Candidates vie for vacant BOE seat

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BEACON FALLS — A special town meeting will be held to fill a vacancy on the Region 16 Board of Education.

Voters will choose between Republican Michael Krenesky and Democrat David Rybinski to fill the seat on the school board, which oversees schools in Beacon Falls and Prospect, at a town meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the senior center, 57 North Main St.

The winner will replace Wendy Oliveira, who resigned last November to focus on her family and business. The winner will serve for the remainder of Oliveira’s term, which runs until the end of the year. The seat is up for election in November.

Krenesky, 62, works as a senior project manager for the Affinion Group in Trumbull and serves as Beacon Falls’ town treasurer, a position he has held since 2009.

Michael Krenesky
Michael Krenesky

Krenesky previously served on the school board from 1984 until 1988 and again from 2001 until 2007. He also served on the high school building committee from 1999 to 2001.

Krenesky also served on the Beacon Falls Board of Selectmen from 2007 until 2011 and spent four years on the Economic Development Commission.

Rybinski, 57, works as a service manager for Servpro of Meriden.

Rybinski currently serves on the Region 16 School Building Committee and the town’s Energy Improvement Board. He has also held various offices at Beacon Hose Company No. 1, including serving as chief from 2001 to 2004.

David Rybinski
David Rybinski

Krenesky, who has no plans to seek the seat again in the November election, said he chose to run because of upcoming decisions facing the town and the district, specifically the possibility of switching to full-day kindergarten.

“It is the direct affect on both [the town and Board of Education] budgets that is the primary issue. My concern is that the current Board of Education does not fully understand the tax impact these programs will have on Beacon Falls taxpayers, specifically full-day kindergarten. There is a fine line between what is needed for school programs and what is right for the taxpayers. I consistently hear from the Board of Education that their decisions are what is ‘good for the children,’ which tends to ignore the impact to the town budget and services,” Krenesky said.

Rybinski said he chose to seek the seat so he could bring new blood to the board.

“I ran for the position on the ballot last November. I want to bring a new face to Board of Education and I feel I can be an asset to board and town as far as the budget. I have a good amount of experience with that,” Rybinski said. “And it is a way to give back to the community.”

The agenda for the special town meeting also includes votes on 2013-14 budget transfer requests and spending approximately $12,500 for improvements to the audible crosswalk on Main Street and Burton Road.

6 COMMENTS

  1. I’m told that as a member of the Region-16 building committee, Mr. Rybinski has distinguished himself as someone who is knowledgeable in his area of expertise, is an independent thinker who stands on principle, and is frugal with taxpayer’s dollars. This is all Beacon Falls’ residents could hope for. He should do an excellent job representing us within the Region.

  2. Boys and girls – grow up.

    We held a fair and open election the results of which, someone is elected and someone is not. The RTC and DTC both called on their constituents and the DTC supporters responded with a few more people. I thank everyone who made the effort and participated in the process.

    For those of you who want to make something more out of this – I hope you enjoy yourselves.

    Congratulations to Dave. I hope his first meeting last night met with his expectations. This is a very frustrating board and environment, and I expect Dave will rise to the occasion and do his best. That is all any of us can do.

  3. I am asking for your support tomorrow as the Town makes an important decision on filling this Board of Education position. @kaycasval is correct that voting for a candidate with experience and the background of supporting education is key for the next 10 months until the next election. I am that individual. I bring eleven years of Regional #16 Bd of Ed experience. During that time I was Vice-Chariman of the board and served on the negotiation committee.

    I also will bring another twenty years of municipal experience that will be crucial in preparing this next school budget as the State and our Towns face a $1.2 Billion deficit. Making the right financial moves today will help our town and school system in the future. Your vote for Mike Krenesky will bring valuable experience to the school board as important decisions on all day kindergarten and the pre/post after school programs are on the agenda. We need to bring these valuable programs forward, but we must do so without adding any burden to the taxpayers.

    I am asking for your vote. Vote for experience. Vote for Mike Krenesky tomorow at 6:30PM at the Senior Center on Main Street (next to the firehouse).

    I thank you for your support.