Board of Education Candidate Profile: Lou Carlucci

This is the second in a series of profiles of the four Board of Education members seeking three available seats in the April 20 school board elections.

The same questions were provided to all four candidates for the Board of Education and these answers are in their own words. Space limits were provided on each question. Editing was done for grammar and style but not substance. The questions and answers are provided to allow you the voter to hear directly from the candidates on the key issues impacting the public schools.

Name: Louis Carlucci

Address: 11 Granville Way, Basking Ridge

Length of Time in Town: 21 Years

Family: Married with two children, a college junior at Georgetown and a daughter who is a senior at Ridge High School. Both children have attended Bernards Township schools since kindergarten. 

Education: BA – Duquesne University

Professional: Vice President – BostonCoach Corporation

Community Service/Activities/Experience:

• Three terms on the Board, serving as both a member and chairman of the Finance and Policy Committees, as well as the Board's representative to the Rutgers Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities project
• Elected for three consecutive terms as board president during the most recent schools expansion program, helped to conduct the extensive study to determine the District's facility needs for the coming years, which lead to the successful passage of the referendum to finance the plan. 
• Chairman of the Board Facilities Committee that was charged with overseeing the $54 million project to expand Ridge High School, add new cafeteria space to Oak Street School and add classroom wings to William Annin Middle School and Mount Prospect School, as well as provide facilities upgrades at Liberty Corner and Cedar Hill Schools, this expansion project, the largest in the history of our District, was completed on time and $3 million under budget
• Member of St. James Church and has volunteered as youth sports coach. 

Questions:

1)    What do you think are the three biggest issues currently facing the Bernards school district?

1. Maintaining the standards of quality we have established in our curriculum, staff and facilities in the face of increasingly scarce financial resources.
2. Reducing energy and healthcare costs.
3. Maintaining an organizational structure that provides superior and cost effective academic and administrative leadership.

2)    Please explain your positions on these issues: (Please limit your answers to 175 words per issue)

1. The Board's Curriculum, Personnel and Finance Committees are charged with the responsibility of working with the Superintendent and District's administrators to continually review policies and evaluate the status of our programs and facilities. Each Board member must maintain a high level of involvement in the monitoring of these areas provide input that reflects informed opinions that are in the best long-term interests of our students and our taxpayers. I favor a balanced approach that protects the overall integrity of our program and still maintains an appreciation for the level of support we can realistically expect from taxpayers.
2. Over the last year, the Board has reviewed over 15 different proposals to reduce energy and health costs.  We will begin the 2010-2011 school year with contracts in place that will result in combined savings totaling over $300K in these two important areas.  These programs will be reviewed on an ongoing basis in order to make sure we continue to improve our performance in these important areas and achieve maximum savings.
3. Strong academic and administrative leadership is critical to the continued success of our programs and the safety of our students.  Our organizational structures in these areas should be reviewed annually by the Personnel Committee and a report issued to the Board and the public that provides an explanation of the responsibilities of each of our administrative positions, as well as the associated costs.  Recommendations for any necessary changes that will enhance the performance or effectiveness of our administrative structure should be part of the report.

3)    What is your position on Gov. Chris Christie's proposed constitutional amendment to implement a 2.5% cap on property tax increases? What impact would this impact have on the Bernards public schools? (Please limit your answer to 250 words)

We all understand the financial position of our State and there is no doubt that the governor must make difficult decisions that will, most likely, have a negative impact on our district.  If a 2.5% property tax cap is implemented, we will need to respond, as we have done in the past, with a balanced approach that reduces costs in areas that will have minimal impact on our overall programs and student performance.

4)    If this year's school budget is passed, early predictions for the 2011-12 school year call for a $1.3 million budget shortfall. How would you recommend that the district face the coming funding challenges (i.e. program cuts, tax increases, etc)? (Please limit your answer to 250 words)

We can be reasonably certain that the 2011-2012 budget will present a number of very difficult challenges.  The Board must begin to immediately evaluate the available options to decrease costs through reductions in labor costs, program modifications and creative solutions to reduce other costs. Public input must be solicited, considered and factored in to any decisions.

5)    What skills do you bring to this position? (Please limit your answer to 250 words)

Thirty-eight years of business experience, ten of which were overseas in the Middle East, Europe and Asia, have given me a practical approach to evaluating situations and formulating workable solutions.  In addition, my experience on the Board during the period where our student population more than doubled, has enabled me to understand and anticipate the issues that will affect our ability to maintain an environment where our students can be successful.

6)    Why are you running for the Board of Education? (Please limit your answer to 250 words)

I have always been proud to live in Bernards Township and believe that our public schools are one of the most important aspects of what makes this such a good place to live.  It has been a personally rewarding experience to be able to offer my time and talents to the important work that the Board performs.

7)    How do you intend on balancing the responsibilities of elected office with your personal and professional obligations? (Please limit your answer to 250 words)

I am fortunate to have a family and employer that both understand the importance of the work and support my participation.

8)    Are the Bernards public schools better off now than where they were three years ago? (Please limit your answer to 250 words)

We have successfully shifted our focus over the last three years from dealing with the problems of rapid student population growth to now finding ways to maintain the standard of excellence that we have established.  The recent award by  the U.S. Department of Education designating Ridge High School as a National Blue Ribbon School, The International Technology Education Association (ITEA) announcement William Annin has been given the International Technology Education Middle School Program Excellence Award, Forbes magazine naming  Bernards Township  as one of its "25 Best Schools For Your Housing Buck" and Newsweek Magazine continually ranking Ridge High School as one of the best in the nation are all reasons to believe we are better off than three years ago. The quality of our upgraded facilities, the competitive colleges and universities where our students are admitted are further proof we have made continuous improvement.  However, this is not to say that we do not face serious challenges like continued funding for our academic and extracurricular programs, increasing substance abuse by our older students and the protection of programs for our students with special needs.