Luis Abramson: Warwick Valley Central School District School Board Candidate
1. What circumstance(s) prompted you to run for the school board?
Please be specific.
Our son's education has motivated me to ensure that every student and special education student in our district has access to a safe, inclusive learning environment to be able to achieve their full potential. When our son was returning to our district from Center for Spectrum Services, I had the opportunity to propose to the Superintendent, Dr. Leach, creating a more robust special education program for kindergarten. Dr. Leach listened to my proposal, and with the expertise of our former Director of Pupil Personnel Services/Director of Special Education, Ms. McGourty, we now have an 8-1-12 classroom with ABA services. Education used to be about ensuring students are learning and mastering the curriculum. Now it’s highly politicized. Let’s do the job we are intended to do and provide a safe, inclusive, supportive environment to our students.
2. What experience, skills and/or education prepares you for a role on
the school board? Please be specific.
I am bringing my experience and skills that I have acquired as a Dad first of all, volunteering with the Special Olympics with the Law Enforcement Torch Run; the Community Outreach Engagement at Mount Sinai Tish Cancer Institute; Advisory Council “Center on Aging and Disability Policy (Pro-Active Caring Initiative) at Mount Saint Mary College; I am the Advisor for the newly formed Orange County Asian American Advisory Committee; member of Knights Of Columbus; member of FOP/SHIELDS. Former member of the Hudson Valley Council Advisory for LIFEPlan CCO NY; and Central Hudson Region NYS PTA Diversity Chair.
3. What would you like to change if elected? Please be specific.
Establish a more suitable special education program, continuous training for educators and support staff. I believe that education is powerful, and the district is overlooking our special education students, who need urgently a more robust program and support to make sure they achieve their educational needs and inclusion.
4. What would you like to accomplish as a school board member? Please
be specific.
Correcting the negative and working on advocating for all our students, Special Education, Mental Health programs, safety, arts and sports programs. Looking for ways to have a balanced school budget. For Special Education to hire more suitable ABA services/contractors.