On Tuesday, May 20, the community will vote on the district’s proposed spending plan for the 2025-26 school year. They will also elect two candidates to serve on the board of education for three-year terms beginning July 1, 2025.

The Duanesburg Community PTA will once again host “Meet the Candidates” night to give the community an opportunity to hear from candidates running for open seats on the district’s Board of Education. “Meet the Candidates” will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 15 in the library at the Duanesburg Jr.-Sr. High School. 

Board members whose terms are expiring this year include Sarah Gwiazdowski and Avis Sanchez.

Three community members turned in petitions to run for the two open Board of Education seats. This is the order in which the candidates will appear on the ballot:

SARAH GWIAZDOWSKI

Sarah Gwiazdowski from Delanson is finishing her first term as a member of the Board of Education (2022-2025) and is running as an incumbent candidate for a second term. She is a graduate of Duanesburg High School. After earning her B.S. degree in Business and Sociology from the University at Albany, she established a career as a real estate professional.

Gwiazdowski says she is “passionate about our community and schools.” She and her husband are “raising three wonderful and energetic children,” currently in kindergarten, second grade, and fourth grade.

Gwiazdowski is actively involved in the community through her participation at Bethel Community Church and by volunteering with prekindergarten programs. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, camping, cooking, and spending time outdoors with her family.

I am a candidate for the Duanesburg BOE because:  I believe in transparency, fiscal responsibility, parental rights, and fostering a professional, collaborative work environment. I am committed to open, honest communication and decision making that reflects the values of our community. My focus is on supporting student success while ensuring responsible stewardship of district resources. I’m committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful atmosphere where families, educators, and taxpayers are informed, engaged and valued.

MICHAEL BAILEY

Michael D. Bailey of Delanson is running for his first term as a member of the DCS Board of Education. Mr. Bailey is a graduate of Schalmont High School and currently leads IT teams in his role as Director, Infrastructure Operations at Kaseya US, LLC based in Miami, FL.

Mr. Bailey and his wife have three children. Two of their children attend DCS and one is currently enrolled at Christian Brothers Academy.

Bailey is very active with the Boy as Scouts of America; specifically for the past six years with Troop 501 based in Esperance, for which he has previously served as a Committee Member.  He also chairs the Bylaws Committee of the Duanesburg PTA.

I am a candidate for the Duanesburg BOE because: I would like to ensure that my children continue to receive a quality education while ensuring that resources required to deliver it are used efficiently. Additionally, I anticipate state funding pressures and want to ensure that our district responds thoughtfully and decisively, should that occur.

AVIS SANCHEZ

Avis A. Sanchez from Duanesburg is finishing her first term as a member of the Board of Education (2022-2025) and is running as an incumbent candidate for a second term. Mrs. Sanchez graduated from Schenectady Christian School, and attended the University of Phoenix and Excelsior College. She currently works as a Lead Human Resources Specialist.

Sanchez has previously volunteered for SCAP Head Start, Capital City Rescue Mission, and the Highland Soccer Club, for which she served as a coach for two seasons.

I am a candidate for the Duanesburg BOE because:  I am passionate about ensuring that student safety remains a top priority. I believe in fiscal responsibility and the careful stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Transparency within the school board is essential, and I am committed to upholding the rights of parents and making sure their voices are heard.

 

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Board meetings are generally held at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month in the Joe Bena Auditorium at Duanesburg Junior-Senior High School.

The meeting schedule for the 2024-2025 school year is available here.

Committee Meetings for 2024-2-25:

Tuesday, March 18 (5 p.m.) – Buildings & Grounds Committee (VENUE CHANGE:  DES Library Central Office Conference Room)

Wednesday, February 26 (4:45 p.m.) – Policy Committee (Central Office Conference Room)

Monday, January 27 (4:15 p.m.) – Policy Committee (Central Office Conference Room)

Wednesday, December 18 (4 p.m.) – Policy Subcommittee Meeting (Central Office Conference Room)

Thursday, December 4 (5 p.m.) – Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee Meeting (Central Office Conference Room)

Livestreaming BOE Meetings

Board meetings are typically livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel (listed as DCS Eagles). 

Board meeting agendas, materials and minutes

Meeting agendas, materials and minutes are available on BoardDocs.

Public Comment at BOE Meetings

If you would like to speak publicly at a Board of Education meeting, please read through Policy 1510, which explains the protocols for public comment.

About the Board

The Board of Education is composed of seven members who serve three-year terms. Members are elected by residents in the community to establish policy and direct the administration of the district’s schools. As your representatives, the board exercises the community’s rights to citizen control over public education.

Every Board of Education in the State of New York has legal and financial control over local school matters, subject only to limitations imposed by the United States Constitution, Federal Law, State Law, regulations of the Commissioner of Education, and, of course, the will of local residents as expressed in local elections. 

Running for the Board of Education

Board nomination petitions become available in March at the district office. In order to obtain a petition, candidates must visit the central office building to have their eligibility confirmed by the district clerk. Each nominating petition must contain a minimum of 25 valid signatures and must be returned to the district office 30 days prior to the school district’s annual Budget and Board of Election Vote. This year, petitions are due by 5 p.m. at the Central Office on Monday, April 21, 2025. 

To run for a seat on the Board of Education, candidates must be:

• A resident of the Duanesburg Central School District for a period of one year prior to the annual school budget vote and Board election.
• A U.S. citizen, 18 and older and can read and write.

New York State Education Law does not limit the number of terms of office a member may serve. Board members receive no salaries or other compensation.

Questions may be directed to District Clerk Serena Killenberger at skillenberger@duanesburg.org.

School Board FAQs

What is a school board? 

A school board is a corporate body composed of elected members that oversee and manage a public school district’s affairs, personnel, and properties.

Do our school board members collect a salary for their duties?

No. DCS school board members volunteer their time and efforts. 

What powers does an individual school board member have? 

Individual school board members have no legal authority or power. They may only legally act as a body by majority vote in a properly convened meeting. Individually, a Board member’s rights are no greater or different than those of any other qualified voter in the District.

Why won’t a board member answer my questions individually? 

Even though an individual BOE member has no power, their actions or comments may be attributed to the school district and have legal ramifications for the entire Board. Because of this, they have been advised not to make comments on district operations outside of a meeting. 

How does a superintendent’s role differ from the BOE?

As a general rule, the Board’s role is to set the policy for the District and it is the superintendent’s function to administer those policies.

Do BOE members communicate directly with staff or students to investigate issues in the school? 

No. Questions and concerns are relayed to the superintendent, who will then designate someone to investigate, generally a director or principal. 

If I have a problem with something that happened in school, what should I do?

Generally speaking, it is best to contact your child’s teacher first, however, you should feel free to also contact a building principal, director, the superintendent’s secretary, or the superintendent if you aren’t sure how your concern should be routed. The BOE does not manage the day-to-day operations of the school district. 

I thought that BOE meetings were public meetings. Why can’t I freely participate in them? 

While meetings of the BOE are held in public, they are not public meetings. Community members are invited to speak during the public comment section of the meeting, which is usually held at the very beginning. 

I asked a question in the public comment section of a BOE meeting. Why didn’t the BOE answer me? 

It is BOE policy to not address specific questions/comments made during the public comment section of the meeting; however, the BOE may direct the superintendent to further investigate issues or follow-up on certain comments. The Board will only discuss items on its agenda. 

What items may not be discussed in the public comment section of a BOE meeting? 

Personnel matters may not be discussed in the public comment section of a meeting. If members of the public have gone through proper channels and still wish to discuss a personnel manner with the Board, they can submit their comments in writing to the Board President or request an Executive session with the Board.

Why does the BOE sometimes go into private executive session? 

The BOE may go into executive session for only a handful of specific reasons. They are: 

• Matters which may imperil public safety;
• Discussions regarding proposed, pending or current litigation;
• Collective negotiations pursuant to Article fourteen of the Civil Service Law (collective bargaining);
• The medical, financial, credit or employment history of a particular person or corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation;
• The preparation, grading or administration of examinations;
• The proposed acquisition, sale or lease of real property or the proposed acquisition of securities, or sale or exchange of securities held by the District, but only when publicity would substantially affect the value thereof;
• Matters which may disclose identity of law enforcement agent or informer; and, 
• Matters relating to a criminal offense which may imperil effective law enforcement

Do school board members take an oath of office? 

Yes. New Board members must swear or affirm to the following: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of office of school board member according to the best of my ability.”