system of evaluating our schools.
What alternatives do you have for gauging teacher success?
As a parent, kids that come home happy about their day and love learning.
This is a question that educators across the country are wrestling with – we have a system that quantitatively measures performance (how well it does so is also up for debate), but we also need models that qualitatively measure how well the teachers and students are doing. I believe we are doing this on a daily basis in our schools (e.g. portfolio evaluation) and it informs decision making on the local level, but educators have yet to unearth a way to systematically report qualitative results to Albany.
Should special education students be required to take the same tests as general ed. students in order to receive a diploma? If not, what standards should special education students be held to in order to graduate?
There are numerous types Special Ed classifications, such as autism, dyslexia, ADHD, to name just a few. My understanding and experience is that since placement is determined one student at a time and in all cases each special education student has an individual plan (IEP), progress within that plan is what is being tracked for each Special Ed student. I am not sure what you mean by, “the same tests”. I do know that many Special Ed (and 504) students take the same tests, with accommodations specified in their IEP, such as longer time to take the tests or a chance to verbally explain answers if they have problems writing. If you are referring to Regents, my understanding is that Special Ed classification does not involve any kind of ritualized standards applying to broad categories that could somehow be rated against the standard quotients of the Regents Diploma.
What are your thoughts on the role of technology in the classroom?
Technology can be used both positively and negatively. Generally, I believe in utilizing technological tools to supplement interpersonal learning, not replace it. I also believe technology can be used to green our schools (e.g. going paperless).
What resources do you believe should be available in the NPSD to pregnant and parenting teens?
Confidential referrals to programs that deal with teen pregnancy.
How high of a priority are healthier school lunches for you, and what concrete steps would you take to bring about lunches incorporating more local organic produce and fresh foods?
I am a member of Healthy Food, Healthy Kids and have actively worked to increase healthy and local foods in our school cafeterias. I support implementation of the Nutrition Task Force recommendations. (www.hfhk.org/images/finalrecommendationsnorefs.pdf)
Do you support comprehensive, medically accurate, age-appropriate sexuality education from K-12?
I need a clearer definition of what you are defining as sexuality education for each grade level in order to answer this question.
Would you support Planned Parenthood's presence in your school, providing peer-to-peer education on sexuality?
I would have to think about whether or not the presence on campus is needed on the school site, I am not sure it is the best or an appropriate location (for example, there are issues of stigma and privacy). Certainly confidential referrals should be available.
Would you support a policy allowing the distribution of contraceptives in the NPSD? Under what circumstances (i.e. condoms in bathrooms, hormonal birth control through nurses' office, etc.)?
At this point, no.
Do you have any opinion on providing out of the classroom, hands-on education? If so, how do you propose we incorporate real world experience into the curriculum?
There are a multitude of ways. At a minimum, we need to do a better job getting the kids out of the indoors and outside, learning actively.
Do you agree or disagree with the forfeiture of recess as a method of punishment?
Disagree.
Do you believe elected School Board members are primarily responsible to the School Board as a body or the needs of the community, i.e. voters?
Community. (and voters does not equal community)
Based on your personal experiences as a student, parent, teacher, administrator, etc, what are your impressions of the NPSD, and what policies and plans would you support to ameliorate the shortcomings in the educational system?
My impression is that we live in a great district and people move here to raise their children here because of it. I am thrilled to be raising my children in this district. There are a plethora of ideas about how we should/can ameliorate shortcomings. It is a broad topic and I would be happy to talk or email with any residents in the district about it.
What do you believe is the best way to cut back expenses in the face of expected reduced revenue streams?
There is no best, or one way. We need a variety of strategies. Clearly: greening, conservation; and a serious look at how we fund education.
What do you believe is the ideal way to fund education and other services provided by schools, and what will you do to secure these funds?
I don’t know what the ideal way is – we need a systematic study and a paradigm shift. I am inclined to think that income tax would be a better alternative method to property tax. Currently, I support the Omnibus Tax Relief and Reform Act (the Krueger Circuit Breaker bill - S4239) which proposes immediate tax relief for homeowners and phased-in reform of school funding. But over the next couple of years, we need systemic change. Critical to the solution is the equitable distribute of funds.