Tom Firstel campaigns for Mount Mansfield Union School Board seat in Jericho

The Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District held a candidate statement session on February 21, 2025, where Thomas Ferstle announced his candidacy for one of the three available seats on the school board representing Jericho. Ferstle, who has served in a temporary position for the past six months, expressed his desire to commit to a full three-year term.

Ferstle emphasized his dedication to fostering critical thinking, effective communication, lifelong learning, and civic engagement among students. He and his family moved to Jericho in 2021, and he highlighted his son’s enrollment as a freshman at Mount Mansfield. Ferstle is semi-retired and currently a professor of literature at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. He aims to leverage his expertise in writing, rhetoric, and composition to uphold the district's educational standards.

In addition to his role on the board, Ferstle expressed interest in joining the community engagement committee. He sees this as an opportunity to bridge the gap between community concerns regarding education and the operations of the schools. He acknowledged the leadership of outgoing superintendent John Albert Gainey and expressed support for the newly elected superintendent, John Muldoon.

Ferstle encouraged community members to vote on March 4, particularly in favor of the 2025 school budget. He clarified that while the state education formula indicates a 5.9% increase, the district's actual operational and educational spending is closer to 2% or less. He praised the district's educators and administration for their careful management of tax dollars, affirming that every expenditure is aimed at achieving shared educational goals for the children of Jericho.