Three open seats on VC School Board

- Brendan Coyne
Posted 5/10/23

Four candidates are running for three positions on the Valley Central school board. The Wallkill Valley Times interviewed the candidates May 8.

Two of the openings are for full, three-year terms …

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Three open seats on VC School Board

Posted

Four candidates are running for three positions on the Valley Central school board. The Wallkill Valley Times interviewed the candidates May 8.

Two of the openings are for full, three-year terms and the other position is for a year remaining in the unexpired term of Dee Wright Kelly who resigned from the school board last year. The four candidates are Joseph Bond, Katie McKnight, Frances Fox-Pizzonia and Barney Zipkin.

In his interview, however, Zipkin revealed that if he were to win, he would decline the position. After attending a number of board meetings, he said he has become disenchanted with the way the district works.

Bond has served on the board for six years, three as president.

The 51-year Town of Montgomery resident wants to continue to address issues caused by COVID. He wants to deal with the social-emotional needs of students and narrow the learning gap brought about by the pandemic. He also wants to focus on school safety and find a solution for a new/improved Walden Elementary School.

“My satisfaction in serving on the board comes from the success of our students,” Bond said. “Whether it be on a stage, sports field or in a classroom, there is always a reason to celebrate.”

Fox-Pizzonia served on the board from 2013-16. She believes her board experience can help Superintendent Evette Avila who took over in January.

Asked about school funding, she said funds should come from the state, not through property taxes.

“There’s no equity among New York State’s school districts,” Fox-Pizzonia said.

McKnight has been a board member for three years. She serves on the Audit Committee; the Guidance Committee and the Diversity Equity & Inclusion Committee.

She believes the district is in a better place these days, having gotten through COVID and having hired a new superintendent. She said the superintendent is very active. She said the district is making good progress with infrastructure and safety issues.

McKnight said her work on diversity is fascinating.

“We’ve talked about many issues, including how the district deals with holidays,” McKnight said.

When asked why he had decided to run for the board, Zipkin said he thought he could make a difference but he’s changed his mind. He didn’t attend the PTA Council’s Candidates Night on May 4.

Zipkin is upset with the Town of Montgomery as well as the Valley Central School District regarding the deals Medline and Amazon received in coming to Montgomery. He said the community should have gotten more in exchange. Medline and Amazon should’ve helped the town, the schools and the first responders. “We didn’t get Amazon; Amazon got us.”

The school board election will take place along with the budget vote from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, in the high school gymnasium. The two top vote-getters will serve for three-year terms. The third candidate will serve for one-year, with the option of running for a full three-year term next year.