This year there are two vacancies on the Board of Education and two candidates running for these seats. The Huletts Current submitted the following questions to each candidate running for the school board. I explained to each candidate that I would run their answers as they submitted them on the Huletts Current.
Today I present how, Mr. Mark DeLuca, candidate for the school board, replied to my questions.
Could you please tell us about yourself and why you are running for the school board?
“My name is Mark DeLuca. I reside in Whitehall with my wife and children. I have three daughters and I have been employed in the health field for the past 33 years. In addition, I have an interest in music. I have performed in several bands throughout the years. At the present time I am the director of our church choir. For the past 10 years, I have served as a member of the Whitehall Central School Board of Education. It has been my pleasure to be involved in providing opportunities that provide student success and to act in the interest of the taxpayer.”
There are many residents of Huletts Landing who are “seasonal” and who are not in the area year round. Could you share with us, what you see as the successes of the Whitehall School District from the past year?
“Our students continue to excel and gain admittance to area colleges on a par with larger school districts. This year’s graduates will be attending such schools as Drexel, Albany College of Pharmacy, Ithaca College, Union, University of Vermont. Our seniors in Advanced Placement programs can acquire as many as 21 college credits, transferable to almost all colleges.”
The Whitehall School District has held the line on tax increases the last two years. However enrollment has declined over the past several years, so per-pupil spending has continued to increase. When do you expect that falling enrollment will mean lower taxes for all?
“The Board of Education approaches the budget keeping in mind a balance for student success at a reasonable cost. Falling enrollment does not necessarily mean a reduction in taxes. The Board of Education considers class size, educational opportunities and contractual requirements with the local teacher’s association and non-instructional bargaining units. Continued support from the State is necessary to offset mandated requirements in Special Education and pension costs.”
Even with the cuts in state aid this year, state spending on education has increased 45% over the last 5 years. The Governor feels that School Boards aren’t doing enough to halt spending and has started a new website: http://www.straighttalkny.ideascale.com/, where people can share ideas on cutting school spending. Is there a specific idea that you will champion to help save taxpayers money?
“In this year’s budget preparation the Board of Education approved elimination or reduction of 16 positions both in the instructional and non-instructional areas. Staffing will continue to be evaluated on an annual basis.”
It’s obvious that people are really hurting in this economy. There is a lot of property for sale in Whitehall and Dresden and people are leaving the area. Do you feel a responsibility as a school board member to cut taxes to halt this decline?
“My responsibility as a School Board member is to work cooperatively with other board members to provide the best education possible for the students of the school district at the most reasonable cost to the taxpayer, keeping in mind that the education of our young people will have an impact on our whole society in the future.”
The Whitehall School Board has been very busy lately, but as soon as I was about to post one item, I was made aware of another. So before I get any more school news, I will post what I know. 
