Four newcomers are running for two open seats on the Valley Central School District (VCSD) Board of Education. Their names will appear on the May 18 ballot, the same day residents will vote on a $112,200,000 budget for the 2021-2022 school year. A school board term is for three years, commencing on July 1, 2021 and expiring on June 30, 2024.

Tiffany Carroll
Tiffany Carroll is fairly new to the district, moving there with her family about four years ago from the Lakeland Central School District. Carroll noted that her family moved to the VCSD, as she felt parents did not have enough of a voice in Lakeland and issues were often brushed under the rug. They came to the VCSD because she heard it was very inclusive.

“We’ve loved every minute that we’ve been here,” she said.

Since moving to the VCSD, Carroll had two children. She also has two children who currently attend Valley Central High School.

“I’m gonna be in the district for a while,” Carroll said.

She used to work in public accounting for Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc., a multinational electronics company in Valhalla. While working there, she streamlined many processes in the organization to make things more efficient and cut back on expenses. After moving to the VCSD, she became a financial coordinator for accounting and human resources at Optima Environmental Services in Newburgh. Then she started working for a construction company in Highland doing project management.

“I want to make sure that everyone has a representative at the school that they feel they can count on,” she said.

Dee Kelly
Dee Kelly is an alumni of Valley Central High School. She is a former professional dancer and has taught dance at the Hudson Valley Conservatory in Walden for 25 years. Kelly has been a resident of the district for the past 33 years and has two daughters who attend Walden Elementary School.

“I sit here today as a mother and a woman who is extremely passionate about public education,” she said at the candidates night that was hosted by the Valley Central PTA Council on May 6. “I have always advocated for my children and I am excited about the possibility of being able to advocate for all the students of this district.”

Kelly noted that the district has come a long way since she graduated from the high school, however she believes that it can advance even further. If elected to the school board, she noted that she will listen to all voices in the community, which is important as many of them feel unheard.

If elected to the school board, her priorities include creating a safe and healthy learning environment for the district’s students as well as encouraging a culturally inclusive curriculum.

“It is with transparency, accountability and communication with our community members that we can reach these goals all while maintaining a fiscally responsible budget,” Kelly said regarding her priorities. “I truly believe in this district and its ability to acknowledge its weaknesses and move forward into a new and thoughtful way of decision making.”

Lisa Ruiz

Lisa Ruiz is a graduate of Valley Central High School and a resident of the area for over 30 years. Her daughter graduated from the high school in the Class of 2019. Ruiz owns the travel agency Snapshot Getaways.

“I sincerely want to be a part of making Valley Central even better than it already is by being a true advocate for all the stakeholders in our district,” she said.

If given the position, Ruiz will initiate recurring meetings with stakeholders to make sure their ideas are heard. If elected she will also look at the budget to see where money can be saved. In addition, she will develop ways to add revenue to the budget.

“I will look to research grants we can apply for, make smart investments that will offer both short and long-term returns on improvements and additions,” she said. “I will push to get the Valley Central School District a seat at the table of the IDA and build a strong working relationship with the town board so that we can have a voice in the decisions that affect our revenue and in turn the tax burden on our residents.”

Angela Terralavoro

Angela Terralavoro has one child who attends VCHS and another who goes to Valley Central Middle School. She has lived in the Town of Montgomery for the past 17 years, volunteering in her children’s youth sports and extracurricular activities during that time.

Terralavoro graduated from Hofstra University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a minor in International Business. She obtained her master’s degree in school counseling from Long Island University. Terralavoro spent her early professional career doing budgeting and public relations for Vogue Italia, the Italian edition of Vogue magazine. This experience led her to work on Wall Street for a few years before she became a guidance counselor at Wallkill Senior High School.

“As a first generation American I navigated school and know first-hand that without the help of my teachers, counselors, my neighbors…. I wouldn’t be the person I am today,” she said.

Like Ruiz, if elected Terralavoro will look at the budget to see how it can be improved. Terralavoro’s immediate priority if elected to the school board would be to ensure that students safely return to school in September.

In addition to the budget vote and the board of education election, the ballot will feature a vote regarding the approval of two capital improvement projects.

The first project (Proposition 2 on the ballot) entails the renovation and reconstruction of high school and middle school facilities. It includes the redesigning of the entrance/exit and parking areas at the Valley Central Middle School/High School complex. The upcoming NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) project to install traffic lights and turn lanes on 17K will eliminate the high school main entrance. The proposition also includes the reconfiguration of the bus lane and parent drop off lane to create a safer environment for students being dropped off and picked up and would also improve the traffic flow. If approved, the project would call for a redesigned parent/visitor parking lot and improvement of the east parking lot at the high school to include resurfacing and installation of parking lot lighting for safety. The project would also add improvements to the pool dehumidification system and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades to the high school auditorium. The maximum cost for Proposition 2 will not exceed $13.63 million. Reserve funds of $125,000 will be applied to this project.

The second capital improvement project (Proposition 3 on the ballot) entails the construction of a high school restroom building. The project calls for construction of a restroom facility for large events near the stadium and outdoor fields. Currently, the district rents portable restrooms, which are not sufficient to accommodate large outdoor events. The proposed restrooms would replace a storage shed and utilize existing utility lines to maximize cost savings. The maximum cost for Proposition 3 will not exceed $656,812. Reserve funds of $200,000 will be applied to this project.

Proposition 3 can only be enacted if it passes and Proposition 2 also passes. The total maximum cost for both propositions is $14,286,812. Currently, the district receives 75.6% building aid on eligible project expenses. $325,000 is being applied from the District’s Capital Reserve to reduce the tax impact.

The 2021-2022 School Budget Vote and Board of Education election will take place on Tuesday, May 18 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Valley Central High School.