Patch Candidate Profile: David Krasnoff, Board Of Education

FAIRFIELD, CT — Election Day is approaching fast, and a number of key positions in Fairfield will be on the ballot, including Board of Selectman, Board of Education, Board of Finance, RTM and others.

To help readers make an informed decision on Nov. 7, Fairfield Patch has reached out to local candidates to share their views on various topics of importance in town.

Patch will post these candidate profiles over the next few weeks, so check back often to see the latest.

Name

David Krasnoff

How old will you be as of Election Day?

42

What city or town do you live in?

Fairfield

What office are you seeking?

Board of Education

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education.

BS Johnson and Wales University

What is your occupation?

Licensed Principal of Local Real Estate Team 8yrs

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

Married 9yrs to wife Brieanna, We have 4 Amazing Children Eli (8), Aria (5), Violet (4), Landon (1)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

No

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I am running for the Board of Education because I believe in the power of quality education and its ability to shape the future of our children and our community. I do not believe local politics belong in our schools. We should be doing what is best for the students, teachers and community. My focus on facilities and fiscal management stems from my understanding that a conductive learning environment and responsible use of resources are critical to achieving educational excellence. I have come to the realization over the past few years that my expertise in this area would be a huge asset to the Board of Education and the town. Facilities play a significant role in the learning process. A well-maintained, safe, and modern school facility can greatly enhance the learning experience, boost student performance, improve teacher morale and retention. This includes but is not limited to HVAC systems in all schools, proper space for all students and teachers, and updated safe facilities. I aim to ensure that our schools are not just buildings, but inspiring spaces that stimulate learning and creativity. Long term planning is key to accomplish proper facilities while being fiscally responsible. That being said, fiscal management is crucial in ensuring that funds are being used efficiently and effectively. As a board member, I will work to ensure transparency and accountability in the allocation and use of resources. I will advocate for budgets that prioritize the needs of our students and teachers, while ensuring long-term financial and facility sustainability. I bring to the table my experience and skills in management, fiscal planning, running a small business, real estate and being a son of teachers, which helped foster my deep commitment to education. I am prepared to work collaboratively with parents, teachers, administrators, other board members, other town bodies and the community as a whole to make informed decisions that will benefit our students and schools. I am running for Board of Education because I believe together, we can make a difference in our children's education and future.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is \_\_\_, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue is our facilities. I feel the planning in the past has been too short sighted. I plan to help create new long term planning tools. These tools and ed specs would help to prevent some of the issues we are currently dealing with, and ensure they do not happen again in the future. It is unfortunate we are in the situation with the State, ECC, 2 elementary buildings that have been neglected for way too long (which will now cost way more to fix) etc. I feel a lot of these things could have been avoided or at the very minimum, better solutions would have been available with more efficient long term planning. For example we would have realized the redistricting scenarios would not have worked sooner, which would have given us more time to investigate other solutions. I do not think it was fair to put the stress on this community due to improper planning and outdated methods to evaluate facility utilization. I want to ensure that does not happen again.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am a concerned resident that did not have any political affiliation until recently. I want what is best for the students, parents, teachers and the town. There should not be special interests on the Board of Education. I plan to be the voice for all residents. For the past few years I have been very vocal at Board of Education meetings to try and steer the current board in a different more efficient direction. That is why I am running and what differentiates me from the other candidates.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

I feel the redistricting conversation as a whole could have been done in a better way. I am glad the board is now willing to go back up to the state. However, I never agreed with any of the redistricting plans because I knew they wouldn't work or fix the actual imbalance.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

I would like to have more community involvement. It would be great to have more voices heard from different backgrounds on major topics.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have attended, spoke at and/or watched every Board of Education meeting over the past 2yrs. This includes many subcommittees so I know the hard work and commitment needed for this job. I have helped stop schools from closing, spoke on behalf of the community and have deep care and understanding for this work. In my professional life I have managed large sales teams, budgets and many building projects. I left the corporate world 8yrs ago to start a small business from scratch and have been able to scale it each year since. I know I can not only handle this job but contribute to the betterment of the board as a whole.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The best piece of advise anyone ever gave me was to never stop learning. Whether it's in your personal life or professional career, there is always something new to learn. Embrace opportunities for growth and don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.