Q&A with William Connors Jr., School Board Candidate

A Three Village resident for 39 years, William Connors Jr. is a former school board trustee who served as board president for 10 years between 1996 and 2006. Connors, who grew up in Port Jefferson, has three grown children who attended Three Village schools. He recently retired from a 44-year career at Suffolk Community College, were he retired as associate vice president for academic affairs and college dean of faculty. Connors is running on a slate with incumbent candidate Deanna Bavlnka.

Connors said he supports "a tax system that is more equitable than we have right now," as well as an academic climate that will put Three Village students on par with those in other countries that may be outpacing education in the U.S. "We have to look at other benchmark school districts," he said. "What might we be doing differently to do a better job?"

Patch recently had the chance to speak with Connors for a question-and-answer session.

Patch: What made you decide to run for school board?
WC: With the challenges that we see right now in education, especially right now the fiscal piece ... The more and more I thought of it, I thought maybe I can help them in one more term on the board. I really feel that I bring fiscal expertise as well as academic expertise. ... Plus, it’s a board that I’m pleased to see is really working together. That’s important.

Patch: What do you think of the board's adopted budget?
WC: I support it. I wish it didn’t have to exceed the cap. I think if you look long and hard at the budget – and the reason why it does exceed the cap – I think most people would agree that the board has been fiscally responsible. ... I think that the board has made a good faith effort to make substantial cuts. It’s not a bunch of tax-and-spend board members and administration. And if the revenues were a little bit better, if we weren’t having a decline, we’d actually be in really good shape.

Patch: What changes would you have made to the budget?
WC: There was a lot of pressure to cut certain things that would have had a big impact in the district. I think the changes they made were the right ones. I don’t think I would have made many changes at all.

Patch: What is your priority as a taxpayer?
WC: Obviously what attracted us to the district was the schools. That was almost 40 years ago. When you mention Three Village to most people, the reputation is paramount. Forgetting about myself as an educator or running as a trustee, am I saying maintain it any cost? No. I’m not advocating that at all. ... I want to ensure it continues to be the high quality district that we’re known for.

Patch: What do you want people to know about your campaign?
WC: The biggest issue short term right now is a fiscal one. I think my background working with budget development, working with budget limitations at both the college level and with my years on the board, can really help the district deal with those difficult times that we’re facing right now.