Along with the school’s 2015-16 budget, the voters of the East Syracuse Minoa School District will have the opportunity to vote from four candidates to fill two seats on the school’s board of education.

Patti Puma and Jennifer Steigerwald are incumbents running for reelection. Carl Rode and Diane Seaman are running as first-time candidates for these seats.

The Eagle Bulletin asked each candidate to fill out a questionnaire so voters can be more informed of the views of their candidates. ESM residents can vote from noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19 at ESM Central High School in the small/new gym.

Here are their responses in alphabetical order by last name:

Name: My name is Patti Puma. I have been married for 21 years to my husband Mike and we have four children. Our oldest, Mike, graduated from ESM in 2013, our son Joe is senior and graduating this June. We have two daughters. Rebecca is a junior and Maria is a freshman. We have lived in the East Syracuse for the past 11 years.

Work experience/Organizations involved with: I work at Weiss Savedoff & Ciccone Optometry Office in Manlius. I am a member of St. Matthew’s Church in the village of East Syracuse and have been an active member of East Syracuse Minoa school district since we moved here. I was on the Woodland PTO for years and also served on Woodlands PBIS committee as the parent representative for two years. I have also served on several district wide committees through the years such as the web design committee, the strategic planning committee and career and college readiness panel.

Political Experience: I have been on the ESM school board of education for the past four years and it has been both a full and rewarding experience. I am seeking a second term for the ESM school board because I believe in this district and I believe in the work that we are doing on the behalf of all our students.

Why do you want to run for the ESM Board of Education?

I think that the current climate in public education is a bit of a hostile one. The state expects amazing results with diminished funding year after year. Albany thinks that a test given for 90 minutes over three days is a true a assessment of student achievement, and nothing could be further from the truth. There is so much more to teaching and to learning then that week in April and May. They expect our children to be able to learn and perform globally in the 21st century and yet continue to measure their success with a 20th century test. I know that we need to assess children’s learning and abilities but with a real life practical approach that measures their real skills not what Pearson wants them to read and fill in a bubble.

What are the top three issues that the ESM School District currently faces?

When thinking of the three top issues facing ESM, I decided that when looking at education and the educational system as whole, ESM is facing the issues that every other district is facing. We are trying to provide the best academic program we can with money constantly being pulled away from us left and right. We are trying to provide our students with safe and secure buildings always mindful of the treats that this world poses to us all. Thirdly and probably most important is getting the powers that be to realize that education is not as broken as they are telling us. The sky isn’t falling chicken little but it does feel like the rug is being pulled out from under our children.

They don’t test as badly globally as they are being told. We are one of the only countries that educates every single child, not just the very smart or the very wealthy but every single child has access to the same education. We have to work to find a better way to test student achievement other than the paper pencil test and stop telling our teachers they are failing because on that one day in time a child did not do well. Our kids have smart phones, tablets, ipods and ipads. A two-year-old can work my cell phones and yet we still test kids just like students in 1880, and 1920, 1940,1960,1980 and so on and so on.

If elected, what would your goals as a board member be?

My goal if re-elected is make sure that student achievement remains a priority at ESM, that our children have a safe environment to learn and that we are always accountable for the decisions that we make on behalf on the East Syracuse Minoa community.

Why should citizens vote for you?

I hope that people would vote for me this May 19th and re-elect me to the ESM school board. I hope that I have done a good enough job that people are happy with my performance. I hope that my answers above would convince someone who is on the fence on who to vote for, but voting a great privilege and I want people to feel comfortable voting for the candidate that they think will best represent the students and committee members of ESM even if that is not me. I thank you for allowing me serve the past four years for you on the board and I look forward to serving the next four years as well.

Name: Carl W. Rode

Education: Regents Diploma, John C. Birdlebough High School, Phoenix, NY (1996); Bachelors of Science, Civil Engineering, Clarkson University (2000); Masters of Engineering, Civil Engineering, Clarkson University (2001).

Work Experience: Senior Project Engineer with C&S Companies for 14 years, working in their Transportation Services Group. I provide engineering services for various municipality’s and railroads throughout New York state primarily on bridge related assignments including bridge replacements and rehabilitations.

Political Experience: N/A

Organizations/groups involved with: I am not currently a member of specific school or community organizations. As a parent, I have focused on being supportive of my young daughter’s participation in various age appropriate school activities.

Why do you want to run for the ESM Board of Education?

I decided to run for school board to become involved with the community and something that I truly believe in; education. As a Professional Engineer, education has been, and continues to be a major element of my life because learning is necessary to solve new challenges facing society. As a parent of elementary school children, I realize the challenges students and teachers are facing today. I believe many of these can be solved when we work collectively towards a consensus, while continuing to always be respectful of each other through the process, and most importantly, always keeping our students the focus of important decisions. If elected, I will bring thoughtful conversation to each issue and decision facing the board, and carefully weigh all of the associated risks and benefits of my decisions on behalf of the students, teachers, and community.

What are the top three issues that the ESM School District currently faces?

Funding/Budgets — State funding (no or small increases annually), tax increases on the community, faculty salary and benefits, operational expenses, capital improvements, etc. all compounded with economic inflation equals a reoccurring issue to maintain a sustainable funding level to operate the district at its extraordinary level without the need to make budget cuts.

Common Core — New teaching methods, revised standards of student learning, unpopular standardized testing, unpopular teacher evaluation and tenure criteria, etc. While much of this is still in its early stages of implementation, we as students, parents and teachers are just beginning to experience them and their effects whether perceived as good or bad.

Technology/Social Media — Assuring that all students are educated on appropriately and respectfully using technology and social media and provided the opportunities to experience the countless benefits in preparing them for successful futures.

If elected, what would your goals as a board member be?

If elected, my goal would be to ensure the ESM school district continues to have all of the resources it needs to continue providing a top level education to every student while also being considerate of the concerns of the community.

Why should citizens vote for you?

I am a father of two young daughters, who is genuinely passionate about education and ensuring that all students have the opportunities they deserve to succeed. My energy and enthusiasm, combined with my professional skills, lead me to believe that I can effectively help the district continue moving successfully forward into the future.

Name:Diane C. Seaman

Education: Bachelor of Science in Education from SUNY at Oswego; Numerous educational seminars/classes in computer management, human resources and training/development.

Work Experience: Elementary school teacher (four years); accounting supervisor (11 years); corporate trainer (10 years); human resources manager (14 years).

Political Experience: None

Organizations/groups involved with: American Society for Training & Development; Society of Human Resource Management.

Why do you want to run for the ESM Board of Education?

I would be very proud to serve on the Board as this school district has many wonderful programs, plans and opportunities for its students. My husband and two daughters are very successful graduates, and I have two grandsons currently attending ESM schools. I have seen excellence in the educators, the programs and the graduates of this school district. I would like very much like to be part of its success.

I love to volunteer and feel that participating in the board of education would be very gratifying for me, and valuable to the school district based on my past work experience.

What are the top three issues that the ESM School District currently faces?

Sustaining the programs and exceptional staff within the constraints of state aid that fluctuates annually.

Keeping current with ever-changing technology

Continuing to develop new and innovative programs that will engage students’ minds and educate them to be the best they can be in the 21st century.

If elected, what would your goals as a board member be?

Overall, my goal would be to work with the existing Board of Education in achieving its goals and responsibilities. Specifically I believe I can contribute by: getting more involved with the classroom activity and understanding what is working at the elementary and secondary levels; helping to create/encourage a good relationship between the community, the district administrators and the students; using my experience and education to provide expertise as needed.

Why should citizens vote for you?

1. I believe that my background and professional experience (in Education, Accounting, Training, and Human Resource Management) would make me a valuable member of the Board of Education.

2. Although I am running against two very good incumbents, I believe that I could bring new ideas, thoughts, and energy to the Board.

3. I am recently retired and believe that I would have time to devote to this opportunity.

Name: Jennifer Steigerwald

Education: Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications Management, Ithaca College

Work experience: Office Manager for the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Arts & Sciences at Syracuse University.

Political experience: 1998-2011 and 2014-2015 on the East Syracuse Minoa Board of Education.

Organizations involved with: ESM Education Foundation board member, Central High School parent representative.

Why do you want to run for the ESM Board of Education?

I want to continue to work for our children. I have the time to devote to the position that I did not have 4 years ago when I did not to run for re-election. After three terms (13 years), I needed to take time away to focus on my family. Three years later, two of my children successfully transitioned to college and my youngest child began 10th grade. I submitted a letter and was appointed to fill a one-year vacancy on the board last October. I am now interested in completing another four-year term to continue my service to the children of ESM.

What are the top three issues that the ESM School District currently faces?

I believe that the issues that ESM currently faces are no different than those faced by districts across New York State. The changes that have been implemented over the course of the last several years have had a tremendous impact on districts. While these changes were happening, revenue to districts was not only cut, but limited by the tax cap laws. Districts are continuously making difficult decisions to maintain high level programming to give students the opportunities to be college and career ready.

If elected, what would your goals as a board member be?

If elected, I would continue to focus on the vision, mission and beliefs of our district while remaining cognizant of our fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers.

Why should citizens vote for you?

I will always be a strong advocate for our district and students and represent our community proudly by working with our business partners and elected officials to help our students develop and grow beyond their years at ESM.