Joe Garbus for  the Valhalla, NY  Board of Education

 

 Hello, my name is Joe Garbus and I am running for a seat on the Board of Education for the Valhalla School District.  I have lived in the district for nearly 13 years and have two children attending public schools.  My son Jack ,a 5th grader and my daughter Samantha a 3rd grader, are both  at Kensico. My wife Debbie is currently on the Kensico PTA and helped out on the VRES PTA in years past.

I have a BA in Computer Science, with concentrations in Mathematics and Music from SUNY Potsdam.  I enjoy spending time with my family, especially playing my drums with son Jack on guitar. I have over 20 years in the computer and computer communications industry, currently  managing  7 people in my current role as a Director of Sales Engineering at IPC systems.  A self-starter, I also have a side computer consulting business.

I am running for a seat on the Board of Education because:

·         I want to work with the Board and the families of our district to be able to continue to raise the level of education we provide to our children.

·         I realize that sound fiscal policy needs to be applied, and in these tough economic times, lower overall tax revenue necessitates managing these precious tax dollars very carefully.

My background is well-suited to having a seat on the Board of Education.  Being a resident for some time now, including time as a soccer coach, I have a good sense of the values of our district which will help provide guidance for the Board and the community.

Professionally, as part of the executive team at IPC,  a company that sells voice communication systems to the financial community, I work with many departments to meet demanding customer needs. I see my role as a Board member  in a similar vein, where families are the customers of the school district, and the Board, administration and staff are all part of the same team to bring the best education possible to Valhalla.

As you can see I am not only a parent, but I am a business person who understands how to help run a successful operation.  As I have stated, parents are the customers of the school district, and as a board member will make sure that we will be fiscally responsible to get through these tough times.  In addition, I will work with all board members and be an independant voice and thinker, something that is needed on the current board.

I am asking for your vote to allow me to take a seat to provide fresh ideas and direction, and will lead with integrity and honesty as I have done my entire life.

If you would like to contact me please email me at garbusj@gmail.com.

Thank you for your time and your vote