Polly Rauh

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Polly Rauh

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Democratic Party

Prior offices

Stamford Board of Representatives

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Stamford Public Schools school board

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Report an officeholder change

Education

Graduate

Columbia University

Ph.D

Columbia University

Polly Rauh was a member of the Stamford Board of Representatives and Board of Education in Connecticut. From 2004 to 2012, she served on the Board of Representative. In 2009, she was elected as an at-large Democratic member of the Board of Education; she won re-election in 2012.

Although she remained a registered Democrat, she sought another term in the general election on November 3, 2015, as an independent candidate. The independent candidacy was necessary after her party favored David Mannis over her during the candidate nominations. She was defeated in the general election, ending her tenure with the board.

Biography

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Rauh received her undergraduate degree in art history. She came to the Stamford school district as an elementary educator in 1969. In 1980, she received an Ed.D. from the Teachers College at Columbia University and became the superintendent of Ardsley Union Free School District, N.Y., for four years. She then returned to Stamford and worked as a principal for 14 years before her retirement. In 2011, Rauh was named an industry expert in curriculum development and implementation by the Cambridge Publishing company.

Elections

2015

See also: Stamford Public Schools elections (2015)

Five seats on the Stamford Public Schools Board of Education were up for election on November 3, 2015. The following three at-large incumbents' seats were up for regular general election in 2015: Lorraine Olson (R), Jerry Pia (R) and Polly Rauh (D). Additionally, two unexpired terms were also up for special election following resignations from the board. Rauh was the only incumbent to seek re-election; her defeat saw all five seats go to newcomers. The election did not change the board's Democratic majority; post-election, the board had six Democrats and three Republicans. This is the highest single-party majority allowed by law.

Republicans Mike Altamura and Andy George won two of the three full-term seats up for election while fellow party member Gerald Bosak won one of the unexpired terms. The Stamford Republican Town Committee initially endorsed Gerald Bosak and Prasad Tungaturthy for the one-year terms and Mike Altamura, Andy George and former board member Nicola Tarzia for the three-year terms. Tungaturthy, however, withdrew from the race on August 31, 2015. John Ciuffo was selected as the new Republican in Tugnaturthy's place. Republicans Altamura, George and Tarzia ran as a slate called 2015BOE Team.

Democrats David Mannis and Jennienne Burke won a three-year and one-year term, respectively. The Stamford Democratic City Committee did not endorse any of its incumbents for re-election. Instead, the party endorsed Angelica Gorrio, David Mannis and Ligia Marroquin for the three-year terms and Jennienne Burke and Monica DiCostanzo for the one-year terms. Democrats Gorrio, Mannis and Marroquin also formed a slate for the election.

Incumbent Rauh still sought to retain her seat on the board despite lacking her party's nomination. The Democratic board member chose to run as an unaffiliated candidate instead of forcing a primary election within her party. Rauh's party registration as a Democrat, however, meant the state law requiring a minimum of one-third of the board's seats to be held by minority parties following each election still applied to her in this election. John Zito also ran as an independent petitioning candidate in the regular-term race. Rauh placed seventh and Zito eighth out of the nine candidates running in the election for three-year terms.

Rolf Maurer was the sole Green Party candidate for the election. He sought a three-year term, but he placed last in the nine-candidate race.

Results

Stamford Public Schools, At-Large (3-year terms), General Election, 2015
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Mike Altamura	17.4%	5,445
	Republican	Andy George	15.9%	4,997
	Democratic	David Mannis	14.9%	4,656
	Democratic	Angelica Gorrio	14.1%	4,431
	Republican	Nicola Tarzia	14.1%	4,428
	Democratic	Ligia Marroquin	14.1%	4,405
	Petitioning	Polly Rauh Incumbent	5.2%	1,624
	Petitioning	John Zito	2.8%	882
	Green	Rolf Maurer	1.5%	472
Total Votes				31,340
Source: Connecticut Secretary of State, "Prescribed Form for Return of Votes Cast At A Municipal Election," accessed November 5, 2015

Endorsements

Rauh was endorsed by Adele Gordon, former Stamford Board of Education member (1970–1980) and former president of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (1980). In a letter to the editor of the Stamford Advocate, Gordon praised Rauh, saying, "In addition, her understanding and years of involvement in education, strong analytical skills and experience makes her singularly appropriate for the job. She has never gone along to get along and has stood fast in opposition to bad decisions made in personnel and educational policy."

Campaign themes

2015

Rauh provided the following answers to questions from the Stamford Advocate:

Why are running for the Board of Education? What qualifies you for the job?

“	Having dedicated my life to the education of children and adults, support of teachers, and the overall educational process. As a teacher, principal, superintendent, Housing Authority commissioner, Board of Representatives’ member and Board of Education member, I have the understanding and experience to balance the needs of our schools with what the taxpayers can afford. Responsible, rationale and reasonable decision making is critical to ‘righting’ Stamford’s education system. My reputation and record speaks to this. I have and will continue to question “the establishment” based on knowledge, ethics and principle. Accountability of all parties is absolutely vital. I understand how important it is that all parties be ‘at the table’ in order to effectuate progress.	”
—Polly Rauh, Stamford Advocate candidate Q&A (2015)

What are the district’s strengths and weaknesses?

“	District Strengths: A community that cares and advocates for education and all children A teaching and support staff that is dedicated despite lack of resources. The diversity of the Stamford community and its students The beginning of school choice (35% of our schools) where parents, students and staff can opt for programs tailored to interests and approach to learning. This opportunity needs to be expanded for all children. District Weaknesses: District leadership. An unwillingness to confront issues early and head-on that are considered negative in hopes they will not surface: “Waiting until the horse is out of the barn.” Inequity of program opportunities for all studentsDrastic under funding by the city for school capital projects In 2009, the extensive EMG city report identified that $174 million were urgently needed; to date, less that 10% has been approved with much of that funding not yet bonded /available for use.	”
—Polly Rauh, Stamford Advocate candidate Q&A (2015)

How well has Superintendent Winifred Hamilton performed? Do you agree with her decision to retire?

“	I believe that Superintendent Hamilton was the wrong person with the wrong approach for the challenges of this district. Her service as interim superintendent enabled us to maintain the status quo for the short term. However, I believe her experience, style and judgment were insufficient for the long-term position. I believe her appointment as superintendent was inappropriate as evidenced by my voting record and her performance. We/the community, were promised a full public search which was diverted by five sitting board members. (Final vote 8-1). I do agree with her decision to retire now.	”
—Polly Rauh, Stamford Advocate candidate Q&A (2015)

Should the search for a new superintendent be delayed until after the election?

“	I believe we do not have the time to totally delay the search. While the newly-elected board should/will interview the candidates and make the ultimate selection, the work has to begin now. The search firm can be selected, the focus groups assembled, the posting made and applications solicited from now until the new board takes office on Dec. 1. As it will be the new board that will work with the individual chosen, the determination of the best experienced candidate to lead and meet their goals is theirs.	”
—Polly Rauh, Stamford Advocate candidate Q&A (2015)

How do you think the current board handled the Stamford High School sex scandal? What might you have done differently?

“	The current board wasn’t afforded the opportunity “to handle” the SHS scandal. Most of the information was learned by the majority of the board on reading The Advocate and then being updated by demand! By that time, the matters were already personnel or legal issues already out of the board’s purview. By law and contract, only the superintendent has the authority to deal with personnel matters. This was reinforced by the city’s corporation counsel office and the outside legal firms hired. As a board, we should have insisted upon more immediate consideration of all concerns so that prompt and proper disciplinary actions would ensue. District administration enforcement of training and implementation was lax, at best. We must insure the safety of all students.	”
—Polly Rauh, Stamford Advocate candidate Q&A (2015)

The condition of the district’s facilities has been called into question lately. Should the Board of Education bring its facilities management in-house or should it continue to contract with an outside firm? Why?

“	It is not a matter of bringing facilities management inside or outside; it needs to be a combination of the two. In-house management refers to the board and district, there needs to be a designated board member actively working with the district employee to oversee what needs to be done by whomever is responsible. The schools belong to the vity and the city engineering department oversees major capital projects. If the city can’t staff these projects in a timely manner then priorities must be collaboratively determined (board and city) based on finances available.	”
—Polly Rauh, Stamford Advocate candidate Q&A (2015)

Define what you think the school board’s role should be in the district. Does the superintendent currently have too much power?

“	The school board’s role should be setting policy and monitoring the implementation of policies and programs, representing the interests and needs of the Stamford community and all our children. State statute is clear that the board shall “provide for the supervision of the schools under its control by a superintendent who shall serve as the chief executive officer of the board.” The only employee of the board is the superintendent. The contract clearly states that all responsibilities that are not otherwise voted to require board approval are the responsibility of the superintendent. We will soon have a new superintendent with a new contract. That new contract needs to clearly state that the superintendent manages the day-to-day operations, designated educational areas and serves as the advisor to the board. The superintendent is the leader of the school system responsible to the board and the board, in turn, is responsible to the citizens of Stamford.	”
—Polly Rauh, Stamford Advocate candidate Q&A (2015)

How specific should the Board of Education’s goals be for the superintendent?

“	The goals for the superintendent must be aligned with the goals of the BOE. These should be specifically elaborated upon, both in terms of goals for the district as well as the performance goals for the superintendent. The latter should be accompanied by measurable criteria and be reviewed on a quarterly basis with the full board and adjusted, as needed, to insure all is “on target.”	”
—Polly Rauh, Stamford Advocate candidate Q&A (2015)

Would you make expanding preschool programs a priority?

“	Expanding preschool programs should absolutely be a high priority. All research and experience supports both short- and long-term benefits. Children who have not had preschool frequently enter kindergarten with a definite gap in language and information. This uneven playing field remains for many of these children and the gap grows over time. All our children deserve an equal start. Ideally, the preschool program would be housed in the same school where these children will attend K-grade 5. This will foster continuous programming, motivation, parental involvement and student success. Space remains a deterrent but hopefully with the opening of the new school, there will be rooms available in other buildings.	”
—Polly Rauh, Stamford Advocate candidate Q&A (2015)

How should the district better support the mental health of its students, given its limited resources?

“	The district needs to be proactive early and continuously. Every student must feel there is an individual that he/she is comfortable opening up to, and in the same vein, there needs to be better mechanisms to help identify needs/concerns. Once this is done, we must enlist resources within the district or refer out, not necessarily at district expense. Accessibility, identification and referral are the essential components. Even with limited resources, concerns can be identified and the connections made between the students, their families, the district, and outside resources to deliver the best services possible. Positive reinforcement throughout the school experience will encourage self esteem and self confidence, essential keys to creating a better learning environment and more productivity for all.	”
—Polly Rauh, Stamford Advocate candidate Q&A (2015)

Recent news

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Polly Rauh - Google News

See also

• Stamford Public Schools, Connecticut
• Stamford Public Schools elections (2015)
• Incumbency no guarantee of success in Nov. 3 school board elections (November 6, 2015)
• What happened in Nov.'s top board elections? (November 4, 2015)

External links

Suggest a link

• Stamford Public Schools
• Office website