[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6262192,"mediaKeyId","3115793-9b2be5cbd51ce1ac3f3a8c3a2eea4419","parentId",3115793,"title","Six candidates outline priorities on transparency, trust and the budget at Penfield forum","audioSeconds",4884,"startMs",5000,"endMs",4889000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3115793-9b2be5cbd51ce1ac3f3a8c3a2eea4419&start=5&end=4889","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3115793-9b2be5cbd51ce1ac3f3a8c3a2eea4419/thumbnail_5000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6262192/New-York/Six-candidates-outline-priorities-on-transparency-trust-and-the-budget-at-Penfield-forum","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262192-acd938fe9fa9030a3c8fe2b95e2f8e46/orig.mp4?Expires=1770410008&Signature=WO4bUsyxaaE~I-EsD7nL5XJ-TErR3V0pE7AbD~heu8nLvvuKCIhY4gBeYjmssIfmUSb1b-MoSbVVEF3A~9VybilOWb-Wx5~54Zh83npj24g3So5oX4G287x7Yub5i-ZU8NH27lz9S~NJGHSyNsRG52gc6vSULhnDSiX8zK0klnsSsqziwiwh8FZeRSLlag9yCzgo5qxst3B24~UwKZfA3uaj~hY-NQznvxM7QG1gxQYwQj~~oMJ-7G5sWMBj-JfAcHGKr9noSZMGEVFN296uL6J2EVXJrofhtrlw-0iuCPtgEbHlbs-LTp4cRLSss8UvBdygliUT3jkWwbpll37ObA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-25T00:48:27.233Z","article","Six candidates running for three open seats on the Penfield Central School District Board of Education presented opening statements and answered community-submitted questions at a public forum moderated by Amy Thomas of the Monroe County School Boards Association.

Lynn Scott, the district clerk, opened the event and announced the ballot order and logistics. The candidates—Dr. Sarah Pace, Dr. Emily Roberts (incumbent), James Ashby, Nate Chienenko, Dr. Scott Wilson and Susan Gilbert Collins—each gave two-minute opening statements and later answered questions on topics that included academic standards, security, pandemic recovery, teacher support and budget priorities.

Common themes emerged: several candidates called for greater transparency and improved communication between the district and families. \"Parents and community members deserve to know how decisions are made, where our money is going, and what really is happening in our schools,\" said Dr. Sarah Pace. James Ashby and other candidates framed trust as a core issue: \"I think it's trust...there's a lack of trust between the community and our leadership,\" Ashby said.

Budget and fiscal responsibility were frequent touchpoints. Nate Chienenko said he would first seek to understand district finances before proposing changes: \"I don't know what I'm gonna do about the budget because I need to understand the budget first.\" Several candidates called for investing in teachers and classroom supports.

Moderator Amy Thomas explained the forum rules and said community members submitted the questions through the district advisory board. The event concluded with candidates giving closing statements and a reminder that the budget vote and school board election will be held Tuesday, May 20 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Penfield High School West Gym.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Meet the Candidates for Penfield Board of Education | 2025 Election","oneSentenceSummary","At a meet-the-candidates night, six people running for three seats on the Penfield school board emphasized transparency, rebuilding trust, fiscal responsibility and community engagement ahead of the May 20 vote.","taxTitle","PENFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",38742,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6262196,"Candidates offer varied plans to address pandemic learning loss, gifted students and extracurricular access",1496,1511000,3007000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3115793-9b2be5cbd51ce1ac3f3a8c3a2eea4419&start=1511&end=3007","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3115793-9b2be5cbd51ce1ac3f3a8c3a2eea4419/thumbnail_1511000.jpg","/articles/6262196/New-York/Candidates-offer-varied-plans-to-address-pandemic-learning-loss-gifted-students-and-extracurricular-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262196-4c93dedfca51755c829df5f074d9cacd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440001&Signature=ntX3EuPbrypIQdRHQGd5aJmJJfsmc3rBERZKzlDwUXbAATcmPoyTC30crkgPrLxSv0HUtmOe~ezuTGrUk~WwsW9PK~WbtUqHmacNXPU~oq7z2Lq5faxxy6Wb5ntJ7QXTy8vOCSmy2oKYcJ9xrPGGxd3Qjl9BIKvmkBQgmMCn5xlY6SVU9Ca1zl-dEawibijkykQ2G2Bi9b8yQhKx~DGNBh33XpIEtdfuvaeLIgriCHEYyiFuofQyWakAUodX3cpoZAMEMYAQHnZ8fJ2x1d68k~cvum7qkY-icYdaoe9E4VWVf3I1vqLfE2lJGIE92C3AfxSq4aB0tElhB8gEqKUHpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Penfield Central School District candidates described different approaches to pandemic-related learning loss, support for advanced and gifted students, and access to extracurricular activities at a recent candidates forum.

Several candidates said the district should \"meet the kids where they are\" and tailor supports. Scott Wilson, a candidate and family physician, said individualized plans and earlier intervention are critical because missing skills (especially in math) compound over time. Susan Gilbert Collins emphasized social-emotional effects of the pandemic and said students often return to school socially younger than their grade level; she urged strengthening counseling and supports.

Candidates who focus on academic rigor urged both remediation and continued challenge for high-performing students. James Ashby said stabilizing data collection and creating baselines are necessary before judging performance and pointed to efforts to restore acceleration options at the middle school. Nate Chienenko argued that the board should identify root causes of learning gaps before selecting remedies and said accountability is part of addressing any measurable loss.

Several candidates highlighted concrete programs the district already uses: Emily Roberts, a teacher and incumbent board member, described the district's MTSS (multiple-tiered systems of support) and integrated co-teaching models at the elementary level as ways to provide in-class support. Roberts also noted the district paid for Advanced Placement exam fees this year so students would not face that cost.

Access to extracurriculars was another common theme. Chienenko and others said the district should ensure students who cannot afford equipment or transportation still have opportunities in athletics, arts and clubs. Candidates recommended working with administrators and booster groups to expand access and consider budget trade-offs to sustain these programs.

The candidates framed their proposals as complementary rather than mutually exclusive: more individualized academic supports, social-emotional resources and preserved or expanded advanced offerings. They said teachers, counselors and students should be consulted when shaping any district response.","At the Penfield candidates forum, contenders discussed supporting students who fell behind during the pandemic while maintaining opportunities for advanced learners and expanding extracurricular access.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6262201,"Security measures prompt debate at Penfield school board candidate forum",464,3232000,3696000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3115793-9b2be5cbd51ce1ac3f3a8c3a2eea4419&start=3232&end=3696","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3115793-9b2be5cbd51ce1ac3f3a8c3a2eea4419/thumbnail_3232000.jpg","/articles/6262201/New-York/Security-measures-prompt-debate-at-Penfield-school-board-candidate-forum","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262201-96dcceeda55cff09061a1bf2f29a8704/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440001&Signature=a7lkOJvYJa4EYy5MmwNn3gLkoCoZuKH~f-XJbpegyamv1s8moioXLyZkqSuOBJsRFy4USUcq4whKW08BfWRbg~to9c1vAcp2GU4bS8mUFEm60-GbxKyJxKdX27mRTjApFYVavTRgiJS0qcw7ChI4VeOnzUTzehDFXqHEay0GGrt7Lr6OYEizU1OsPDxJncsW0YKxgWIxiInBuS00UAGn9TY2Et3HYSI9sHUa3zP3JUqatf2Z-gTsUAbhKVQx-YUF8b1KMtkfvRDX1L7HVjhTE23gPbfCeX4LGEbjADlLWuNGMp-dPfsWZUi6Fw5plVTFtFSKqvqOTH1dXeR0Ea6wEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Security and emergency preparedness became a major topic at the Penfield Central School District candidate forum, with candidates sharply divided over recent measures such as metal detectors, contracted guards and an armed security guard at some events.

\"To get into this room, I had to go through a metal detector... one of them is carrying a gun,\" James Ashby, a candidate, said, describing the security procedures at a recent board meeting and criticizing the approach as costly and overly focused on the boardroom rather than extracurricular settings. He urged working with local law enforcement and cited a prior credible threat response involving the Monroe County Sheriff's Department.

Scott Wilson, a candidate and family physician, said he is \"not super excited\" about an armed guard but acknowledged the step \"may be necessary in the short term\" based on recent events. Several candidates expressed concern that security needs extend beyond board meetings to after-school events and athletic contests, where coverage is less consistent.

Susan Gilbert Collins said the district acted quickly and that the new safety and security coordinator appears ","Candidates disagreed over recent security steps — including metal detectors, guarded board meetings and an armed security guard — with some calling the measures reactive and costly and others saying they may be necessary short-term.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6262205,"Penfield candidates debate 'equitable grading' and academic standards at forum",1834,222000,2056000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3115793-9b2be5cbd51ce1ac3f3a8c3a2eea4419&start=222&end=2056","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3115793-9b2be5cbd51ce1ac3f3a8c3a2eea4419/thumbnail_222000.jpg","/articles/6262205/New-York/Penfield-candidates-debate-equitable-grading-and-academic-standards-at-forum","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262205-45f71282781a23bf4e41c09d7d376cf2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440001&Signature=RGwEd3LILb7aaxqWF-~c4~E6gcK516DP5p41zM3vzuLgM1OYWlPLZik6zosQD0XZCiAOITOQJxSjhyHWFnnFnuNP5jBceyecn3~HlS7qIHGh0LJ1axijAcc1LvovIdp5t0u4v15d5lTKpPKR9tBPzD1fxww8BBx7lvklNFVh8DPPe7M4kGQESWejggvFDLWA8PqpRODE4aF6Jqa1ii4MQxoJgQK9zvB2NS1GkCifv8WpfDODK-W5hsZtmGiQrxSki7D4Jj-LWsluit4EGcsj9Lf19rJ-BECYJ~Fp406xRIANHJSUKRvw3jrXWEEwhwClPqpBvirmn4FOnqwug4QgRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a candidates' forum for the Penfield Central School District, candidates debated the district's equitable grading practices and how the community should measure academic performance.

The discussion focused on whether the district's equitable-grading policies lower academic standards and how recent changes in testing complicate year-to-year comparisons. \"They are lowering standards and expectations of the students, inflating grades, and failing to hold students accountable,\" said Dr. Sarah Pace, a parent and candidate, arguing the district should “prioritize rigorous standards and merit based grading.”

Several candidates said measuring academic performance is more complicated now than in the past. Susan Gilbert Collins, a candidate and former ESL teacher, cautioned against drawing conclusions from recent test results, saying, \"You cannot compare the computer based tests with the previous tests.\" She also noted that Penfield has a high rate of opt-outs for standardized tests, which makes straightforward comparisons difficult.

James Ashby, a parent candidate who campaigned on restoring academic rankings, said he wants Penfield to return to the top 10% in the state and emphasized using comparative data: \"You need a baseline...we can compare it to neighboring districts.\" Other candidates urged balancing academic rigor with individualized supports. Nate Chienenko, a strategy consultant candidate, said the board should identify root causes for any learning gaps before prescribing remedies.

Candidates described a range of classroom strategies and district supports they favor, including continued access to Advanced Placement courses, targeted interventions for struggling readers and individualized approaches that meet students where they are. Emily Roberts, a teacher and incumbent board member, noted the district has paid for AP exam fees this year so students do not face that cost barrier.

The exchange underscored a common ground among candidates: a desire to support teachers and students while disagreeing on whether and how current grading and testing practices should be changed. Candidates repeatedly said they would consult teachers and administrators when reviewing policy changes.

The forum was moderated by Amy Thomas, executive director of the Monroe County School Boards Association, and organized by district clerk Lynn Scott. The district's budget vote and school board election are scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, at Penfield High School West Gym.","At a Penfield Central School District candidate forum, contenders disagreed over the district's equitable grading practices, testing comparisons and how to measure and restore academic excellence.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Six candidates outline priorities on transparency, trust and the budget at Penfield forum

Candidates offer varied plans to address pandemic learning loss, gifted students and extracurricular access

Security measures prompt debate at Penfield school board candidate forum

Penfield candidates debate 'equitable grading' and academic standards at forum