ELDRED, NY — Three candidates for Eldred School Board addressed the public at a Meet the Candidate forum on May 3 at the Mackenzie Elementary School.

Highland resident Scott Hallock was the first to speak. He stated that he has been a resident of the town for 51 years, is a 1985 graduate of Eldred and has three children. He served as a Town of Highland councilman for eight years and is also a volunteer fireman. He stated that students are not just a number in Eldred but are a family. He is against tuitioning the students out of the district and will do everything in his power to see that it doesn’t come down to that.

Peter Carmeci of Barryville was next up. He is the father of five children who all went to Eldred for some time. A Navy veteran, he is the commander of VFW Post 6427 and said that he has close ties with Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther and State Sen. John Bonacic. Carmeci emphasized that the community needs to keep the district going.

John Tice is a graduate of Eldred and a resident of the area for 19 years. He has three children in the district and is a volunteer Little League coach. Tice said he has the desire to tackle the difficult issues that face the district but that there needs to be a balance, and he wants to make sure teachers stay in the district.

The candidates then heard from the public.

One speaker noted that none of the candidates addressed the budget and said that hard decisions have to be made to assure the students get a quality education.

A Glen Spey resident asked how the candidates would vote on the upcoming budget. All three said that they would be voting in favor of the budget as presented.

Another speaker asked whom the candidates would represent if elected. Hallock replied that he would represent the taxpayers. Carmeci and Tice agreed. She also asked what innovative ideas could be advanced. Tice stated that savings might be realized by getting volunteers and parents to help out at sports events. 

An Eldred resident asked about the code of conduct and said that he was concerned it is not being followed.

JoAnna Dutcher was on the original slate of candidates, but withdrew her name due to a death in the family.

The school board position is a five-year term that runs from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2023.

Voters will have their say on May 15 at the Junior-Senior High School from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. In addition to the school board position, voters will decide whether or not to accept the budget of $16,848,150, which represents a 3.04% tax increase, as well as funding the Sunshine Hall Free Library in the amount of $14,790.