This week, leading up to Plainview's school budget vote and school board election, Plainview Patch is running profiles of the candidates: All of the candidates were asked the same questions: Here is our first:
- Candidate: Gary Bettan: Two-term incumbent seeking third consecutive term
- Profession: Small Business Owner.
- Other: Three children in the district: Max; Senior. Plainview JFK, attending The Ohio State University in the fall), Gabby; Sophomore, Plainview-JFK, Jillian; 5th grade.
These are the questions and the candidate's answers:
Q1. Why are you running for the school board?
A: As a board member for the past six years I have been pushing for higher academic achievement for all our students as well as higher expectations for students, teachers and our administrators. I recognize that it isn't just academics, but our commitment to the arts, music, clubs, sports, and the extracurricular activities that make our district so special. We pride ourselves on the opportunities and experiences we offer all our children, at every level and need. 96 percent of our special-needs students receive a Regents diploma. I will continue to fight to protect our programs.
Q2. What are your primary qualifications that makes you (or would make you) an asset to the board and the community at large?
A: I am extremely proud of what the district has been able to accomplish during my two terms on the Board of Ed. We have been able to keep our tax levy at its lowest increases for 5 consecutive years (2.1 percent, 2.3 percent, 2.5 percent, 2.3 percent and this year's 2.89 percent) while maintaining and enhancing the programs that make POB such a great district. Our district has a AAA bond rating which has allowed us to save over a million dollars by refinancing our debt. We were able to invest just under $5 Million into our buildings without impacting our taxpayers by creating and utilizing our Capital Reserve Fund. We also partnered with the Town of Oyster Bay to have a new turf playing field donated to our community at POB JFK High School.
Q3. Although there are many, what do you see as the biggest issue confronting Plainview schools?
A: While education is the top priority in any school district, paying for it is the number one challenge. With the pressures of unfunded mandates, high stakes testing, security and a 2 percent cap facing our district, you need someone with the knowledge and experience to protect POB's most valued assets - our children and schools. We worked with our unions to secure four year contracts with all employees, including a wage freeze next year, that will help keep our budget within the 2 percent cap. We are controlling our costs while providing high quality and competitive educational programs for all students.
Q4. Standardized testing and unfunded mandates are hot-button issues: How would you work to address these issues?
A: I am very frustrated by our national and state Education Department's obsession with high stakes testing which is forcing our children to endure hours of standardized tests each year. Our district now spends over $250,000 per year for testing and linking teachers performance to test results. We must find a balance between the need for accountability and the negative impact that standardized testing is having on our children and schools. We need to work with other high performing school districts on Long Island and across the state to put pressure on our elected officials and the state education department to recognize our districts’ achievements and the time and money we are wasting on high stakes testing.
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