At the November 29, 2023 meeting, the Gananda Board of Education accepted the resignation of Ms. Patti Walker as a Board Member. The remainder of Ms. Walker’s term runs through June 30, 2025. At the May 21, 2024 board election, residents will select a candidate to serve the remainder of Ms. Walker's term for the period of May 22, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
Prior to the May 2024 election, the Gananda Board of Education would like to consider appointing a board member to serve in the position from March 1 until the May 21 election. Consequently, the Gananda Board of Education is asking that individuals interested in serving in the temporary appointment for March 1, 2024 through May 21, 2024 submit a resumé and brief statement to Leslie Ferrante, District Clerk at [email protected] by January 31, 2024. The Board anticipates it will interview potential candidates with the hope of appointing at the February 14 Board meeting.
In the event that the Board of Education is unable to identify an interim candidate, the position will remain vacant until the May 21 Board election.
Candidates should anticipate attending five board meetings that will be held March 13, March 27, April 10, April 27, and May 8 from approximately 6:30 pm to 9 pm. In addition, the candidate will be expected to sit on the Board’s Facilities and Finance committees which typically meet twice a month at 7:30 am.
To qualify for membership on a school board in a central school district, an individual:
- Must be able to read and write (§ 2102).
- Must be a qualified voter of the district; that is, a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age or older, and not adjudged to be an incompetent (§§ 2102, 2012, 2502(7); Elec. Law § 5-106(6)). (Note: a convicted felon is barred from running for a seat on a school board while he or she is incarcerated for such felony (Elec. Law § 5-106(2)–(4)).
- Must be and have been a resident (but need not be a taxpayer) of the district for a continuous and uninterrupted period of at least one year (30 days in the city of Rensselaer (§ 2502(9-a)(d)) immediately before the election (§§ 2102, 2502(7), (9)(d); Appeal of Baleno, 30 Ed Dept Rep 358 (1991); see Appeal of Crawford, 59 Ed Dept Rep, Dec. No. 17,785 (2019)).
- May not have been removed from any school district office within the preceding year (§ 2103(2); Application of Montante, 57 Ed Dept Rep, Dec. No. 17,148 (2017)).
- May not reside with another member of the same school board as a member of the same family (§ 2103(3); Rosenstock v. Scaringe, 40 N.Y.2d 563 (1976)).
- May not be a current employee of the school board (§ 2103(4); see 6:3, 6:11).
- May not simultaneously hold another incompatible public office (Matter of Schoch, 21 Ed Dept Rep 300 (1981); see also 6:6–11).
Every school board member elected or appointed is required to take six hours of training on fiscal oversight, accountability and fiduciary responsibilities within the first year of his or her term. In addition, every school board member elected or appointed for a first term beginning on or after July 1, 2011, must complete within the first year of his or her term general training on the powers, functions and duties of school boards and the powers and duties of other governing and administrative authorities affecting public education.