Gates Chili candidates outline priorities and back proposed budget ahead of May 20 vote

Gates Chili Central School District candidates and an incumbent board member addressed staffing, student mental health, technology and district finances at a Meet the Candidates Night for 2025 and told attendees they support the district's proposed budget ahead of the May 20 vote.

The event, moderated by Eva Petrosino, was held at the Spartan Field House at Gates Chili High School and streamed on the district's YouTube channel; the district's annual budget vote and school board election will be held Tuesday, May 20 from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Spartan Field House.

Why it matters: The budget determines staffing levels, program supports and facilities upkeep for a district that candidates said must contend with statewide teacher shortages, rising demand for counseling and uncertainty in state and federal funding streams.

Dr. Christine Brown Richards, identified in her remarks as a current board member, said she supports "this year's budget" and described the proposal as balancing academic priorities and facilities maintenance. "We absolutely start off with academic priorities first," she said, adding that emergency facility needs ("if a boiler goes out") can require shifting funds to keep buildings open.

Tanya Sierbanovsky, who said she is completing her second year on the Gates Chili Board of Education and who works as the district's home instruction coordinator, also said she supports the budget. Sierbanovsky described her professional experience enforcing "New York State Home Instruction Regulations" and cited district literacy work recognized statewide as an area of strength. She told attendees the budget is a "0 based no frills budget" and emphasized clear communication with families amid reassessments and other local cost pressures.

Andrea Mancella, who described herself as having a financial background and experience as a New York State tax auditor, said she supports the budget and urged creative revenue options such as expanding continuing-education or summer programs that might generate income from district facilities.

Candidates and speakers raised several recurring priorities and concerns that they said the next board should address:

- Staffing: All three speakers named teacher recruitment and retention as a top challenge. "One of the biggest challenges is going to be the teacher shortage," Dr. Brown Richards said, urging proactive partnerships with higher education and programs to encourage students to enter education careers.

- Student mental health and counseling: Candidates said demand for counseling services has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic. Sierbanovsky called for partnerships with families and stronger community engagement to support student well-being.

- Special services and earlier intervention: Andrea Mancella and others highlighted gaps in speech and tiered academic interventions, saying limited specialist availability can constrain services for students who need them.

- Communication and family engagement: Speakers praised ParentSquare for centralized communications and its translation tools, and urged expanded family engagement at the middle- and high-school levels so caregivers remain connected as students age.

- Fiscal management and transparency: Candidates urged responsible budgeting and noted the district's "budget ambassadors" program as a resource for community members to learn about the budget. Mancella emphasized her accounting background and experience with the district's budget ambassador groups.

- Curriculum and technology: Sierbanovsky and others referenced the district's literacy work and the need to plan for emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, while ensuring students are responsible digital citizens.

Event format and process notes: Candidates gave opening statements (three minutes each), answered questions in rotating order, and offered closing remarks in reverse order. The moderator noted that one candidate had withdrawn earlier in the campaign; the evening included four speakers who identified themselves onstage (see speakers list). No school board actions or votes were taken at the event.

The event concluded with a reminder that the budget vote and school board election are on Tuesday, May 20, and that additional resources and vote information are available at GatesChili.org/vote.

Audience members seeking more detail on the budget were directed to district budget materials and budget-ambassador opportunities for deeper explanation.