Endorses ‘outsider’ Shekane for school board because of drive for efficiencies and cost savings
To the editor:
Our civic duty demands our attention, thankfully, yet again! Tomorrow, we face critical decisions regarding the futures of our little ones and, thus, our community! Tomorrow, we must vote for members of our school board and our annual school budget.
We must choose three Board of Education members from among four of our beloved friends, neighbors and colleagues who have chosen to submit to a sacrifice of a tremendous amount of time, effort, reputation, financial risk and much more because each believes in a vision to shape the futures of our young students.
That we must choose three, frankly, seems not fair, particularly to those of us who know and cherish all four. Yet, our civic duty demands our attention, thankfully, yet again. It requires each of us to consider what we deem best for our community’s future.
I support Steven Shekane to become a member of the Board of Education. I guess we must consider him an “outsider,” as there is a well-established system for bringing prospective school board members before the voters and he was not included. He had to pound the pavement (by himself, based on what he believed) and obtained the petition signatures necessary to make himself relevant despite being an outsider. He had to handle all filings himself, with no guidance or assistance. He had to maneuver his way through an election labyrinth alone. He did so because he holds important beliefs about the future of education in Pelham.
All of our candidates are qualified, period. Yet, given the vast and overwhelming impact that our annual school budget has on the massive property taxes that each of us pays, Steve brings a background not only in academic economics, but also an MBA in finance from Columbia. His background is in finance and he has worked in investment banking and investment management for more than two decades. He has spent hundreds of hours analyzing public Pelham school budgets, papers and supporting papers and has asked many questions of our school board as he has learned more and more as an “outsider.” Now that a group that calls itself the “Progressive Women of Pelham” has excluded Steve from their endorsement, it is even more clear that he is a choice for change as a true outsider.
Steve stands first for driving efficiencies and cost savings in the budget, period. He wants to use some of such savings to invest in improving special education. He has important ideas and wants to improve strategic long-term planning regarding facilities and capital improvements. He has been thinking, studying and puzzling for years regarding what he might be able to do to improve long-term planning and long-term finance for solving difficult issues related to aging infrastructure, new property acquisition, issues related to new housing developments, increasing enrollments, and major construction projects, among other things.
Steve lacks nothing when compared to any other candidate when it comes to community involvement, so I urge all to consider him on his priorities for the board. He has served on the Prospect Hill Site-Based Council, the SEPTA board, as treasurer of the Pelham Children’s Center, is an active member of the Pelham Civics Association, and more.
Look! Steve has been a child advocate and special education advocate for much of his adult life and, now, wants to bring those passions to our school board. THAT, in the context of his background, experience and vision seals the deal for me.
I only can ask that you support Steve. I understand that each of us must make our own decision for the three best of our four choices. Please include Steve among yours for the sake of our little ones and, thus, our community.
Blake A. Bell
20 Beech Tree Lane
Maria F Pannullo • May 20, 2019 at 7:09 pm
The logic of the Progressive Women of Pelham reference in this letter has me scratching my head. . . What is the writer’s point exactly? Why do we get a call out and not the 11 former school board members who chose to endorse the same three for Pelham School Board, I wonder?
If you missed the candidate forum take a listen to the recording for yourself on the district website. Tahbaz, Brice and Mazzaro are impressive and we are really fortunate to have them stepping up to volunteer during this critical time.
Please make time to vote tomorrow May 21st at the PMHS main gym 7AM-9PM.
Andrea Reinke • May 20, 2019 at 5:58 pm
My politics might veer left of Mr. Skekane’s, but I would not have characterized him as an outsider candidate. This letter is confusing. Why paint him as the “woe is me” candidate?
Melissa Eustace • May 20, 2019 at 5:44 pm
Along with the Progressive Women of Pelham, the large and growing group that has endorsed Brice, Mazzaro, and Tahbaz includes the 170 residents of Pelham who submitted a letter in their support, as well as these 11 former school board members who did the same: Lisa Kiernan, Lou Muller, Marti Arden, Madeline Smith, Will Cavanagh, Danton Chin, Maggie Klein, Peggy Nicholson, Terrence Martell, Joe Solimine, and Tom Imperato.
The Progressive Women of Pelham are delighted to be in such good company.
Claire Persanis • May 20, 2019 at 4:20 pm
I also wonder what opportunities Mr. Shekane was denied? He was interviewed by the CNC and their statement issued today finds all four candidates qualified. Mr. Shekane attended the candidates forum with the other three candidates. What other opportunities are there? The letter writer has chosen misinformation and insinuation over facts. I’m sure Pelham voters are smart enough to see through this.
Jennie Driesen • May 20, 2019 at 3:10 pm
As one of the co-chairs of Progressive Women of Pelham, I am here to affirm that our group has certainly endorsed Leah Tahbaz, John Brice, and Vincent Mazzaro for the Pelham school board, via a membership vote.
It is interesting that Blake Bell singles out PWP for its endorsement choices but fails to mention the many other individuals and groups who came to the same conclusion after reviewing the candidates. Like everyone else, PWP could choose only three, and we chose those we believe to be the strongest candidates, based on their abilities, experience, and temperament. Why does Mr. Bell recommend his candidate while noting that he has some sort of issue with PWP’s endorsement? PWP is a 501(c)(4) organization that provides education and advocacy around civic issues. We are not a group of women who “call ourselves” something. It’s important to shine a light on Mr. Bell’s tactic of belittling our organization in order to buttress his personal endorsement.
I also don’t understand what extra hoops Mr. Shekane has been required to jump through — the instructions on how to run for the BOE are posted in very user-friendly detail on the district website. I find it hard to believe that Mr. Shekane had to overcome obstacles that did not apply to the other candidates.
My impression of this letter is that it is right out of the Trump playbook — victimize yourself as the “outsider” who is the only one who can save the school board from itself. Add a little misogynist dog whistle as the cherry on top. I wonder if this letter was approved by Mr. Shekane?
I hope you will join your Pelham friends and neighbors who plan to vote for Tahbaz, Brice, and Mazzaro tomorrow, Tuesday, May 21st. They are the best candidates for the three open seats.
Bob Parisi • May 20, 2019 at 2:00 pm
Well said Blake. Steve would bring a much needed new perspective to the Board.