Voters will elect two members from six candidates to the Pine Bush Board of Education when they vote on the 2024-25 budget May 21. In addition to submitting biographical sketches, the candidates gave brief statements at the May 7 school board meeting.

Peter Agro lives in Crawford and has been a district resident for 19 years. He teaches mathematics at Monroe-Woodbury High School and has taught in the Monroe-Woodbury school district for 22 years. He has a bachelor’s degree from SUNY New Paltz and a master’s degree from Brooklyn College, both in secondary mathematics education. He also has a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Educational Administration from SUNY New Paltz.

Agro has also taught college mathematics and has worked as a credit analyst and a business systems analyst on Wall Street. He and his wife have a child who attends Pine Bush High School. Agro served on the Pine Bush school board from 2015-18 and was president in 2017-18. He did not seek re-election because of a health issue. In his May 7 statement, Agro said he wants to put pressure on Albany to stop unfunded mandates.

Shauna Best lives in Town of Wallkill and has been a district resident for 48 years. She works in the Town of Wallkill Planning Department and is the former owner and director of the Very Best Preschool. Best has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from SUNY New Paltz. She attended Circleville Elementary School and Circleville Middle School. She held positions as a camp administrator and unit director at the Town of Wallkill Boys and Girls Club.

Best and her husband have four children; one is a Pine Bush High School graduate and three are students in Pine Bush schools. Best is a volunteer in the district and serves on the board of directors of the Orange County Childcare Council. In an interview with the Wallkill Valley Times, Best said she would advocate for the safety of students and staff.

Lisa Dyer lives in Bloomingburg and has been a district resident for 37 years. She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Nursing, SUNY Orange. She is a registered nurse and has been in the nursing profession for 46 years. She has two decades of experience in healthcare management and 15 years in higher education.

Dyer received a master’s degree in nursing education from Excelsior University, a bachelor’s degree in business, economics and healthcare management from SUNY Empire and an associate’s degree in nursing from SUNY Rockland. Her two children graduated from Pine Bush High School and she has a grandchild in the district. She has served several terms on the parish council at Our Lady of the Assumption. In her May 7 statement, Dyer said she would advocate for better preparation for college and the workforce.

Phillip J. Salinardi lives in Shawangunk and is a 13-year resident of the district. He is a New York State Police Investigator. He has a bachelor’s degree in community and human services from SUNY Empire State College. Salinardi was a travel coach for 11 years with the Town of Wallkill Soccer Club. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Salinardi’s wife, Tracey, is a graduate of Pine Bush High School. Three of his step-children are PBHS graduates and one attends PBHS.

In his May 7 statement, Salinardi said he would advocate for students getting involved in community service.

Ross Tompkins lives in Shawangunk and has been a district resident for 58 years. He is a division manager for Kriss Law Atlantic Closing and Escrow and co-owner of Pineapple Day Spa. He is a graduate of Pine Bush High School. He attended SUNY Orange and SUNY Dutchess, studying business management and human resources, as well as real estate development. He has more than 30 years of experience in the banking and real estate businesses.

Tompkins has three children; one is a graduate of Pine Bush High School and two attend PBHS. He is assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 37 in Pine Bush and a member of Mountain View United Methodist Church. Tompkins has served two three-year terms on the school board. In an interview with the Wallkill Valley Times, Tompkins said he seeks to help the board reach middle ground on issues.

Matthew Watkins lives in Shawangunk and is a lifelong resident of the district. He is self-employed at the GOALS Development Company. He has an associate’s degree in marketing from SUNY Delhi and a bachelor’s degree in general business from Penn State University.

Watkins has served as a councilman in the Town of Shawangunk and a trustee for the Pine Bush Area Public Library. He and his wife have three children, all graduates of Pine Bush High School. Watkins served on the school board from 2016-17 and has served on the board from 2019 to the present. In an interview with the Wallkill Valley Times, Watkins talked about his support for manufacturing education, helping students find jobs as plumbers and electricians.

Also on the ballot is the proposed $141,504,647 school budget. The proposed tax levy will increase by 2.96 percent or $1.825 million, for a total of $63,387,542.

This budget is 4.33 percent more than the current year’s budget, an increase of $5.875 million. State aid increased 4.63 percent, providing more than $3.2 million in additional aid over the current year’s figure. The district will also use $3,086,040 in fund balance for this budget.

This year, there are two polling locations. Residents of the towns of Gardiner, Shawangunk, Crawford and Montgomery will vote at Pine Bush High School in the new district 1. Previously, these residents voted at the Pine Bush Fire House and the Walker Valley Fire House.

Residents of the towns of Mt. Hope, Wallkill and Mamakating are the new district 2 and will vote at Circleville Elementary School. Previously, these residents voted at the Bloomingburg Town Park at Mamakating and the Circleville Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The district administration said it had become harder to staff four polling locations in recent years, and having the vote take place inside school buildings assured quality Wi-Fi coverage.

Voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.