Somers School Board Candidate: Richard Wagner

Five residents are running for three open seats on the Somers Central School Board of Education, and the vote is next week. 

Voters will go to the polls on May 21, casting their ballots from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the middle school gymnasium. Voters will decide on a $83,545,682 spending plan, with a tax rate of $151.95 for each $1,000 of assessed value, a jump of 3.61 percent over this year’s $146.66 — for the 2013-2014 academic year.

The candidates are: current trustee Ifay Chang; Donna Rosenblum, who was appointed to the Somers school board in January after Anthony Cirieco resigned from his position to serve on the Somers Town Board; Joseph Marra; Karen Frieri and Richard Wagner.

Patch reached out to each candidate who replied to the same set of questions. Here are Richard Wagner's answers:

Patch: Why are you running for the Somers school board?

Wagner: I’m running for school board to serve as a voice for the community. In the past 14 years, my property taxes have nearly quadrupled. Increasing property taxes has become a, “sine qua non,” a rule without exception. My ideas will improve our education while lowering our tax burden.

Patch: Why should district residents elect you to the position?

Wagner: Being a highly principled individual I will not surrender to the malaise of group thinking and a rubberstamping ideology. Our students deserve to have a good math program and a science curriculum that excites and inspires them. I’m the only candidate with new ideas that will enhance and improve our student’s education while not increasing expenditures. 

Patch: What experiences – either personal or professional – do you have that make you a strong candidate to serve on the Somers school board?

Wagner: Currently I’m pursuing a career as a PhD research scientist focusing on genomics. Prior to academia, for 20 years, I was the CEO of Intelligent Search Technology, Ltd. I also severed as the Chief Financial Officer for the International Brain Research Foundation, a non for profit organization. Behind my experience with budgeting, compliance, benefits, technological innovation and leadership is an unyielding devotion to my family. Being able to create a better school system for our children is the major impetus behind my candidacy.

Patch: What do you consider the top three concerns in the school district?

Wagner: 1) Keep our students safe. 2) Reduce our budget. 3) Improve our mathematics.

Patch: What is your tentative plan to address those issues?

Wagner: 

1. In the wake of Sandy Hook we find our nation in the midst of a great debate about gun control. This debate has distracted us from an equally pressing discussion. How are we going to help those that have special needs? What type of structure and support do we need to give them? How are we preparing them for their post-secondary school life? From my own personal experience I know we need to rethink our approach.

2. I would like to see a program piloted where high school seniors that completed their requisite coursework have the prospect of taking college courses. These courses would be conducted through the New York State University system.  Professors would conduct classes from within the walls of our schools. This program would advance our student’s academic aspirations while decreasing our districts’ expenses by reducing pension obligations and administrative overhead.

3. Our district needs to abandon the Everyday Math Program. There are better approaches to teaching mathematics and our students deserve to be afforded those opportunities.

Patch: What is your opinion of the proposed 2013-2014 budget and the impact of the cap on the tax levy?

Wagner: The tax cap is a measure to control runaway spending. The 2013-2014 school budget is very disconcerting. 20% of our taxes are being spent on pension obligations. There needs to be pension system reform. For example, in private industry, employers contribute to 401(k) retirement plans. A safe harbor plan contributes dollar for dollar up to the first 3% and then $.50 on the dollar up to 5% of annual take-home pay. We need to bring pension practices in line with the private sector.

To punctuate this problem, according to the 2013-2014 budget, our superintendent earns $250,000.00 a year and receives and addition $40,000.00 in pension contributions. Under a typical 401(k) plan, the retirement contribution would be $10,000 saving our district $30,000.00. The pension system is bankrupting our schools and sorely needs an over hall.

Patch: How do you think the mandates 2-percent tax cap will impact the future of education?

Wagner: For years property taxes increased at an unsustainable rate. Have we received value for these sacrifices and has education improved? We now find ourselves addicted to budget increases. We can and will find a better way. I know that we will rise to these challenges and provide a higher quality education.  

Patch: What organizations/groups do you belong to?

Wagner: I’m a proud member of the Somers SEPTA (Special Education PTA) and a certified special education lay advocate.