The Minisink Valley Board of Education believes that, in partnership with the community, parents, administration, faculty, and staff, our primary mission is to enable the individual student to identify and achieve maximum potential.
Our board of education members are unpaid public officials elected by the voters to take formal legal actions and set policy for the conduct of the district.
Minisink Valley Board of Education Members
President: Joseph Flaherty
Vice President: William Cooper
Christopher Briecke
Shawn Cahill
Kathlee DeRose
James Emery Jr.
John Odland
Catherine Prezioso
Thomas Salamone
Policies of the Minisink Valley Central School District/Board of Education
A major function of our Board of Education is to set the direction for the district. Board members do this by writing and reviewing policies. When we set procedures and guidelines, we do so in conjunction with these policies. Please visit our BoardDocs page to read the policy manual.
2019-20 Meeting Schedule
The Minisink Valley Board of Education meets on various Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted, in Room 108 at the middle school. Visitors are welcome and encouraged to attend.
July 11
August 15
August 29
September 12
October 3
November 7
December 5, 19
January 9, 23
February 6, 20
March 5, 26
April 16
April 30
May 14
June 4, 18
Committee Meetings
The following committee meetings for the 2019-2020 school year:
Oct. 3: 6 p.m.: Policy Committee; 7 p.m.: Audit Committee
Nov. 7: 6:30 p.m.: Menu Advisory Committee
Dec. 5: 6:30 p.m.: Buildings and Grounds Committee
Board of Education Goals for the 2019-2020 school year will be posted once approved and adopted by the board.
Board of Education goals for the 2018-2019 school year
- The district will cultivate an atmosphere that embraces Minisink Valley’s diversity and supports a learning environment respectful of all students, staff, and community members.
- The district will develop and successfully pass a fiscally responsible budget for the 2019-2020 school year that complies with the New York State Tax Cap Law and supports a quality education for all our students.
- The district will complete a review of existing administrative regulations and implement all necessary changes to ensure alignment with the board of education policy manual adopted on August 30, 2018. The district will further ensure that the new regulations are compliant with all State and Federal laws and regulations.
- The district will continue to expand and improve upon communication capabilities with our staff, students and community to help promote all the positive attributes of Minisink Valley. This will include the implementation of a new website by the end of the 2018–2019 school year.
- The district will continue to maintain oversight for the additional construction phases of the Capital Project.
Running for the Board of Education
- Petitions for nominating candidates for the office of member of board of education must be filed with the clerk of the district by April 22, 2019.
- Vacancies on the Board of Education are not considered specific offices.
- Candidates run at large.
- Nominating petitions must be signed by qualified voters of the district, shall state the name and residence of each signer and the name and residence address of the candidate.
- Nominating petitions with information about disclosure of expenditures by board candidates are available to be picked up from the district clerk’s office from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on days when school is in session.
Board Candidate Eligibility Requirements
- Must be able to read and write.
- Must be a qualified voter of the district. A member does not necessarily have to be a taxpayer, but must be a district resident for a period of at least one year prior to the election.
- No more than one member of an immediate family may serve as a member of the board of education at one time.
- May not be a current employee of the school district.
- May not simultaneously hold another incompatible public office.
- May not have been removed from any school district office within the preceding year.
Requirements for all Newly Elected Board of Education Members
For any school board of education member appointed to a term beginning on or after July 1, 2005, New York State now requires you to complete, within one year, at least six hours of training in your financial oversight, accountability, and fiduciary responsibilities. The training curriculum must be approved by the commissioner of education in consultation with the comptroller. The commissioner also must approve training providers. There are five approved workshops totaling six hours being offered by the New York State School Boards’ Association. The areas covered are:
- School District Finances: Roles and Responsibilities
- Revenue Sources and the Budget Process
- Building School District Fiscal Fitness
- Monitoring District Fiscal Fitness
- Preventing Fraud, Waste, and Abuse of District Resources.
In addition, every school board member elected or appointed for a first term beginning on or after July 1, 2011, must complete within one year, training in Essentials for School Board Governance. The areas covered are:
- The boards’ role in student achievement
- The dynamics of the board-superintendent relationship
- How policy is developed and used by the board
- Key legal parameters such as the Open Meetings Law
- How data is used by school boards in decision making
