My name is Michael Davidson and my wife Cara and I moved to the community in 2009. We have two children, both of whom went through Chatsworth and Hommocks and currently attend MHS. I received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in International Relations and retired last year from a 25+ year career at a large financial services firm. After some time away from work, I started my own business earlier this year, focused on finance related consulting and private investments.
Over the last 15 years I’ve been very involved in youth sports in the community, including coaching both of my children in baseball, softball, flag football and basketball. I’m the proud recipient of the Mamaroneck Youth Football League O’Shea Award for Years of Coaching, Leadership and Service. I’m also a dedicated, long-time supporter of Mamaroneck Schools Foundation, Mamaroneck Larchmont Student Aid Fund, Fields for Kids and other community-based organizations.
Why are you running for the Mamaroneck School Board?
I’m the proud son of an elementary school teacher and education is a topic I care about deeply. As my professional commitments have changed after leaving the corporate world, I’ve been looking for places to volunteer my time and give back to the community. My love of Mamaroneck and Larchmont, my experience working with children through years of youth sports involvement, and my deeply rooted commitment to public school education led me to run for a seat on the Mamaroneck Board of Education.
I believe the biggest challenge facing the district is financial, and that is where I think I can help. I spent 25+ years working in finance, running business units with large and complex budgets, often under immense pressure to control or reduce costs. I also spent four years as Treasurer for a $250bn bank, where I focused primarily on managing resources and increasing efficiency. I know how to control costs, manage expenses, and help an organization become more efficient. In a district where spending per student is lowest of any school in our area, increasing our efficiency to unlock funds for new initiatives is crucial to our ability to continue providing students with a top tier education.
What is the biggest issue facing our schools and how can you help address it?
I believe the current moment is one of great opportunity. We have an outstanding new superintendent in Dr. Sampson, and he has surrounded himself with a talented team of administrators. Together they are taking a fresh look at everything we do and developing a comprehensive strategic framework to reinvigorate our schools.
However, the opportunity is tempered by our enormous fiscal challenges. As reported last year, we rank 36th out of 36 districts in Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties in spending per student.
The administration has done an excellent job finding efficiencies to allow Mamaroneck to thrive, despite spending per student that is 10% below New Rochelle, 26% below Rye and 35% below Scarsdale. But to provide Dr. Sampson with the financial resources to implement his new framework, we will undoubtedly need to become even more efficient.
This is where I think I can help. I have extensive experience managing complex budgets, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency. I believe adding my finance expertise will allow the Board of Education to do an even better job supporting and supervising the Administration and serving the needs of the community.