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Five candidates to face-off in election
(by Kathryn A. Burger - April 05, 2008)
Five candidates are seeking three, three-year terms on the
Park Ridge Board of Education: incumbents Frank Church and Barbara von Bradsky, both of whom are seeking their third consecutive terms, and challengers Robert Sileo, Sue Tudisco and Lisa Verducci. (Board member Alan Belthoff is not seeking re-election.)
Each of the candidates was asked to respond to the same two questions regarding the school district. Those responses appeared in the April 2 edition of Community Life. (The article is posted at www.pvcommunitylife.com.)
The candidates were also asked to provide background information and to explain why they want to serve on the board. Their responses follow.
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Frank Church*
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Robert T. Sileo
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Age: 48
Borough resident: 19 years
Occupation: manager
Education: bachelor of arts degree in accounting
Family: Wife, three children
Volunteer community activities: Coached town recreational sports program; chairman of Sony’s Community Involvement Council.
Elected offices: Elected to three-year terms on the
Park Ridge Board of Education in April 2002 and April 2005. (Appointed to the board in August 2001)
Church said he is seeking re-election because, “I want to continue enhancing the quality of education available to the children of
Park Ridge ; maintain fiscal responsibility, and improve the district’s facilities. I believe my education and professional experience have served me well in analyzing information in order to make decisions that provide the best education for the children of
Park Ridge .”
He said, “Also, during my six and half years of experience as a board member, I have served on contract negotiation committees and collaborated on the preparation of seven budgets.”
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Age: 45
Borough resident: 10 years
Occupation: Elementary school principal at
Traphagen
School , Waldwick
Education: Bachelor of science degree in music education, William Paterson University; master of arts degree in elementary education, Long Island University; master of arts degree in administration and supervision, William Paterson University.
Family: Wife, Kathy; daughters Lisa, junior at
Park Ridge
High School ; Kristen, fifth-grader at
East
Brook
School .
Volunteer community activities: president of Park Ridge Band Parents Association; various ad hoc board of education committees.
Elected offices: None
Sileo said, “The first and foremost reason [that he is seeking a seat on the board] would be the fact that my two children attend
Park Ridge schools and would be the recipients of an outstanding educational program.” He also cited his 20 years as a teacher at both the high school and elementary levels and the past eight years as an elementary principal. “Throughout my career I have faced similar issues [as those facing the Park Ridge District] and have worked closely with stakeholders to help develop and communicate creative solutions to these issues. I have experience in school law, finance, and curriculum and have managed a school through several construction projects.”
He added, “I feel confident that with my background, I could immediately engage with the board and together begin work in the areas of facilities, curriculum, finance and communication. To address all issues before us, it is imperative that the board work quickly to change its public perception. Effectively making decisions and communicating… accomplishments will help regain the public’s trust. I feel confident that I would be an asset in all these areas.”
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Sue Tudisco
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Lisa Verducci
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Age: 41
Borough resident: 12 years
Occupation: Office manager of two small family-owned businesses in the borough: Legend Landscape Design, Inc. 18 years; Arbor Culture, three years.
Education: Bachelor of arts degree in liberal studies,
William
Paterson
University ;
Trinity
College , London, music theory program taken in the .
Family: Husband Matt; son, Jack, 10; daughter, Katie, 5.
Volunteer community activities: Active in Pascack Reformed Church and is in the choir; in Park Ridge Athletic Association, kept score book for son’s basketball team this year; has kept score book for son’s baseball team the past three years.
West
Ridge
School library volunteer and helped with field day at the school for the past five years.
Elected offices: None
Tudisco said, “I am seeking a term on the board because I want to be part of the decision making process. I want to see that all avenues are explored for any opportunity for improving our children’s learning experience through the programs being used and their current environment. I have the experience of helping to develop and run a successful small business. Officially, I am customer relations and office manager, but I am also the number-cruncher, the question-asker, the fact-finder, the editor, the sounding board, the ‘best-price finder,’ the ‘make it work’ person, the mechanical fixer. I do have the ability to look at things in a different perspective and have fresh eyes for existing problems.”
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Age: Not provided
Borough resident: 11 years
Occupation: Library assistant with Bergen County Cooperative Library System for five years; currently at Emerson Public Library.
Education: attended
Hofstra
University
Family: husband, two children
Volunteer community activities: Currently class parent and member of parent-teacher organization (eight years); member of League of Women Voters. Has been Girl Scout leader; cheerleading coach; PTO liaison to board of education; OUTREACH Committee chairperson; Youth Services Committee member; database instructor for elementary schools; former president of Friends of the Park Ridge Library.
Verducci said, “It is my goal to see all the children of
Park Ridge get the best education possible. I would like to offer my skills, caring and commitment to help make
Park Ridge a great school district. Having strong relationships with many of the residents in our community allows me to bring a very diverse set of credentials to the board of education. I am also very familiar with and adept at using educational research tools, and understand how education budgets should work. As a board member, I plan to take advantage of the opportunity to make good things happen for our kids.”
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Barbara von Bradsky*
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Age: 51
Borough resident: 20 years
Occupation: Works at a local private nursery school
Education: Bachelor of arts degree, St. Lawrence University
Family: Married to Peter 20 years; three children: one at Park Ridge High School; one at Park Ridge Middle School; one at East Brook Elementary School.
Volunteer community activities: member of East Brook Parent Teacher Organization.
Elected offices: Two terms - six years - on Park Ridge Board of Education
“I am seeking re-election to the board of education because I believe a public school system is important to both its students and the community,” von Bradsky said. “Over the past six years, I have gained an understanding of how school budgets work, how state and federal mandates impact the functioning of school districts, and how policies and procedures are developed. I have had an opportunity to work on committees with members of the community and the staff. My experience has shown me that public education is a joint venture in which all stakeholders – students, staff, and community – must have a voice.”
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