Lyness: BOE's Year Ahead Won't be Easy

Jack Lyness, the newly appointed Board of Education president, said when he was first approached about serving on the board four years ago he knew was ready for soemthing different.

Having previously served as a captain on the Summit Volunteer First Aid Aquad, Lyness was ready to use his experience in finance in a new challenge. Now, that background may prove even more useful than he ever could have imagined.

Having receieved his bachelor's degress from Cornell University, Lyness went on to post-graduate school at Darmouth Universiy and had a successful career in investment banker.

Coming off the heels of one of the most difficult budget seasons in Summit history, Lyness isn't pretending next year won't be even harder.

"The challenges are enormous and in some ways that makes it more fun," he said. "But I would be lying if I said I wasn't fearful of the next year."

On top of the budget issues, Lyness said another issueo n the forefront right now is teacher's tenure. Board member George Lucaci has been driving the discussion on this topic, asking for a more rigourous process by which teacher's receieve tenure.

Lyness said he believes that under Superintendent Dr. Nathan Parker the district is already enhancing it's tenure process but the board should still evaluate this topic.

Another topic Lyness feels passionate about it making sure the district's goal of enhancing the social and emotional well-being of its students is extended to all students, including special education students.

"Iim afraid that there's a smell subset of students that we fail on that thing and that troubles me and I'd certainly like to fix it," he said.

Part of this also means continuing to work toward closing the achievement gap, something he thinks the team approach might help.

"We just haven't made the kind of progress on this that anyone would would like," he said.

But the one message he wants to send to parents is that while he encourages participation at the local level, residents need to also keep an eye on the county snd state governments because decisions are being made there that ultimately effect things onthe local level.

"Its hard to evaluate all of the ... things that are coming out of Trenton and Washington with regard to their effect on Summit itself. What frightens me most, there are several different bills which will take control from local districts and place control at the county board of education," Lyness said. "I don't think these kinds of plans will save any money and will pose a serious threat to our school system."