Editor's Note: Information about the two candidates endorsed by the NPC can be found in this article published last week. 

By Thomas Hansen, Bronxville Non-Partisan Committee

Apr. 28, 2021: On Tuesday, April 27th, the Bronxville Non-Partisan Committee (NPC) hosted a virtual reception to introduce Susan Conniff and Miki Kapoor as the endorsed candidates for the Bronxville School Board.  This event provided an opportunity for members of the Bronxville community to meet the NPC candidates and discuss key challenges and opportunities facing our school in the years ahead.

Susan Conniff                                Miki Kapoor

Current NPC Chair, Richard Gegenwarth, kicked off the evening panel discussion with a brief overview about the organization’s history, the nomination process and ways the Bronxville community shares feedback:

History of the NPC

Bronxville’s Non-Partisan Committee (NPC) puts the needs of our community ahead of politics.  This committee was formed in 1936 to foster the election of Trustees by seeking qualified residents, soliciting community input and completing a thoughtful process to nominate strong candidates for the Board of Education (BoE). 

-Representative of Bronxville:  the NPC is composed of 21 representatives elected from each of our 7 districts (3 each).  Elections are held annually (only one 3-year term may be served).  Representatives engage with members of their districts to understand community priorities.

-Non-Partisan:  we do not consider political party affiliations in any way.  We are only concerned with getting the best qualified candidates for the Bronxville School. 

-History of success: during the NPC’s 85-year history, the Bronxville school has risen to, and sustained excellence in education.  Bronxville consistently ranks in the top public schools nation-wide.  Sustained strength in our BoE shaped an academic environment that attracts talented educators – who bring the Bronxville Promise to life.

The NPC process for nominating BoE candidates considers a range of factors, begins afresh each year, and takes about 9 months to complete.  We consider the current and anticipated needs of our district as well as the characteristics of potential candidates:

The needs of the Bronxville District include:

1.  Operational – management of district budget, projects, bonds or union negotiations

2.  Future Vision – ongoing evolution of our curriculum, culture, services and counseling

3.  Resources – keeping the right people in key roles (e.g., our superintendent, principals, faculty, curriculum and other specialists) with the environment they need to succeed

Potential Board Candidates should:

1.  Understand Bronxville and bring good ideas to the table – sustaining academic excellence over decades requires foresight and new ideas.  BoE Trustees need to both address the challenges of today while proactively building new capabilities. 

2.  Bring to bear Relevant Experiences – skills developed from professional and volunteer experiences in order to prioritize, execute new ideas and sustain operations.

3.  Have a service-oriented disposition – successful Trustees collaborate well with others and value diverse views. They are good listeners who understand our community.

Community input is a critical component to the NPC process

Engagement has been high in 2021 as more than 40 members of the community weighed in with letters that provided valuable insights.  In addition to these, the NPC process is informed by professional and personal references, background information and interviews with a panel of NPC representatives. We thank everyone who was involved in the process and the community participation helped NPC representatives make the best-informed decisions possible for Bronxville.

The evening concluded with a reminder to encourage residents to vote on Tuesday, May 18th. For more information or ways to get involved with the NPC please click here.

Photo courtesy NPC

Editor's note: As a public service, MyhometownBronxville publishes articles from local institutions, officeholders, and individuals. MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements therein, and any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff.