Ken Aufsesser had his first public speaking opportunity as a 2010 board of education candidate at last Thursday's board meeting.

While his opponents, Peter Breslin, Mark Lipton, and Dr. Peter Treyz, had ample opportunity to present their positions as last week's candidate forum, Aufsesser was observing a religious mourning period following the death of his mother.

He said that his candidacy was about listening and setting a tenor of respect. "This board doesn't show proper respect for the community," he said. "Arrogant, cynical and condescending are phrases often heard. [People in] this town can't afford to pay their bills and taxes."

Aufsesser said that it was "cynical," to make initial cuts in arts in the propsed budget, knowing that arts supporters would agitate and mobilize to support arts restorations. He spoke of a desire to work more closely with teachers to better negotiate salary issues, and cited Scarsdale schools as an example of success in that area.

The other candidates also provided statements. If you'd like to read further about their candidacies click here for Ken Aufsesser, here for Peter Breslin, here for Mark Lipton, here for Dr. Peter Treyz.

Board Rejects State Fact Finder's Recommendations for Support Staff Contract

The board summarily rejected the recommendations regarding the district's support staff contract given by a fact-finder/mediator from the New York State Public Employment Relations board.

The agreement between the district and the Katonah Lewisboro Support Staff Association expired in July, 2006, and after numerous—close to 30, according to board President, Mike Gordon—negotiating meetings, a settlement was still not reached. Rosemary Townley, the state mediator, met with both parties in October 2009 and released her report on April 15.

Read the report here. The recommendations, retroactive to 2006, are non-binding.

"Her report did not address 12 of 19 areas of focus," said Gordon. "My view is that the fact finder's report is not acceptable." Mark Lipton agreed, and noted they still wanted reach a fair settlement, but he felt the report was not a tool from which they could negotiate fairly. Janet Harckham also expressed disappointment.

The board passed a resolution rejecting the report and re-opening negotiations with the KLSSA, and Gordon read a public statement regarding the report, noting that the "board believes the contract to "contain a myriad of benefits and protections for the support staff which are excessive in today's marketplace."

Among the areas Gordon said the report did not address was the provision that required the district to have 66 bus drivers on its payroll, even if that many aren't needed; modifying health and retirement benefits to be similar to the terms of the teacher's contract and the provision allowing employees to accrue seniority regardless of time accrued in their area of work.

The report states that each party agreed to submit ten issues to the fact finder; Townley focused on what she deemed most pressing, including salary increases, health insurance contributions and dismissal protocols.

David Cook, KLSSA President, did not return Patch's outreach for comment.