Candidates at Grand Island school board forum stress mental‑health services, fiscal oversight and push back on electric‑bus mandate

At a meet‑the‑candidates event hosted by the Grand Island Council of PTAs, four candidates seeking election to the Grand Island Central School District Board of Education described their priorities and urged residents to vote on May 19.

The forum opened with hosts Ally Leenzik and Melissa Nestlebec explaining the format and ballot order before students led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The themes that dominated the evening were fiscal oversight, student mental‑health services and skepticism about a state mandate requiring all‑electric school buses. Jim Madigan told the audience he is running to inject “new blood” and to stop what he called wasteful capital spending: “The status quo just doesn't dominate thinking here. It has squaltched any contrary opinions from surfacing,” he said, and warned the electric‑bus mandate could “heavily … impact their property taxes.”

Several candidates echoed concerns about trust, transparency and fiscal discipline. One candidate, who identified prior service as a town councilman, said a 75% rejection of a recent referendum showed voters want a reset: voters “rejected a major referendum” and the district must “reset priorities and rebuild trust,” that candidate said.

The incumbent candidate highlighted the board’s record over more than a decade: hiring a new superintendent, establishing a family resource center, curricular alignment between elementary schools, and a rise in the graduation rate. The incumbent said the district had increased its graduation rate from about 87% in 2015–16 to 95.7% in 2025 and pointed to ongoing work on a five‑year strategic plan.

Student mental‑health services drew sustained attention. Sue Marston said the district currently serves about 70 students in‑house for mental‑health needs and that in‑district social workers, counselors and psychologists are at maximum caseloads. She described district efforts including youth mental health first‑aid training and said officials are working with a financial adviser to scope a capital proposal that aims to be tax neutral or have little effect on taxpayers.

Several candidates called for clearer, year‑round budgeting and performance tracking rather than compressing budget review into the weeks before the budget vote. One candidate described a department‑by‑department review and more transparent presentations so taxpayers can “see what we are doing with this money.”

The all‑electric school bus mandate from Albany prompted strong pushback. Multiple candidates said the state timeline and lack of clear funding make implementation impractical; one speaker described district leaders’ efforts with the Erie Niagara Superintendents Association to seek flexibility and an extended timeline. Mr. Madigan expressed safety and winter‑operation concerns about electric buses and said the district should more actively oppose state mandates he views as infeasible.

Candidates also discussed priorities such as increasing inclusion in schools, expanding mental‑health supports and promoting vocational and technical pathways so students have multiple post‑graduation options. One candidate, a former teacher and current parent, emphasized grounding decisions in classroom experience and helping both high‑performing and struggling students.

The forum closed with candidates thanking attendees and organizers and the hosts reminding voters to cast ballots on May 19 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Grand Island High School gymnasium.

No formal motions or votes took place during the forum.