CONTACT INFORMATION:
14 Brookside Drive, Cambridge, NY 12816
HOME PHONE: 677-7038
OCCUPATION: Sheriff Sergeant/Police Officer
EDUCATION: 1988 CCS graduate
1991 Hudson Valley Community College
Division of Criminal Justice Services Law Enforcement Program
CIVIC ACTIVITIES AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS:
Director Cambridge Little League Softball/Coach
Coach Cambridge Youth Football
Director CCS Alumni Basketball
WHY SHOULD YOU BE ELECTED?
I should be elected to the CCS School Board because in 2003 I was elected by the people of the community and I
still hold the same thoughts and values as I did then. I served as CCS School Board Vice President and then
served as President. I have shown proven leadership over the years as a school board member participating in a
successful building project and the following personnel searches: Superintendent of Schools, Associate Principal
and Business Manager. I have and will continue to fight to keep taxes low while providing essential programs. I am a
graduate of CCS and a life long resident of Cambridge and love serving the school and community I grew up in. I
have proven to have an open mind and listen to the people, but also make difficult decisions as they arise.
1) What are the main issues facing the district and how would you address them?
School Safety - I will continue to implement plans of action that safe guard our children while in school. Current
school procedures are flawed.
Taxes - The school tax levy continues to burden district residents with the increasing demands of school
operational costs. I will continue to look at ways to cut costs such as energy efficiency issues, such as consolidation
of bus runs and shared services with municipalities.
Space Availability - I will look at ways of accommodating the growth of students and staff and work with the
community to initiate a feasibility study on the issue.
2) How will you balance improving the school district with the tax constraints facing district residents?
I will work to use the resources available to implement and continue essential school programs while limiting the
expense to the district taxpayers.
A continual review of school operations is necessary. A check and balance of this type will help to eliminate
frivolous spending of taxpayers dollars.
I will and always have valued community input. Community priorities are extremely valuable in making decisions
regarding funding programs.
3) What would you identify as the best quality of your school district?
Cooperation of students and staff working together to make education a successful experience. It's unique having
all Cambridge students and staff in one building, everyone works together with the resources they have to make
the best educational experience possible.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Address: 111 West Main Street, Cambridge, NY 12816
Home phone: 518-677-8356
Email: MEF5000@aol.com
OCCUPATION: Consultant
EDUCATION: Cambridge Central School, Class of 1983; B.S. in Communications from Cornell University; M.B.A. in
International Business and Management from New York University
CIVIC ACTIVITIES AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS:
Cambridge School Board – 1995-96, 1999-2005
Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors – 1997-2002; 2003-present
Cambridge Town Board – 2002-2005 Cambridge Historical Society – 2003-2004
Cambridge Youth Commission Executive Director – 1991-2004
WHY SHOULD YOU BE ELECTED? (100 words maximum)
Having served on the CCS Board of Education for more than seven years, I bring experience and a thorough
understanding of the issues related to school management. I understand the role of a board member and the
importance of balancing the needs of our children with the resources of our community. I care about the children of
Cambridge and have always advocated for a strong academic program that includes a variety of curricular and
extracurricular options to meet the needs of all. I am interested in security issues and keeping all students safe
while in the care of the district.
Please answer these next questions:
1) What are the main issues facing the district and how would you address them?
• Literacy – we need to find ways to involve parents because the solution to our problems begins at home. We
also need to make reading a fun activity and engage students at an early age so they learn to enjoy reading and
do not think it as a chore.
• Technology – we are behind in many areas related to the use of computers in the classroom and as a
communication tool between parents, teachers and students. We also need to look at technology as a means of
connecting staff and improving security.
• Facility – the condition and cleanliness of the school is an ongoing problem. Leadership in this area is
needed, but simply adding more staff is not the answer. The personnel in place that are responsible for managing
the facility need to make it a priority and not an after thought.
2) How will you balance improving the school district with the tax constraints facing district residents?
The cost versus benefit of each financial decision needs to be considered. New ideas are not always better ideas.
You cannot fix every problem by simply throwing more money at it. Restrained, thoughtful spending needs to be
practiced throughout the year, not just during a crisis or at budget time. Decisions that impact only a few but
expend resources that could be used by many need to be made carefully and without concern for political or
personal benefit.
3) What would you identify as the best quality of your school district?
Cambridge has an outstanding faculty, great administrators and many, many wonderful children. We have active,
involved parents. We have a supportive community with many, many talented individuals who are willing to
volunteer and help. The best quality of our district is its people.
OCCUPATION: Self-employed veterinarian
EDUCATION: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, 1971; post graduate study in domestic animal
behavior at Cornell, 1977 - 1983
CIVIC ACTIVITIES/OTHER AFFILIATIONS: Battenkill Chorale; former CCS Board Member, 1992 - 1996; former
coach and president of Cambridge Youth Soccer; NYS Veterinary Medical Society; NYS Ski Racing Assoc., member
and former coach of Nordic skiing: Masters Rowing Assoc.; US Rowing.
WHY SHOULD YOU BE ELECTED?
I've done this job before as a CCS Board member, I know what the job is and I know how a good board functions. I
have the business background and personal temperament needed to make tough decisions. My work day typically
means evaluating all sorts of data, reaching conclusions on what the underlying problems are with my patients, and
coming up with a course of action to deal with these problems. And, then my clients and I must make choices and
implement therapy based on the welfare of their pet and their own financial constraints. Sounds like the job of a
public Board member, making decisive decisions based on real information, and cconvincing others of the merits of
these decisions.
1) What are the main issues facing the district and how would you address them?
I do not have a laundry list of problems, no personal agenda. Certainly right now student and staff safety is on
everyone’s mind. The Board should ensure the administration is working with local law enforcement to secure the
school physically in the short and long-term, and to demand that adequate mental health and social services are
available to students to help catch problems before they boil over into bodily threats. More positively, for the past 15
years or so CCS has ranked near the top of all districts in the Capital region in educational quality, and recently in
the state for a district of our demographics. A critical challenge for the Board is to maintain a leadership staff up to
the job of keeping us there. The Board works as the public's representative with the administrative staff, setting
goals and policy for the school, ensuring the administration implements these policies working towards the Board's
goals, and finally assessing the results of the leadership staff's efforts. If the Board is not in the business of
continually evaluating the administration it is not doing its job and the district will flounder.
2) How will you balance improving the school district with the tax constraints facing district residents?
All Board decisions are ideally education and student welfare based. In reality, financial constraints are always
intruding. It's like any other business. As a local businessman, I have a better handle than many on the extent of
economic troubles in the Cambridge community. The primary job of the Board is to determine what their ideal
educational goal is, then figure how much we can pay for what is needed to reach that goal. Traditionally through
taxes, of course, but also creatively, perhaps through grants for some programs or positions, or via shared services
with neighboring districts. Property taxes will not go away in our lifetimes, but good administrators and business
managers will help the district come up with a sound program, ferret out the "other" sources of income for the
district, and manage the reports to maximize state aid.
3) What would you identify as the best quality of your district?
How lucky we are to have a small, personal school with such high educational standards. I am proud to be the
parent of two CCS grads.
47 Bowen Hill Lane
Cambridge NY 12816
677-2212 J42799@msn.com
OCCUPATION: A Stay at Home Mom of 2 boys, Justin 9 and Daniel 7, a wife to Jason Blanchfield of 10 years,
Very active in Volunteering my time to Cambridge Central School and the Community.
EDUCATION: College
CIVIC ACTIVITIES AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS:
Currently the President of the PTP for the forth year.
Coached Tee-Ball for 4 years.
Supporter of the American Autism Society
Currently on the Cambridge School Board.
Volunteer on may committees with in Cambridge School.
Working toward a New Playground for our children of Cambridge.
Worked to get the New Stage Curtain, Sound System and Window Curtains for C.C.S. Auditorium.
WHY SHOULD YOU BE ELECTED ?
I believe at this time I am the better candidate for the school board.
*I graduated from Cambridge
*Our family is committed to this community
*I will always do what is Best for our Children, District and The Taxpayers.
*I work my hardest to bring programs to our children through Arts & Education.
*I worked to get an academic trophy case in our school and will continue to update it.
*I am a Trusted and Honest Person who has the best interest of our children at heart.
*I will Always Listen.
1) What are the main issues facing the district and how would you address them?
Given some of the current situations at hand, I believe we need to be concerned about the security of our children.
I feel we need to take every step to keep them safe, but not let them feel like they are in a prison. I believe
communication is the key, between the school, the parents and the community. Input should always be important
when change is being made. I believe if we keep the line of communication open and honest it will help us create
new safety measures for our children in ways that do not effect there daily activities.
2) How will you balance improving the school district with the tax constraints facing the district residents?
I believe we should always evaluate the programs that C.C.S. offer our children. We should always make sure that
these are the right programs for ALL of the children. After that, we should then look to make sure we have
created these programs in a manner that will not bring a financial burned to the taxpayer. The district should
ensure we have created a balance to give the students the best possible chance for success with out bankrupting
our community.
3) What would you identify as the best quality of your school district?
We live in a community that is so supportive of our children. I have seen so such generosity on a daily basic from
our parents, staff, local businesses and members of the community. There is not any event that takes place in our
school district that our community would not give the shirt off their back if it were needed to make our children's
dreams come true.
We are blessed to have such a strong backing to our school district. This truly makes a difference in our
children's future.
CONTACT:
256 Sheilds Rd
Cambridge, NY 12816
677-2147
jar@adidas-ep.com
OCCUPATION:
U.S. Brand Manager / adidas Eyewear
EDUCATION:
Northfeild - Mt. Hermon School
Skidmore College
CDYSL: Certified Soccer coach with 10+ years of coaching in Cambridge, 3 yrs experience on Cambridge BOE (2
yrs Vice President), Volunteer for various community events and fund-raises
WHY SHOULD YOU BE ELECTED?
I am running for re-election to retain my seat as Board Vice President because I feel there are still many things left
to be addressed in our district. To serve all constituents of the community effectively requires dedication, teamwork,
open-mindedness, fiscal responsibility and patience. I feel that I have exhibited these qualities over the past three
years and have worked diligently with my fellow Board members to approach issues that come before us with a
well-informed, fair perspective. Above all else, I want to continue my service to ensure a safe, fair and nurturing
educational and athletic experience for the students in our district.
1) What are the main issues facing the district and how would you address them?
The two main issues facing our district as I see it are an aging physical structure and campus and a need for
improved and updated technology for the future of our students. I hope to continue to advocate for improvements in
these areas while remaining fiscally responsible to the taxpayers of the district.
2) How will you balance improving the school district with the tax constraints facing the district residents?
Our best chance to solve these issues without forcing taxes up lies in working with the Superintendent and
Administrative staff to ensure all grant-based avenues are explored and keeping spending on various extraneous
BOCES services closely monitored.
3) What would you identify as the best quality of your school district?
The best quality of the Cambridge Central School District is the genuine desire and effort exhibited by our teachers
and staff to provide my kids and yours with a quality, personalized education in a small town, friendly environment.