Meet Richard Koehler, BOE 2013 Candidate

On May 21 Lindenhurst residents will not only cast their votes for or against the $145.7 million 2013-14 school budget - which includes a 1.99 percent tax levy, the use $1.1 million in reserves and the removal of 66-plus aides - the Board of Education approved on April 25, but they'll also be casting their votes in the BOE Trustee Election that day.

There are eight candidates this year - three of whom are incumbents with one incumbent running unopposed, two newcomers running against the remaining two incumbents and three running for a seat being vacated by an incumbent.

They met the public at the Meet the Candidates portion of the recent Lindenhurst Council of PTAs meeting and 2013-14 budget presentation by Superintendent Richard Nathan.

However, in an effort to keep voters informed, Lindenhurst Patch is presenting profiles of each candidate - in no particular order, using the same topics - in the days leading up to BOE Election and Budget Vote next Tuesday, May 21.

This BOE Candidate Profile focuses on Richard Koehler, an incumbent who’s running for reelection against newcomer Sean McNeilly. Koehler was appointed to the Board in December following former BOE Trustee Julie Bartolomeo’s resignation in October after an allegation by a parent at the October 3 business meeting.

After an investigation by Suffolk Police, her husband, James, was arrested and charged for providing alcoholic beverages to a group of Lindenhurst High School students at his home in Lindy in September.

Since Koehler wasn’t elected, but instead appointed to serve out Bartolomeo’s term - which will end in May 2014 - he must run again this May.

Here’s what Koehler had to say:

Qualifications/Experience: “I’m a long-time Lindenhurst resident, and I’m married to Ellen, who’s a former PTA President at the E.W. Bower Elementary School. We have four children; one of whom graduated Lindenhurst High School and three other children who are currently attending schools within the District. I obtained an undergraduate Bachelor of the Arts Degree in Political Science and Business from SUNY Albany in 1988, and subsequently attended Hofstra Law School, where I obtained my Juris Doctorate in 1991. I’ve served as a legislative aide in the New York State Assembly. I was admitted to practice law in 1991, and I’ve been practicing law for 22 years. I’m a partner in a well-respected law firm here on Long Island. I’ve brought my professional knowledge and experience to the Board of Education this past year. As an attorney I have a unique qualification in that I have experience with handling education law matters in the past, as well as vast experience handling negotiations in a wide variety of cases. As a business owner I have a clear understanding of what it takes to make a business successful, including dealing with personnel, payroll, healthcare costs and other budgetary concerns.”

Reason for Running: “I was appointed to the Board of Education in December 2012 to fill a vacant seat. After the BOE announced its intention to fill that seat, I submitted my letter of intent, along with other candidates* and interviewed for the position, and was subsequently appointed by unanimous vote. I’m running for election to this seat because I want to give back to this community that’s been so generous and supportive of my family during this very difficult year following Hurricane Sandy. I’d like the opportunity to continue my mission of providing the best possible education to our students while also being fiscally responsible to the taxpayers…I ask that this community give me the chance to continue serving and striving for the best education for our children while also remaining fiscally responsible to our taxpayers. In the short time I’ve been on the Board of Education, I believe I’ve accomplished that goal, but there’s still more to do, and I truly believe that I’m more qualified than my opponent and have the knowledge and experience to tackle the important educational and fiscal challenges facing this District. I ask for your support and vote on May 21.”

What Sets You Apart: “I believe my education and professional experience as an attorney make me a uniquely qualified candidate, and if elected, then I’ll continue to bring that knowledge and experience to the Board of Education. I also have a unique perspective from an educational standpoint as each of my children is very different, and had different needs and abilities. I understand we need to provide the best education to all of our students, not just certain groups, and if elected, then I’ll be an advocate for all of our students, no matter what their needs and abilities are.”

Most Important Issue Facing the District/How to Tackle It: “One of the most difficult issues facing our community and others is the rampant use of drugs and other illegal substances. I believe we must do everything we can to change the climate and mindset of our youth, and this must begin at home and at school. We must educate our children on the consequences of drug/alcohol use, and change the social atmosphere associated with such use. I believe there’ve been great strides made with the national perception of cigarette/tobacco use, and I believe we can do the same with drugs and alcohol. The formation of such groups as Students Athletes Against Drugs and Drinking is an excellent way to begin this process, and I support their efforts.”

What You Want to Accomplish/Continue as a Trustee/How to Fund It: “Actually, since I volunteered and was appointed to fill the vacant Board seat, I’m required to run for election this year, and if elected, then I’d also be required to run next year when the term of the seat expires. One of my priorities and hopes is that we can resolve our contract negotiations with our remaining bargaining units. This is going to require a ‘thinking outside the box’ approach as our District and taxpayers simply cannot afford to give the same type of contracts previously offered when financial times were much better. I’m hopeful we can reach resolution and find common ground so our employees are compensated fairly and our taxpayers aren’t continuously being burdened with high tax rates. In the end we should all have the same goal, to provide our children with the very best education and programs.”

Accomplishment in Life Most Proud of and Why: “I’m very proud, along with my wife, to have raised four wonderful children, all with very different interests and abilities, in this very special community that we call Lindenhurst.”

Accomplishment in the Community Most Proud of and Why: “I’m extremely proud, in the short time I have been on the Board of Education, of being part of this year's budget process where we were able to bring the lowest tax number to this community in 15 years - 1.99 percent - while at the same time preserving and enhancing our programs (no cut in programs), and also being able to keep our District financially secure by maintaining a reserve fund balance greater than last year.”

How You’ve Given Back to the Community: “I’ve been very involved in athletics my whole life. Upon moving into Lindenhurst, I immediately began volunteering my time coaching in such sports as baseball and soccer. It truly has been a rewarding experience, and I hope I’ve been able to impact the lives of these young athletes the same way my life was impacted by my coaches. In addition I’ve been serving as the first vice president of the Lindenhurst Junior Squires Soccer League, also a volunteer position, and was proud to have been part of a volunteer effort to aid many families adversely affected by Hurricane Sandy, whether it be financially or simply lending a hand with fellow volunteers to assist with repairs or demolition.”

How Will You Continue to Balance Preserving Program, Jobs and Reserves with the Reality of the Tax Cap and with How the Tax Rolls May Be Affected by Hurricane Sandy? How Would You Be Able to Provide Some Tax Relief Next Year?
“I’m hopeful we can accomplish next year what we were able to accomplish this year with our budget. However, it’s going to take being creative and innovative as the tax cap isn’t going away and our mandated costs continue to increase greater than our increase in State aid. We’re also going to have to be mindful, as we were this budget cycle, that this community has been severely affected by Hurricane Sandy, and our taxpayers simply cannot afford to absorb large increases in our budget. One only needs to take a walk or drive by areas on our South side of town, where many homes have been abandoned or our community members simply cannot afford to repair their homes with insurance not providing adequate funds in many cases. I’m encouraged by the recent announcement that federal funds will be utilized to provide assistance to people whose assessments will go down, but at the same time stabilizing the tax amount for those whose tax levies would’ve risen to make up for the loss in property taxes because of home assessments lowered due to storm damage. The Board is already exploring cost-saving measures for next year, such as bringing some costly programs that are being outsourced to BOCES back to our District and also bringing students back to our District so they can be educated in their home district instead of incurring tremendous costs to send them to out-of-district schools or programs. I firmly believe we can provide some of these programs in district at substantial cost savings. I’m of the strong opinion we must maintain a strong reserve balance, and we’ve accomplished that this year, and I’ll advocate for that next year and in future years.”

What's Your Take on the 2013-14 Budget, the Use of Reserves, the Tax Levy and the Upcoming Budget Vote? If You Were on the Board, What, If Anything, Would You’ve Done Differently Prior to Adoption and Why?
“Once again, I’m extremely proud of what the Board of Education was able to accomplish this budget cycle. 1.99 percent is quite a remarkable feat when you consider the rising costs, decrease in State aid over the past four years, and most importantly that we were able to do this without cutting any programs for our children. All of this while maintaining a reserve balance that’s even greater than last year. My opponent at the recent Meet the Candidates Night indicated he would’ve favored going out with a higher tax rate to our community. That’s simply unacceptable to me as we felt it was extremely important to show our community that we’re sympathetic to their needs, and that this Board of Education was going to do our part in giving them relief.”

What's Your Take on the Continuing Contract Negotiations, Particularly with TAL? What Do You Think Needs to Be Done at This Point? Why?
“As a current sitting Board trustee I’m prohibited from commenting publicly on contract negotiations with any of our bargaining units. However, I’m highly displeased that both sides have been unable to reach a resolution when many other school districts have been able to reach compromises with their teachers’ units. It’s a priority we reach resolution, but as one of nine current sitting board members, I vow not to compromise our children's education for the sake of making a point or as a negotiation tactic. Our children deserve better, and hopefully we can partner with our units and convince them providing a financially strong school district is in everyone's best interests.”

What’s Your Take on the New State Exams? For or Against? Why?
“I’m generally against the new State exams in the sense that it’s placing an unnecessary burden upon our students and teachers. While we certainly do need a way to assess our children's progress, I don’t believe that by testing them on materials they haven’t even been exposed to is the best way measure their progress or success. My experience is that children take testing very seriously, and they are disheartened when they don’t do well, and the current testing protocols are essentially setting the children up for failure. I believe we need to take this message to our legislators, not just as one school district, but as a united educational community State-wide, and I’d encourage teachers, administrators, school board members and other professionals to get involved in sending the message that there has to be a better way.”

What’s Your Take on Unfunded Mandates? What’s the Top Mandate You’d Like to Change? How So and Why? How Would You Work with the Rest of the Board to Get Legislators to Listen and Enact That/Those Change(s)?
“Anytime the State or other government body imposes rules, regulations or requirements upon school districts without providing them with the necessary funding to accomplish them, the children and the taxpayer are the ones that ultimately suffer. We presently have antiquated laws still on the books that may have served a purpose at one time, but aren’t practical or realistic given today's financial climate. I’m in favor of the repeal of the Triborough Amendment to the Taylor Law, which gives our school districts a disadvantage in the collective bargaining process. Presently, any teachers’ union whose contract has expired enjoys the option to do nothing in the collective bargaining process, but yet continue to receive step and lane increases in pay that others in the private sector don’t enjoy, in addition to having the terms of their past contract remain in force during the process. Another unfunded mandate is the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR), which left many school districts scrambling to create and implement this program (at tremendous cost) or lose essential State aid. Increased state mandated pension contributions to our ERS and TRS in excess of 16 percent is another example where funding has been lacking. PARRC assessments potentially could cost school districts millions of dollars in updated software and hardware necessary to implement the program, but there’s no indication what if any aid will be provided. Whenever these types of mandates remain unfunded or underfunded, it ultimately becomes the responsibility of the taxpayer to pay for these costs. For example, the median in property taxes paid by New York residents is 96 percent above the national median. Hence, I’m strongly in favor of a State requirement for an Independent Cost Analysis of Mandates. This’ll help ensure the true cost of a mandate is identified up-front before it’s implemented. I’d also be in favor of a constitutional amendment banning new unfunded mandates. Many states have this in place already. We need to keep sending the message to our elected state and federal officials that change is necessary in this area, and I’ll continue to advocate for these changes along with any other Board members who will join me. I believe my past legislative experience would be an asset in this battle.”

*Editor’s Note: One of those candidates was Lynn Aniello, a newcomer who’s running for the seat being vacated by Trustee Ray Doran.

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