6 candidates vie for 3 BOE seats
By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
Like many school districts across New York state, the North Syracuse Central School District is feeling the pressure of the state budget crisis and the coronavirus pandemic. The NSCSD Board of Education voted May 11 to approve the 2020-21 budget with a number of staffing cuts.
Even with a reduction in staff positions, overall expenses in the district will increase by 3.48% over the current school year’s budget. Expenditures for 2020-21 will total $172,567,744. The tax levy will be $92,544,955, which meets the state-mandated tax increase cap of 2.59%. (See our infographic for more on the tax rate.)
In the May 11 budget presentation to the BOE, district officials said North Syracuse is still not receiving enough foundation aid from New York state. This shortfall is compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic as New York state is reducing aid by $1,404,329 in a move called the “Pandemic Adjustment.” While federal funds from the Cares Restoration Aid will offset this amount, districts could still lose as much as 20% of their state aid should the state decide to take back funding, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced is a possibility.
Elementary enrollment in North Syracuse has declined 7.7% since the 2015-16 school year, from 4,580 K-6 students in 2015-16 to 4,226 in 2019-20. The district has decided to eliminate seven teaching positions at the elementary level to ease the budget crunch. At the secondary level, which has also seen decreasing enrollment, 7.65 positions in various tenure areas will be eliminated to save money.
Three teachers who have been on special assignment — one co-teaching coach and two literacy coaches — will return to the classroom. Five consultant teaching positions will be eliminated, but four consultant teachers will remain to assist new teachers as they begin their careers.
In the special education department, 10 teaching assistant positions and four Consultant Teacher Direct (CTD) teacher positions will be eliminated.
New course offerings at the middle school level will be withdrawn to save money as well.
While the district is reducing staff in some areas, North Syracuse will be adding staff to support students’ social-emotional learning. The proposed budget provides for additional social worker or counselor support at Cicero and Allen Road Elementary, as well as two school psychologist interns for the district. North Syracuse will continue mental health services partnerships with Liberty Resources and Contact Community Services.
For a full budget breakdown, visit nscsd.org/districtpage.cfm?pageid=1105.
Also on the ballot
In addition to the 2020-21 budget, voters will be asked to approve a vehicle purchase totaling $2,113,295. The purchase includes:
• Ten 65-passenger gasoline engine school buses
• Two 42-passenger gasoline engine school buses with one to three wheelchair positions, hydraulic lift and air conditioning
• Six trucks/vans and mower for M&O to replace 15-year-old vehicles
• One tow truck for transportation to replace 30-year-old cable tow truck
The district estimates that, after state transportation aid, the tax impact of this vehicle purchase will be about $2.38 per year on a home worth $100,000 (before STAR exemptions).
Also, six candidates are running for three seats on the North Syracuse Board of Education. Terms are three years.
The following candidates will be listed on the ballot alphabetically:
• Michael Donofrio did not submit a bio to the NSCSD.
• Terri E. Krueger (incumbent) is seeking a second term on the North Syracuse BOE. Terri has lived in the North Syracuse Central School District for the past 10 years, currently with her husband, Howard. Terri has three children — Alexandria, Vanessa and Brittany.
Ms. Krueger is the owner of HighPoint Advisors, LLC, where she is works as a senior financial advisor specializing in retirement, estate, college and long-term care planning as well as life, health and disability insurance. She specializes in working with families, women, LGBTQA community, fellow child advocates and others to develop retirement and estate plans.
Terri graduated from the New Hartford Central School District and attended Mohawk Valley Community College and Utica College of Syracuse University. She earned certification as a Chartered Financial Consultant from the American College of Financial Services and is New York State registered in securities.
Ms. Krueger is a Cicero Youth Board member and US Community Leader for the Million Dollar Round Table. She previously served on the VERA House Elder Justice Committee, was Vice President of Plank Road Chamber of Commerce, a capital committee member for Rescue Mission Alliance and a therapy dog handler for PAWS of CNY, Inc. She also formerly served as a court appointed children’s special advocate for Onondaga County and was treasurer for Greater North Syracuse Chamber of Commerce.
• Joshua Ludden is seeking his first term on the North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education.
Joshua is a life-long resident of the North Syracuse Central School District and a graduate of Cicero-North Syracuse High School. He currently attends American University in Washington, D.C., where he is on track to graduate in December of 2020. Joshua is majoring in Political Science and Religious Studies.
As a student in the North Syracuse Central School District, Joshua served on the District Legislative Committee, and was a member of the National Honor Society and the C-NS Optimist Club. Joshua played both baseball and ice hockey at C-NS and he was the assistant captain for the ice hockey team in 2017. In 2017, he was named Student of the Year in both social studies and physical education. He also mentored young athletes through the C-NS baseball summer camps.
Joshua currently volunteers with “In my Father’s Kitchen” and the “Road to Emmaus Ministry.” In 2018, he went with his church, Sacred Heart of Cicero, on a service trip to Haiti.
• Erin C. McDonald (incumbent) is seeking election for her second term on the North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education. She has lived within the district for nearly 30 years, currently residing in Clay.
Ms. McDonald is a retired public educator from the Pflugerville Independent School District in Travis County, Texas. She is currently employed as a substitute teacher at Henninger High School in the Syracuse City School District.
Erin is a member of the North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education’s Policy and Legislative Committees, sat on interview committees for various District administrative positions and is a member of the Greater Cicero Community Connections Youth Board and the New York State and Central New York School Boards Associations. She is a youth soccer official for CNYSOA and the local Chapter of USSF (FIFA) soccer.
Erin is a graduate of Cicero High School and SUNY Cortland, where she received a bachelor’s degree in history and related areas. She also holds certification in special education with an emotional disturbance and autism endorsement through Region 13 and Texas State University.
• Michael Mirizio (incumbent), currently vice president of the North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education, is seeking reelection for his fourth term on the Board. He is a life-long resident of the District and graduated from Cicero-North Syracuse High School.
Mr. Mirizio is currently employed as the Director of Technology for OCM BOCES, the Onondaga Cortland Madison Board of Cooperative Educational Services.
He is involved with several committees for the North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education, including the Policy, Executive, Audit and Technology Committees. Additionally, he is the founder and executive director of North Syracuse Junior High School’s 4D Productions, a registered 501(c)(3) that operates out of North Syracuse Junior High School, where he works with students on live event production and community service.
Mirizio holds a bachelors of science degree in political science from Le Moyne College.
• Xavier Moody-Wusik is seeking his first term on the North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education.
Xavier has been a resident of the North Syracuse Central School District for the past 11 years and is a graduate of Cicero-North Syracuse High School. After graduation from C-NS in 2018, he went to St. Bonaventure to study adolescent psychology. Following his freshman year, he transferred to Syracuse University, where he is currently enrolled, studying social studies education.
Xavier currently volunteers as an assistant coach with the St. Rose Varsity Basketball team.
The North Syracuse Central School District will mail absentee ballots and postage-paid return envelopes to qualified voters. Completed ballots must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 9.
If you do not receive a ballot or if you have questions, contact District Clerk Connie Gibson at 315-218-2131.
