[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6223046,"mediaKeyId","3577240-a18b8e176f30dff34e375a02c0e28588","parentId",3577240,"title","Resident urges more public forums after contested trustee race; board sets July 8 reorganizational meeting","audioSeconds",1675,"startMs",1620000,"endMs",3295000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3577240-a18b8e176f30dff34e375a02c0e28588&start=1620&end=3295","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3577240-a18b8e176f30dff34e375a02c0e28588/thumbnail_1620000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6223046/New-York/Resident-urges-more-public-forums-after-contested-trustee-race-board-sets-July-8-reorganizational-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223046-da9b3e7a85bf15cb48d11e0c8834b522/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167302&Signature=O-y5OC~hvM44Ho9SAD1wIPxHb5Nde6~UKvIjiuoklGpmIzRayNsE2JtbkT8CkAQa44OVOcY92MnhG6V2EMcAYXKELA0iUVTx5MkBgOyu8Fp-JDiw2isuNcAMChQgJp~RQqFztZpINCSsFvsW4V6kOJjtNYpYn3FAdBKbdMiac61Vj9ae7Z7fuewEr5Kxxemj0VSWakincqTKArcml78d2yU4ryMHtuEo-~HE~Oo0Ku0HH53NpO92gvjYS7n1mTyvPsUFSMTpM~zq855rIkyYp4YwTViLfguw3FLJt9uKYS93qyuM2yAlWrL6M92uXgwnWaB0m2Wcxw298I5p4ytv9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-28T19:41:21Z","article","During the public-comment period at the May 27 Somers Central School District Board meeting, resident Yifei Chang spoke about the recent trustee election and asked for more public debates and forums in future contests.

“My concern was that residents should demand fair and public forums for school elections,” Yifei Chang said, describing a goal of encouraging open comparison among candidates so voters can make informed choices. Chang, who described herself as a Somers resident for 36 years, also congratulated the newly elected trustees and urged the community to support the district and the new superintendent, Dr. Adam Brownstone.

At the start of the meeting the board formally accepted the results of the May 20, 2025 annual budget vote and trustee election and, by resolution, set the reorganizational meeting for July 8, 2025. The acceptance of the election results and the reorganizational-meeting date were approved by voice vote with all present voting “Aye.”","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Somers Central School District Board of Education Meeting May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A long-time Somers resident urged stronger public forums after a contested trustee election; the board accepted election results and set the reorganizational meeting for July 8, 2025.","taxTitle","SOMERS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",70147,"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},6223050,"Somers honors student of distinction and grants tenure recommendations to multiple teachers",3011,44000,3055000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3577240-a18b8e176f30dff34e375a02c0e28588&start=44&end=3055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3577240-a18b8e176f30dff34e375a02c0e28588/thumbnail_44000.jpg","/articles/6223050/New-York/Somers-honors-student-of-distinction-and-grants-tenure-recommendations-to-multiple-teachers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223050-8e109a695a364c67a6c05149f6d6daf0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167302&Signature=ehbJHfsNc6ckg0apwFjvqrQUfQ70UZdI3-kPs41qfMi0-Vuu2fg3z22-6INWZUlZF0S13UIQ~e7RkjlC6Bfz49WYX0gX8SFjeU7v3jW4cEZgj1ScGF9rYtitZB7CdbxduWLp36x4F~6K09MkJcXXNTjOllhUz8cE~6r4ejTyAmQWBXxy7DNyxUh4BAbUFBw4-qxh8~7lMA2C2hrD1lKiJsWZoOWPrkKqVX~xuKevqavlU3O8P-y4SMKtBIA5aNGXkBahCEfiOPekr~fSnTKaaQ7mMf30SBl1OPNgmV8DuauTNz1C~S70MbazvE8Hl9TUIfW9i5P5MNNLWGCWfDE-RQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somers Central School District recognized Farrah Caparelli as the PNW BOCES student of distinction and heard presentations recommending tenure and welcoming new staff at its May 27 meeting.

Neil Boyle, representing Putnam–Northern Westchester BOCES, and Dr. Melissa Kofaro, a BOCES staff member, joined Somers administrators to introduce and honor Farrah Caparelli for academic engagement and leadership in social-emotional learning while in the BOCES program housed at Somers Middle School.

The district also presented tenure recommendations and recognitions for a group of teachers and staff. Speakers thanked educators who were noted for leadership roles, instructional contributions and work with special education and curricular programs. Named staff and recognitions included Primrose Elementary nominees Melissa Melineiak, Kalyn Mikolic and Connie Ryan; Joanna Giordano for instrumental music; Lindsey Kerrigan, Joseph Saffiotti and Melissa (English teacher at SHS); Elizabeth Turner (director of learning elementary); and others introduced during the tenure recognitions portion of the meeting.

During the personnel consent agenda the board approved the attached personnel items, including the appointment of Lisa Galley as a first-grade teacher at Primrose for the 2025–26 school year. The personnel consent motion was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote with all present voting in favor.

Board members offered public congratulations to the honored staff and to Farrah Caparelli. Several trustees also noted the district is adding staff to support growth in programs such as science research and IB offerings discussed elsewhere in the meeting.","Board meeting featured a PNW BOCES student-of-distinction award for Farrah Caparelli and recognitions/recommendations for multiple tenured staff and new hires; personnel consent items were approved.",{"_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},6223054,"Somers trustees accept election results; district presents fiscal stewardship plan and $63.9 million capital project timeline",854,1916000,2770000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3577240-a18b8e176f30dff34e375a02c0e28588&start=1916&end=2770","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3577240-a18b8e176f30dff34e375a02c0e28588/thumbnail_1916000.jpg","/articles/6223054/New-York/Somers-trustees-accept-election-results-district-presents-fiscal-stewardship-plan-and-639-million-capital-project-timeline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223054-dead8009f6416d28c18bbde70da34527/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167302&Signature=bbcb-M3zW0bkn6n3jzzHUFXVz0RUWSG0tsj1PN~Nxv9lEXZ5qDEjcVaZLwSVv0B-EEL0rPzb7o0NNw3etv98pKN~bO2JHX~48TuSwc~RW3eb8Dy7ppTLwmYGXL9vYoSSNfzyd-0xpG3gNox6dE7p-TDA~zWw6SpL2EYt7Wq~zZcryqYtvDrK3HmXj0fpNbK78WxRs8g4OSXpvc~nUPb7GZ07goT-Vz-WTiiFkjT4j6ZLxbPQregxZw4cViTUW4HIFDS29tMIoHvi-WK9SaLz2WOqHPX5yikNU1Zu7-V~Y3gWZXkkjniQybUITfThFkSJF5hIwwZs0WGrGcy5BZQf4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somers Central School District Board of Education reviewed a fiscal stewardship presentation May 27 that summarized operating costs, recent athletic-facility work funded from reserves and next steps for a voter-approved $63,900,000 capital project now awaiting state approval.

The presentation, delivered by Chris (staff member, business office), showed salaries and benefits comprise about three quarters of the district’s annual budget and highlighted recent work funded from the district’s capital reserve. “One of the elements of excellence, fiscal stewardship, Somers Central School District will ensure its commitment to responsible financial planning and allocation of resources,” Chris said during the presentation.

The board noted the district used roughly $7,000,000 from its capital reserve to build a new turf baseball field, install six tennis courts (three courts also striped for six pickleball courts) and other athletic upgrades. The district said using reserves avoided approximately $2,000,000 in interest costs that would have been incurred if the work had been bonded.

Officials also reviewed Universal Pre-K (UPK) operations: the district will run five UPK classes next year and expects enrollment of 103 students. District staff said state funding levels and available classroom space limit further expansion without a general-fund subsidy or additional facilities.

On district spending, the presentation compared Somers’ cost per pupil to Putnam–Northern Westchester BOCES peers. Based on the adopted budgets, the regional average spent per student was reported at just over $40,000; Somers’ cost per student was shown as just under $43,000 and described as within one standard deviation of PNW peers. The presentation noted the district’s per-student figure has been affected by enrollment declines and rising fixed costs such as health insurance and retirement contributions.

Board members discussed timelines for the capital project. District staff told the board the project will move forward after state approval of the voter-approved proposition; if allowed by the state review queue, some construction could begin in summer 2026. Staff said certain weatherization and non-disruptive work could be scheduled sooner if state timing requires it.

At the same meeting the board formally accepted the results of the May 20, 2025 annual budget vote and trustee election and set the reorganizational meeting for July 8, 2025. The motion to accept the election results was approved by voice vote with all present board members saying “Aye.”","Board reviewed fiscal stewardship metrics, recent athletic-facility upgrades paid from a capital reserve, and the $63,900,000 capital project now awaiting state approval after voters approved the bond and budget on May 20.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident urges more public forums after contested trustee race; board sets July 8 reorganizational meeting

Somers honors student of distinction and grants tenure recommendations to multiple teachers

Somers trustees accept election results; district presents fiscal stewardship plan and $63.9 million capital project timeline