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Schools

School Board Candidate Naomi Brickel

Patch profiles candidates for New Rochelle School Board Trustee. There are two five-year terms up for grabs May 17.

Name: Naomi Brickel.

Age: 42.

Occupation: Director, Hudson Valley Special Education Parent Center.

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Family: Lives with her husband and six children. Two of her children attend New Rochelle High School, two attend Albert Leonard Middle School, one attends George M. Davis Jr. Elementary School and one attends Barnard Elementary School.

Education: B.A. in English from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.

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Brickel said she has spent countless hours developing grants to support programs for students with disabilities. She is also an executive board member of New Rochelle Special Education PTA and special education co-chairwoman for Westchester East Putnam Region of the state PTA. She said she has participated in hundreds of Committee for Special Education meetings over years as a CSE parent member.

Over the years of attending public board meetings, Brickel said she became interested in the process. She has become familiar with the budget process and enjoys delving into issues concerning funding for the schools.

“My role is to help people and make them feel comfortable enough to tackle issues with their children,” she said.

Brickel said she has delved deep into the debate over mandate relief discussions, getting involved on the local, regional and state level.

She has expressed growing concern over the negativity that has clouded the school system in recent years. She wants to get involved in aiding and restoring the school system and respecting the diversity within it.

“New Rochelle is a community that celebrates diversity, and we should provide all students with quality services,” noted Brickel.

“I’m an effective problem-solver. There are many issues that have to be identified. But I have a track record of identifying and finding solutions to the issues. That is what I will bring to the school board,” said Brickel.

Brickel also wants to include more community participation by making the school board more accessible to the community. This includes more community participation in the budget process by making it more transparent and accessible.

“I am about transparency, fiscal responsibility, excellence in education and access to all students in the community of New Rochelle,” said Brickel.

EDITOR'S NOTE: There are six candidates for two five-year terms. The  candidates are Rachel Relkin, Naomi Brickel, Robert Cox, Peter O'Keeffe, Colin J. Thomas and Dr. Salvador A. Fernandez.

CORRECTION: This article has been modified from the original by correcting the schools Brickel's children attend and her involvement with SEPTA. The article also erroneously stated she had been involved in the day-to-day board operations. Patch regrets the errors.

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