The town has been looking for a No. 2 cop behind Chief Robert Hertman since John Quinn resigned at the end of March.

Now, a website has popped up urging the passage of the revised budget: Minisinkkids.com. It claims it represents “a group of Minisink parents and taxpayers who have been silent for too long and who are tired at seeing the children of this District being drawn into a labor relations issue.”

The budget vote is Tuesday. Polls are open between 12 p.m. and 9 p.m.

On the most important attribute a superintendent needs:

“Being trustworthy, whether you’re a principal, superintendent, or in any leadership position. You have to maintain your integrity by keeping your word.”

What his vision is for Minisink Valley:

“I’m a believer that technology has to play an integral part in the education of our students. I’m looking to build a lot on the technology we’ve introduced in the district.”

On how he plans to deal with the contract stalemate between the district and its teachers:

“I guess to deal with it as fairly and honestly and openly as I can.”

On the challenges facing public school education:

“We’ve got to continue to be creative in being able to motivate our kids and keep them interested in the things they need to function once they leave school.”

“We can attract their interest by connecting what they learn in the classroom to what’s going on with their daily lives.”

“This Race To The Top program…I worry. I want to be sure that educators are allowed to be heard loud and clear by legislators who are making changes.”

On his five-month suspension during the 2006-07 school year for not immediately turning in drugs that were confiscated from a high school student, violating district policy:

“I made a mistake, but it was one done with no malicious intent whatsoever. So while I recognize the district needed to take action, I didn’t suffer in my conscience that I had done something wrong. The district did what it felt it neeed to do and I respect that.”

On what he looks for in future district employees – starting with the three administrative positions he must fill, including his old job:

“I look at the heart and the head. People with skill, intelligence. who are good studies. I look for people who have good character, who in their dealings with other people demonstrate the values of our community and our society. Moral people.”

“People who love kids. There are going to be positions in a (district) office which won’t have much interactions with kids, but they’ve got to be about kids. You’ve got to be passionate about kids.”

Election day is Tuesday. MVTA president Chris D’Angelo estimates there are about 160 MVTA members who live in the district.

Sean Michel, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, is leaving the district to take the superintendent’s job in Chester. Superintendent Martha Murray, who is retiring at the end of the school year, says the new superintendent will ultimately decide on Michel’s replacement, although she may help start the search process.

Murray says the superintendent search is down to two finalists.

Bill Cooper, Kathlee DeRose, Joseph Flaherty, Sheri Gurney, Ruth Luis, John Odland, and Tracy Sutera are running for the seats that will be vacated by John Lenane, Joan Romanyschyn and Stelly Brunelle, who decided not to run for re-election.

The election is May 18.

Minisink Valley Teachers Association president Chris D’Angelo said the final vote was 305-24. The school board is expected to approve the deal, which was agreed to last week, at Thursday night’s meeting.

The contract, which only covers the current school year, calls for a 2.5 percent salary increase on top of the teachers’ annual “step” increase. The two sides will try to hammer out a new, longer-term deal this summer.

Board members John Lenane, Joan Romanyschyn and Stelly Brunelle, whose seats are up for grabs, will not run in May 18 election.

There are seven residents who have declared their candidacy for the three seats. They are: Bill Cooper, Kathlee DeRose, Joseph Flaherty, Sheri Gurney, Ruth Luis, John Odland and Tracy Sutera.

A question to district voters: How will you vote on May 18? Yes? No? Why?

Please contact me at kgoldberg@th-record.com or at 845-346-3174.

The couple, Chong and Keum Lee, were eventually charged with felony aggravated animal cruelty. Their non-jury trial begins this afternoon in Orange County Court in Goshen, before Judge Jeffrey Berry.

I’ll have a story in Tuesday’s newspaper.