EDUCATION: Reeb on track for seat on Starpoint School Board

By Joe Olenick<br><a href="mailto:olenickj@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Joe</a>
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

PENDLETON May 16, 2008 12:57 am

— The third time’s the charm for Annmarie Reeb when running for a seat on the Starpoint School Board.
“Well, it’s not official yet,” she said. “Wait until it actually happens.”
OK, it isn’t official yet, as Starpoint residents will vote for the board candidates at the annual budget vote Tuesday. But with three open seats on the school board it’s close to a sure thing. Just Reeb, residents Joseph Miller and Lisa Taylor are running.
Reeb, who has been attending school board meetings as a concerned parent for about five years, has also run for the school board two previous times. Falling short both times, she said she wasn’t going to run this time, until some other residents in the district asked her to.
“People asked me to. They were upset I wasn’t going to run,” Reeb said. “I had people asking me to sign my petition (for candidacy) after I turned it in.”
She added that she often talks with people about issues in the district. Taxes and spending come up a lot, but, people don’t mind as long as it is spent wisely.
“As long as it’s for the children,” she said.
Reeb has been at odds with the district in the past over some issues, especially those involving health and safety. The first time she ran in 2006 was after being banned from school grounds by the district for allegedly for violating the code of conduct. Reeb brought the issue before the state Supreme Court, saying it was a violation of her constitutional rights, but she dropped the case at the appellate level because it was getting costly.
“I would have taken it to the Supreme Court if I could have afforded it,” she said.
Reeb said she pays a lot of attention to detail, a result of her work experiences. Currently Reeb works as an administrative assistant for accounting at the Weinberg Campus Total Aging in Place Program. The program is a day center for senior citizens. In the past, she has worked in the fields of human resources and mortgage consulting, giving her experience in communicating with people, as well as a background in financial matters. She said the most important part of communicating with people is listening.
She also listens and keeps up on what is going on in Albany. Reeb keeps up-to-date on current issues and bills and those involving schools and education. Reeb has even given testimony regarding schools with the state Assembly.
What originally motivated Reeb to be an involved parent was her children. Melinda, 16, Timothy Jr., 14, and Samantha, 9 all attend Starpoint schools. Reeb said Tuesday at a “meet the candidates” forum that she felt a good school board provides the best education possible while keeping the budget in line. She was also asked what the role of a board member should be.
“To be the voice of the public,” she answered.
Starpoint Superintendent C. Douglas Whelan said despite clashes with Reeb in the past, he is looking forward to working with her and hearing her ideas during the upcoming school year.
“I’m welcoming her,” he said. “Having someone like her serve can only help us. People might see that and think it’s just a line, but that’s how I really feel. I see her trying to make things better.”
Reeb knows that being a board member will be a lot of work, and there are a few things she’ll have to learn. But she hopes that school board can become more transparent and communicate better with locals. The school board should keep both students and residents in mind, as well as programs and taxes when making decisions, she said.
“Everyone should be getting a high level of education,” she said. “A big thing is the taxes. We have to find a way to decrease the budget without taking away from education.”
All school districts in New York state will be voting on their proposed budgets and school board members Tuesday.
Contact reporter Joe Olenick
at 439-9222, ext. 6241.

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