Three candidates are running for three seats on the Shenendehowa Central School District’s board of education, and elections will be held Tuesday, May 15, at the Gowana Middle School gymnasium between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Incumbents William Casey and Gary DiLallo are seeking third terms while Shenendehowa PTA council president Rick Mincher is up for a first term.
Casey, who is board president, has served two non-consecutive terms on the board of education.
I served between 1988 and 1991 and returned for a second term four years ago, he said. While Casey has seen the school district deal with many changes that come with opening a new school and redistricting, he said that he has learned more about the function of a school board.
`The temptation is to roll up your sleeves, but we’re really a policy board,` Casey said.
Casey said that he hopes for continued focus on a long-range plan for the district. `Halfmoon is the fastest growing town in New York state,` he said. `I would like to see better communication so that we understand growth.`
DiLallo, a retired social studies teacher, said that he saw board service as a natural progression from being an educator for 28 years in Mechanicville. He added that he holds the vision of offering programs and services that meet the needs all students. He also cited professional development as an area that needs more focus throughout the district. `Professional development has also been one of my things from the get go,` he said.
Mincher, who has been president of the Shenendehowa PTA council for the past year, said that safety, especially Internet safety, is a concern of his.
`These are issues that can devastate families and students,` said Mincher. `It’s an educational process.`
Under board policy, each candidate was required to provide a petition signed by at least 108 qualified voters in the district.
Though there are three candidates for the board of education, DiLallo said that there’s the possibility that there will be write-in votes for a candidate who was not previously nominated.
`Anything can happen,` he said.“