School Board Candidate: Pam Perrotto

Eight candidates are vying for seats on the Board of Education in the April 27 election. Today, Wall Patch continues its election coverage with the latest in a series of candidate profiles.

All candidates have been invited to participate in a short interview and provide a brief biography and a photograph.  Additionally, Wall Patch has provided a short slide show of the candidates’ closing statements from the April 5 candidates’ night, which can be accessed by clicking on the icon to the right.

Candidate: Pam Perrotto

Age: 59

Address: 2315 Xanadu Ln.

Children: Two grown children

Occupation: Customer Service Representative for Lifetouch Studios

Experience: Appointed in August, seeking 1-year term

Pam Perrotto, incumbent school board member vying against newcomer John Tavis for a one-year unexpired term in the April 27 election, said the Board of Education’s inability to get its budgets passed is the top issue facing the school district.

Budgets have failed at the polls nine of the last 10 years and cuts have had to be made each time, chipping away at the quality of education in the district, she said.

“We’ve had to cut clubs and sports at the intermediate level. And not only have we had to cut programs, but put them on the back burner,’’ Perrotto said. “It’s just a shame the things we have had to cut over the years. We’re really approaching a time when it will only get worse.’’

Perrotto was appointed to the seat of former board member Michael Bogner, who resigned in July. She is seeking to fill the remainder of Bogner’s term.

“To me that (the budget) is the main challenge that touches everything else,’’ Perrotto said.

Perrotto said the board has done what it can to get the word out about the importance of passing the budget this year, including the “All for Wall’’ effort, comprised ad hoc committee of interested parents and board members who are making phone calls, putting up signs and generally trying to extol the importance of passing this year’s budget.

She also lauded the efforts of the district to tailor budget presentations to each of the seven schools. She expressed some disappointment that the meetings were only lightly attended.

“I think this board has really tried,’’ Perrotto said.

Perrotto also cited student achievement and fostering communication between the board and district parents as key issues.

“I think we have to keep trying to reach out to every media we can,’’ Perrotto said.

Perrotto said developing new curriculum in the district, like the district’s kindergarten reading program, an Intermediate School math program and upcoming high school block scheduling programs as examples of successful initiatives.

“These are the things that are really important,’’ Perrotto said. “It behooves people to go out and vote for the budget because it will have an impact on their property value.”

Perrotto also touted the ability to advertise on school buses as a viable means of raising needed revenue and said she would like to devote more time to seeking out grants.

“I know that’s a very time-consuming task,’’ Perrotto said. “But we have to look for some kind of alternative funding.’’

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Other School Board Candidate Profiles: