Cornwall school board candidates stress 'students first,' balanced tech and special‑education fixes at PTO forum

Rachel Doss, PTO Trust president and CCMS PTO president, opened a candidate forum on behalf of the Cornwall Central School District PTO and told the audience there are five open board seats and that voting is scheduled next Tuesday at Cornwall Middle School from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The evening gave each candidate two minutes to introduce themselves and 90 seconds to answer questions collected from the community. Candidates who appeared were Kate Carey, Christine Diaz, Carl Gilpatrick, Margaret Quinn, Kathleen Hand and others who identified themselves during the forum.

Candidates converged on several consistent themes. On leadership and collaboration, Christine Diaz said the work starts with “trust and transparency” and with listening to teachers, administration and families. Carl Gilpatrick said, “For me, this is all about the kids,” and repeatedly framed the board’s role around supporting teachers and students. Margaret Quinn, a former board member, and others emphasized leading by example and partnering with staff to build community trust.

On technology, several candidates urged a measured approach. Kathleen Hand said Chromebooks and AI “should enhance, not replace” classroom instruction and recommended teacher input, training and age‑appropriate policies. Candidates flagged concerns about screen time, classroom distractions and home management of district devices; one candidate said she opposed a pilot that would let fourth graders take Chromebooks home for that reason.

Special education emerged as a focal concern after the moderator noted prior complaints about compliance, communication and placement decisions. Candidates agreed the board must better understand specific problems while respecting student confidentiality. Margaret Quinn said the first step is to “find out where things are” and listen to families and experts; Christine Diaz said the board should track themes from parent complaints and partner with administration; Kathleen Hand described inclusive ICT classrooms as effective when staffed appropriately. Multiple candidates cited the new superintendent and recent board briefings as steps toward addressing the issues, but no remedy or timeline was announced.

Budget and taxes drew questions about balancing programming with taxpayer impact. Kathleen Hand and others said they would prioritize students while being “fiscally responsible.” Several candidates praised recent district communications (YouTube videos and a mailed booklet) explaining a capital project and its tax impacts. One candidate said she had voted to keep the district’s budget lower to limit tax increases. Candidates pointed to multiyear financial planning and seeking state matching funds as tools to reduce pressure on local taxpayers.

On communication, candidates recommended more proactive outreach—surveys, clearer summaries, regular school visits and use of the district’s website and YouTube channel—to get timely information to PTOs, families and staff. Multiple candidates said they would ask stakeholders what information they are missing and be more visible in the community.

In closing remarks, candidates reiterated core pledges: keep students first, support teachers and maintain transparency with taxpayers. Moderator Rachel Doss reminded viewers the forum was livestreamed and urged voters to consult forum materials and vote informed next Tuesday.

The forum produced no formal board actions; it was an informational event for voters ahead of the election.