Profile: Board of Ed Pres Rossi Runs on Fiscal Responsibility

Five people are running for three Board of Elections seats in the Smithtown Central School District, including board Pres. Robert Rossi. In a phone interview, Rossi, who is running against Branch Brook Elementary PTA member Grace Plourde, discussed the issues he is concerned about and why he should be re-elected.

Aside from your status as current BOE president, what relationship do you have or have you had with the school district?

I’ve been with the school district in the capacity of the booster club for many years. I was heavily involved in the booster club for probably 10 or 11 years – I was the treasurer, I was the president of the booster club for a while. I also coached soccer in Smithtown for many, many years, for 10 years or better.

What issues are you most concerned about?

The financial situation of the state, which trickles down to the school districts is a major concern because we don’t know where we’re headed, we don’t have any concrete information from the state as to what’s going to happen next year. Without knowing where the state is going with the revenue for school districts and whether or not they’re going to impose a cap makes it difficult to operate or to put any kind of financial situation for the following year.

One of the things the school district itself is facing is the appointment of a new superintendent when Mr. [Edward] Ehmann retires. Superintendent searches takes a while and the search needs to start as soon as we get through this budget process … If the state decides to put a salary cap at that position that makes it very difficult to fill a position when you’re looking for a superintendent at this time.

The third situation facing Smithtown, the elephant in the room so-to-speak, is the teacher contract and getting the teacher contract to have closure. 

If re-elected, what will you provide to the board and the district?

I think over the six years I’ve been onboard, I think we’ve been able to capture fiscal responsibility. I think fiscal responsibility is a concern to everyone in the district because it really affects the entire operation. It affects the students, it affects the administration, it affects the taxpayer, it affects all the people in the community because without fiscal responsibility you have a runaway train.

Why should you be re-elected?

To me, when you start something you need to continue to try to make sure that [you stay on] the path you have, the direction of the district. I believe there is still more work to be done because of the uncertainties of the future of all the districts on Long island, not just Smithtown.

If you’ve looked at my past performance, I’ve been there six years, and in the six years I believe that we have brought fiscal responsibility and accountability to the community … I think what I’ve done in the past six years that I’ve been here is bring accountability with fiscal aspects of the community and the school district.

Check back Wednesday for the next candidate profile, Grace Plourde, who is running opposed to Robert Rossi.