To the Editor:

Hello, my name is David A. Lesperance and I’m running for one of two seats on the Ogdensburg School Board May 17. I will bring dedication and hard work to the board position, I will also engage and ask questions when given the opportunity.

I look forward to the challenges and difficulties that we have as a community to bringing our school back to high standards. We are an underperforming school system--we need to return to the pride and level that our school was when you and I were Blue Devils and proud of it!

I have shown consistent interest in being on the board. I first attended a school board meeting in the fall of 2007, and in that spring I decided to run for one of two seats vacant at the time. I came in third and was later appointed unanimously to the board after Joe Harrison resigned.

During that year we began to realize the economy was beginning to downturn, and that we needed to look at ways to reduce costs. During that year I accomplished a reduction of the tax levy, I was able to have the board adopt “the pledge of allegiance” prior to the start of the meetings and I engaged discussion in the budget process.

Since that 2008-2009 school year that I served, I have attended and dedicated my time to attending School board meetings on a regular basis. At some of the those meetings I stood up and asked questions, such as what had happened to our system that allowed parents to see our students’ assignments and grades, when no one else asked.

I have then ran for a seat in the school year of 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and now once again for the 2011-2012 school year. Which again shows my extreme interest in bringing my ideas and “Outside the Box” thoughts and ideas to the board and the school district.

The school board seat requires someone that will ask questions and not just simply say yes to every issue, without first asking is this the best thing for our school right now and in the future. I will fight for positions where it makes sence and engage conversation where it seems we can do better. The budget process will not be getting any easier for the foreseeable future, which will require strong leadership in the coming years.

My first goal will be to strengthen our education, to recognize the issues we face and not sweep it aside. I will push for a budget process that requires us to look beyond a year, to look five years out at a minimum.

I will push our legislators at all levels to review the mandates that are being pushed upon us and to give us relief. I will ask the questions about the purpose of BOCES and what we can do to control those costs to the district.

The bottom line if you choose to elect me on this Tuesday May 17, I will be there as a voice of the people of Ogdensburg.

We are at a time in our history that pointing fingers and accepting the status quo are over, our children, mine and yours, need and deserve the best education possible. You will find me the first one on the ballot and hopefully those in the past who voted for me, will be there again and others as well are welcome.

Remember this position is not about popularity or who you are; it is the ability to do what is right for the children, the parents and the taxpayers of Ogdensburg.

David A Lesperance

Ogdensburg