Mike Valenti for Briarcliff Board of Education

Archive for May 5th, 2011

Academic Excellence, Firm Property Value and the Budget Vote

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

As a candidate for Board of Education Trustee I stand for academic excellence above all else. My core values line up well with the core values of Briarcliff. Academic excellence must be preserved, promoted and supported for ALL students. The education and success of our children is my top priority.

Oddly enough, my wife and I bought a home in Briarcliff 14 years ago as DINKS (Dual Income No Kids). We did not plan children at all at that time. Our decision to buy a home in Briarcliff was never-the-less driven predominantly by the school district. We felt that the quality and reputation of the district made home ownership in Briarcliff a sound investment.

The plan has changed and we now have two beautiful children. Both are currently attending Todd School. Anthony is in 3rd grade and Allison is in Kindergarten. As you can see, our dependence on the school district now extends to our two most valuable things – our children and our home. Of course, we are also tax-payers and similar to many in the district we seek maximization of our children’s educational experience as well as our property value while minimizing our tax bill.

Here in Westchester County the number-one driver of property values is the quality of the school district and its reputation for academic excellence. We have been through a difficult economic cycle. The economy is recovering. The job market is recovering. Securities markets are recovering. Home prices are not. Many say that real estate is all about location,

location, location. In Westchester it is all about school district, school district, school district. If we expect the value of our homes to recover we must support and embrace our school district. In fact, we would be wise to polish it until it shines like a diamond.

Property in Briarcliff has commanded strong premiums due to the quality and reputation of our school district. However, it may not surprise you that as of late realtors in other top performing school districts are already warning prospective buyers to avoid Briarcliff due to our prioritization of tax cutting over academic excellence and the overt sequential dismantling of our district. If this cycle continues we individually stand to lose tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in property values. Collectively, billions of dollars in property value could be at stake.

Could we be stepping over dollars to pick up dimes? Could we be picking up nickels in front of a moving steamroller?

We go to the polls shortly on May 17 to elect a new School Board Trustee and I shall hope to have your support.

However, we are also voting on our school district budget. As a candidate, I feel the necessity to comment on the budget vote as there appears to be some controversy and an open community discussion around encouraging a “no-vote.”

I have mixed feelings about the budget.

• I support a budget of $48.4 million and believe this to be a solid, fiscally responsible and sustainable number.

• I am troubled by the “process” for the second consecutive year as well as how the budget will be deployed and spent.

As you go to the polls on May 17, please remember that you are voting for the number ($48.4 million) and not the “broken process” or what the $48.4 will and will not be spent on.

A “no-vote” might send a message to our School Board, leaving us feeling vindicated in the short-run. However, it also sends a message to potential homeowners considering Briarcliff. A message that says Briarcliff no longer supports its schools. Buyers won’t take the time to understand what happened here and why. This could have a devastating long-term effect on the reputation of our district and our property values.

Here is a recent quote – used by permission – from local second generation realtor, Mark Seiden:

“Never forget, here in Westchester County, actual market values of everyone’s properties are directly attributed to the perceived value of the school district and the community that supports or does not support the schools that property is within.

Remember, the Briarcliff Manor School District has the reputation for academic excellence. Briarcliff Manor has the reputation of supporting academic excellence district-wide. Property values in Briarcliff are at a premium compared to many other districts due to this reputation.

Property values could fall at an increased rate if the district becomes perceived as prioritizing tax cuts and budget reductions above academic excellence. Voting down a budget may be perceived as the community no longer supporting its school district.

Empty-nesters seeking to sell their homes to downsize and partially finance their retirement with the equity that is left will be directly affected by the market valuations due to the perception of how the community supports its schools. Families that were depending on home equity to fund a remodeling project or finance their children’s educations could also be affected.”

Please vote carefully and wisely on May 17 as you choose a new School Board Trustee and as you contemplate your support for our school budget.

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Election Day is here – Tuesday, May 17 at Todd Elementary School.

As promised, I have comported myself throughout this campaign respectfully and with the utmost integrity.

You have all come to know me over the years as the most engaged parent with respect to School District issues and as an unwavering advocate for your children.

As you go to the poll tomorrow to elect a new School Board Trustee, please vote for the TRUSTEE you know you can TRUST – MIKE VALENTI.

• You can TRUST me to Protect Educational Excellence as a Core Value in Briarcliff
• You can TRUST me to Protect, and Grow, the Value of Your Home
• You can TRUST me to Protect your Checkbook from the Tax Man





• You can TRUST me to work collaboratively and productively with my fellow School Board Trustees
• You can TRUST me to work with my fellow School Board Trustees to be more transparent and responsive
• You can TRUST me to work with my fellow School Board Trustees to restore an environment of respect, transparency, integrity, collaboration, unity and harmony
• You can TRUST me to work with my fellow School Board Trustees to carefully and fully acclimate our new Superintendent and to assure his success as our new leader
• You can TRUST me to work with my fellow School Board Trustees to develop goals and a vision that brings this community back together
• You can TRUST me to work with my fellow School Board Trustees to develop budgets that are thoughtful, protect the sanctity of educational excellence yet are fiscally responsible and fiscally sustainable
• You can TRUST me to work collaboratively and constructively with my fellow School Board Trustees and the Collective Bargaining Units to come to mutually agreeable terms
• You can TRUST me to reopen the Fields with expedience and fiscal prudence – and to never put any child’s health or safety at risk
• You can TRUST me to LISTEN – and HEAR – ALL groups from our diverse community
• You can TRUST me to REPRESENT YOU

It has been my privilege to have your consideration as a candidate.

It would be my privilege to have your TRUST in tomorrow’s election and to demonstrate to you over the next three years that you TRUSTED the right candidate for School Board TRUSTEE.


As a Trustee on YOUR school board, here are some things that I WILL do. Following that are some things that I will NOT do:

• I WILL prioritize Academic Excellence and Firm Property Values over any agenda of tax cutting.
• I WILL continue to right-size our school budget as well as our tax burden.
• I WILL “optimize” the quality of the education and range of academic choices that we are delivering with our tax expenditures. YOU will get YOUR moneys-worth in terms of the ratio of academic excellence to taxes.
• I WILL repair our “broken” budget process.
• I WILL restore an environment of respect, integrity,transparency, collaboration, unity,harmony and a strong community voice.
• I WILL utilize both my deep, well developed analytical skills as well as my widely recognized management skills (creative, independent out-of-the-box thinker, excellent management and leadership skills, excellent people and relationship management skills, vision).
• I WILL adopt reopening of our fields as a top priority (with expedience and financial prudence and without compromise to any child’s health or safety).
• I WILL, at all times, represent YOU and YOUR views and agenda – not mine.
• I WILL respond to ALL phone calls and emails and commit to doing so on a same day basis.
• I WILL listen to – and HEAR – the entire community.
• I WILL meet with any community member to discuss their views.
• I WILL form a personal advisory committee with representatives from all constituencies.
• I WILL work collaboratively and constructively with my fellow Trustees.
• I WILL be a model ambassador of our very special school district.

And here are some things that, as YOUR school board Trustee, I will NOT do:

• I will NOT prioritize an agenda of tax cutting over an agenda of academic excellence and firm property values.
• I will NOT allow inefficient budgeting or educational delivery models.
• I will NOT allow taxes to cause residents to leave or homebuyers to pass on Briarcliff.
• I will NOT disrespect the community, our students, our administration or our faculty.
• I will NOT distort or manipulate data.
• I will NOT react before independently verifying facts and data.
• I will NOT micro-manage administration or staff.
• I will NOT forward ill-conceived, unrealistic, fiscally imprudent, fiduciarily irresponsible, unilaterally developed campaign promises that I cannot keep if elected.
• I will NOT represent only the views of an elite few.
• I will NOT be single-minded or inflexible.
• I will NOT give you reason to regret your vote for Mike Valenti – not even for a fleeting moment.

Your VOTE = Your VOICE.

Please vote thoughtfully.

Please cast your vote for Mike Valenti on Tuesday, May 17.

Over the next several weeks the community will seek to understand my personal views regarding the Briarcliff School District. This is an essential dialogue and I welcome the opportunity to engage in such constructive conversations. I am happy to meet with any individual, family or group to discuss my qualifications and views. Please see the Contact Mike tab on this website to call or email me.


While your investigation of my views is likely important to your voting decision, it is my belief that understanding my philosophy regarding how I would represent the community is equally important.


Should you choose me to undertake the privilege of representing you on your Board of Education, I will do exactly that, represent you . Here is what I mean. If elected to this position, my views become subordinate to your views and agenda. As a BOE Trustee I will check my views and agenda at the door. It will be my responsibility to listen to, and
hear, the entire community in order to synthesize and represent the views and agendas of all constituencies and stakeholders.


This has not necessarily been the case over the past several years as the community has clearly not been effectively heard and represented by the BOE. This has led to much discord and division in our community. It is my belief that a BOE Trustee is elected by the community to represent the entire community – not any personal agenda and not the agenda of any particular constituency in the community. As a BOE Trustee who will effectively represent all constituencies, it will also be my goal to restore unity as well.


It is also worth noting that a decision to serve on the Board of Education requires certain sacrifices. The sacrifice most often noted is the countless hours a Trustee spends on this task. However, realize that during my tenure on the BOE I will also forfeit my community voice, as it is my responsibility and commitment to adopt yours. Also realize that as a BOE Trustee one forfeits the ability to advocate for their own children in favor of adopting the responsibility of advocating for all children.


In an attempt to enhance my ability to effectively listen to, hear and represent the entire community as a BOE Trustee I will establish a personal advisory committee. This proposed personal advisory committee will be composed of individuals from all constituencies – Todd parents, Middle School parents, High School parents, Empty Nesters, parents of Preschoolers as well as Teachers. These individuals will likely be those who are in a position to assist me in listening to, and hearing, the entire community and representing the entire community. This structure should also provide for much more feedback than a community member can achieve at a Board meeting with their three minutes at the microphone. If you have an interest in participating in this advisory committee please contact me. Please note that as a Board Trustee one has certain responsibilities that require confidentiality. So, this committee will never have information that is inappropriate to share with any community member.


My commitments to you: • Vision • Community voice • Representation • Respect • Integrity • Transparency • Academic excellence • Firm property value • Fiscal restraint

I’m Mike Valenti and I am seeking election as your representative on the Briarcliff Manor Board of Education. Information on my background, especially as it pertains to my ability to fulfill my commitments to this Board Member position, can be found on this website in the About Mike section.

If elected to fill this Board position, my desire and commitment is to listen carefully to, acknowledge, and zealously represent all constituencies in the District. Inclusive in the constituencies are:

• Empty Nesters who seek a voice in balancing fiscal responsibility and tax burden against the backdrop of maintaining the reputation of our schools as amongst the best around, which supports and enhances our property values, • *High School Parents* who seek a voice as their children continue to blossom socially, athletically, artistically and academically – moving through a curriculum that prepares them to hopefully attend some of the best colleges and universities in the country, • Middle School Parents who seek a voice as their children transition from Todd into a world that begins their college preparatory years, • *Todd Parents who seek a voice in their children’s educational experience in their critical, formative years, and last but not least, • Parents of preschoolers* seeking a voice in the educational journey their children will soon embark on.

While it is my firm and unwavering commitment to fairly and equally represent all of the groups listed above, I believe it is important to point out that I am a parent who has two children in Todd School (3rd grade and Kindergarten). It is my belief that a well rounded Board of Education must have a Board Member representation from a Todd parent.






I am an independent thinker whose only goal is academic excellence within the constraints of fiscal responsibility. Achieving these goals means a first class education for our children, a reasonable tax situation for residents and firm property values for the entire District.


For more information on my thoughts and beliefs, please visit the Issues section of this website.



My belief is that I bring a deep, broad, well rounded skill set that complements well the skills and abilities of the existing Board members.





I look forward to your support on May 17, 2011.

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Archive for May 5th, 2011

Academic Excellence, Firm Property Value and the Budget Vote

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Academic Excellence, Firm Property Value and the Budget Vote

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