Meet the 2013 Briarcliff Board of Education Candidates

Current Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District Board of Education President Sal Maglietta, along with Trustee Jonathan Satran, are looking to continue their time on the board for the next three-year term.

Louis Linder and Paul Wasserman are also seeking election to the board this month.

The two elected candidates will join Vice President Jennifer Rosen and Trustees Dina Brantman and Michael Haberman.

The annual election and 2013-14 budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 21.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CANDIDATES' Q&As.

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Candidates' Backgrounds

Louis "Sonny" Linder has lived in Briarcliff Manor for 24 years. He has two children who graduated from Briarcliff High School in 2004 and a third who is currently a junior at BHS.

Linder, 61, is a technology program director. He chaired the Board of Education's facilities committee energy subcommittee in 2011-12. He is a U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Associate (GA) and served in 2011 on the Ossining Chamber of Commerce's board of directors, spearheading its media and communications outreach effort.

Linder also serves as treasurer of the People's Caucus of Briarcliff Manor and is an assistant coach with Briarcliff Manor Youth Lacrosse.

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Sal Maglietta, a native of the Bronx, has lived in Briarcliff Manor since 1996. He has been a member of the Board of Education for the past three years and its president for the past year.

He and his wife Laura have four children; the youngest will be graduating from Briarcliff High School in June. Maglietta is an executive vice president for specialized industries and finance.

Maglietta has served on the board for non-profit oganization Albertina Kerr since 2005 and on the board for the YMCA of Greater New York since 2009. He has since been named the vice chairman of the YMCA's board. In addition, he is a member of the National Development Network Board and is a management advisor to its New York chapter.

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Jonathan Stuart Satran, 38, is a financial analyst who has lived in Briarcliff Manor for 11 years. Satran has been a member of the school board for one year following his appointment when another member resigned.

He currently has two children in the district and a third who will be entering kindergarten in 2014.

Satran has been an AYSO soccer coach in the community for three years and a Briarcliff Manor Little League coach for two years. He has participated in and supported the annual Briarcliff Has Heart run. He also contributes to and supports the Briarcliff Manor Education Foundation.

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Paul Wasserman, a CPA and accounting firm partner and chief financial officer, is a 22-year resident of the village. The 57-year-old has a daughter who graduated Briarcliff High School in 2010, a son who is a HS junior and a fourth grader in the district.

Wasserman has served on the district's facilities and finance commitees and current serves on the Todd Elementary School and district compact committee. He worked with parents to prevent the placing of the Millennium Pipeline near Todd.

Wasserman's family created a foundation to fund Juliette's Library (children's room) at the Briarcliff Manor Public Library in memory of his daughter. He has worked as a coach for Briarcliff Little League, WYSL Soccer, AYSO Soccer, BMYL Lacrosse and St. Ann's Basketball. He co-founded Congregation Sons of Israel's basketball program, where he also served as a trustee.

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Why are you running for school board this year?

Wasserman: Community involvement has been the hallmark of our family’s life here in Briarcliff. I wish I could say that I am happy with the actions of the current BOE. However, I have never seen such troubling financial signs in such a short period of time since this current Board took control, including overspending the Payroll budget by as much as $1.4 million this year. We can’t have a sound educational system without sound finances. I am also concerned about the educational focus of our schools and have discussed my ideas in more detail below under Long-Term Plans.  I am here now to offer this community another choice of ideas and expertise on the School Board. I believe this is what is needed in a truly open, inclusive, transparent school board.

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Satran: I volunteered for the vacant position on the school board last summer, because I wanted to give back to the community. I have a strong financial background and I can utilize those tools to benefit the district. I am running for the board, because I would like to complete the good work that we have started. Accomplishments this year include: BMSD received Department of Health and Department of Environmental Conservation approval for the field remediation, insured the school maintained continuity through adversity, and delivered an early teacher contract renewal that included a full salary and step freeze, as our teacher’s partnered with the board for the benefit of all taxpayers.

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Maglietta: There are many reasons for running. First, I value education and giving back to the community. Specific reasons include:

• Continue to provide the community with district experience and knowledge, proven leadership, managerial & financial expertise and continuity and stability needed by our district and community.
• Continue to make smart and sustainable decisions to enhance our educational quality for all students and provide fiscal prudence to address the current and future challenges.
• Continue to be approachable, available and collaborative with my BOE colleagues, the Administration, Teachers & Staff, Community Members and the organizations that support the school (PTA, BMEF, BFPA, Booster Club).
• Continue a respectful and civil approach to address the challenges and opportunities the District faces.

As a member of the BOE, I am proud of the results that the Administration, with the BOE support and involvement, have accomplished. As a soon to be empty nester, I bring that perspective to the BOE. I look forward to dedicate my experience, skills, leadership and time to our district, our children and our community members who are my neighbors. I appreciate the support I have received. 

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Linder: As chair of last year’s Energy Subcommittee for the School Board, my team was able to identify over $200,000 in annual energy savings while preparing the District for the future; this was truly a rewarding experience that I would love to duplicate and exceed in many other ways as a future Board member. It also reinforced my belief in the effectiveness of teamwork with my peers in the community.

I believe in using the budget process as a management tool to ensure efficient operations and avoid the temptation to “over budget” and build unnecessary cushions. The unassigned funds balance, which is limited to 4% of the budget, is intended to meet unanticipated needs. We need to utilize detailed financial reporting and collaborative community planning that includes, rather than excludes, residents in the budgeting and reporting process. 

The current Board’s closed manner and business-as-usual planning methods are not adequately dealing with the growing impact of decreasing enrollment, escalating retirement entitlements and skyrocketing health benefits.

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There will be a "Meet the Candidates Night" on Wednesday, May 15 at 8 p.m. in the Briarcliff Middle School auditorium. The session will be moderated by the League of Women Voters and audience members will be able to submit questions, in writing, prior to the start. The forum will be broadcast live on local access television.

Note: This article has been updated to reflect that Mr. Wasserman was formerly a CSI trustee.