Endorsement from Joan Wilson, A Letter to the Gazette

As the Croton school board election nears, I would like to share my reasons for supporting Andrea Furey's candidacy. She brings to the table a host of capabilities that will serve our community well, especially as the challenging economic environment persists.

First, she has proven success in building open and productive communications among diverse stakeholders to the benefit of all -- a capability that facilitates productive relationships between the district and parents of current or impending school-age children, the district and its citizens who are no longer or never were direct users of the schools, the district and the village, and so on.

Second, Andrea has a robust understanding of and valuable insights on both overall district and grade-specific goals and challenges -- that is, she is well-versed in the realities of our district's commitments.

Third, she has strong relationships with teachers, administrators, and staff at all three Croton schools and in the pre-K community -- an important foundation for board member effectiveness.

Fourth, Andrea is experienced in building and leveraging public advocacy -- a critical capability as state and federal educational spending continues to trend toward further constriction and other entities attempt to impose new costs upon the district.

And last but not least, Andrea is experienced in maximizing the return from every dollar spent, giving each of us assurance that our tax dollars will be spent smartly.

For further information on Andrea's experience and capabilities, please visit her web site at: http://andreafureyforschoolboard.blogspot.com/. Should you have missed Wednesday's Forum at CHHS, Andrea has a standing date with the public on Thursday evenings at the Croton Colonial Diner from 7:30- 8:30 pm, affording an opportunity to meet with her and learn more about her background and the goals and innovative perspective she would bring as a board member.

Thank you in advance for your prospective support for Andrea Furey on May 19th. -- Joan Wilson, Croton, New York