This year there are nine candidates running for three vacant seats on the Newburgh Enlarged City School District Board of Education.

Incumbents Dawn Fucheck and Edward Poppiti are running as well as Mark Levinstein, who ran in 2010; Stephen Bedetti, who ran in 2010; Eric Motley, who ran in 2010; and Robert McLymore, who ran in 2008.

Former school board member Thomas Woodhull is also running for election as is former administrator William Swart and former Central Compact Committee vice chairperson William Morgan.

Current school board member Stephen DeMarco is not seeking re-election.

The annual school budget vote and school board election will take place throughout the district on Tuesday, May 17.

Dawn Fucheck

Current school board President Dawn Fucheck has always believed that with the right attitude, you can achieve anything. It’s that outlook that the Newburgh resident and mother of four hopes will help earn her the chance to serve a third term on the Newburgh school board.

“When I first started I knew I wanted to put the children first and do whatever was in their best interest for success,” she said. “It’s easy to get frustrated if it doesn’t happen over night but with a little patience and time, I learned that you can really affect change.”

Fucheck’s involvement in education began years ago at the building level. Having served in various parent-teacher groups and compact committees, she went on to work closely with the district’s parent liaison on a program that encouraged parental involvement in education. She also sits on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Newburgh, the Newburgh Armory Unity Center and the New York State Association of Small City School Districts.

Now the current school board president, Fucheck says she is very proud of the work the board has done, particularly regarding the district’s long-term plans.

“As a board I think it’s critical that we address facility issues as well as education issues,” she said. “These kids are our futures and any improvements we make will not only benefit them but the entire community.”

Edward Poppiti

Edward Poppiti, a New Windsor resident, is seeking his third term on the Newburgh school board because he feels he has some unfinished business. The current vice president – who is also involved in the school district’s finance, personnel and policy committees – also says he truly enjoys what he’s been doing and that the school board works well together.

“We work hard but it’s a good feeling knowing that we’re doing things to improve the future of this area,” said the Bronx native. “We’re all there for the common good; there are no personal agendas.”

While he says he is proud of the reconfiguration plan that has been carried out over the past few years, Poppiti admits that many challenges have arisen due to the current financial status of the state.

“We expected to have all the resources in place to address what we needed to address but we’ve been thrown a curveball,” he said. “Now we have to try to do more with less; it’s scary.”

Still, the freelance mortgage originator remains optimistic that the district is taking the necessary steps toward triggering academic growth and improvement.

“There are plans in place to make positive things happen,” he said.

Mark Levinstein

Having lived in the City of Newburgh and the Town of Newburgh for 20 years each, Mark Levinstein is certainly no stranger to the Newburgh Enlarged City School District.

“I’ve been involved and I know what’s going on,” said Levinstein, a married, father of four who failed to secure a school board seat when he first ran last year. “I think the school board is on the right track with a lot of things and I’d like to try to help continue that progress.”

Levinstein, who is the owner of a local wholesale business, says a few of the issues that have raised concerns for him are inequality in district schools and poor communication.

“I think that a lot of times parents, employees and community members don’t really know what the district’s plans and objectives are,” he said. “The school board would have so much more support if they allowed a more open flow of communication.”

Having attended many of the public meetings over the past few years, Levinstein says he knows the time and commitment that is involved with serving on the school board.

Stephen Bedetti

Stephen Bedetti thinks that the Newburgh Enlarged City School District is in need of a change. That’s why, after an unsuccessful campaign last year, the lifelong Town of New Windsor resident has decided to run for a seat on the school board once again.

“I’m the type of person that when I see something I don’t like, I try to do something about it instead of just complaining,” said Bedetti, explaining that the issues he is most concerned about is quality of education and the way public schools are funded.

“Two visions that I have is to improve education and safety for all students,” he said. “I also would like to see an alternative to funding education through property taxes. I feel that method is outdated.”

Bedetti is currently employed as a communications supervisor for the New Windsor Police Department. He also works as a police officer in the Town of Cornwall, serves as president of the Civil Service Employees Association in New Windsor and is the current fire company president of the Vails Gate Fire Department.

He and his wife Amy have one daughter who is a senior at Newburgh Free Academy.

Eric Motley

City of Newburgh resident Eric Motley may have ran unsuccessfully last year but he says his reason for seeking election to the Newburgh school board once again is simple.

“I think we need some changes,” said the Harlem native who is married with five children. “More policies need to be in place to help our kids receive a better education.”

As the leader of a local after-school program called The Lighthouse, Motley says he has seen firsthand what students need to be successful. Parents need to take a more active role in their children’s education, principals need to become instructional leaders rather than building managers and a zero-tolerance policy needs to be in place when it comes to discipline, he said.

“We also need to make sure quality teachers are in place,” he said. “We can’t afford to lose our teachers or teacher aids.”

If elected to the school board, Motley said he would like to explore other avenues for raising funds for the district, compare other districts in the area to see what’s making them successful and make sure that student athletes are doing well academically.

Robert McLymore

Robert McLymore may have run unsuccessfully back in 2008, but this year he is hoping for the chance to give back to the community he grew up in by earning a seat on the Newburgh school board.

A Newburgh Free Academy graduate, McLymore went on to work as both a school security officer and buildings and grounds employee before becoming a detective for the Town of Wallkill Police Department. Now, the married father of three is hoping for the opportunity to bring new, innovative ideas to the Board of Education.

“I have a vested interest in the Newburgh school system,” he said. “I am a product of the Newburgh school system. I want to make sure it’s being run well and by the right people.”

An involved member of his church and community, McLymore says he wants to make sure that each child receives a quality education by creating a safe atmosphere that is conducive for both teachers and students.

“I’d like to establish a solid relationship between staff members and the board in order to make sure any issues or concerns are addressed immediately,” he said.

Thomas Woodhull

Born and raised in the City of Newburgh, Thomas Woodhull has previously spent nine years on the Board of Education. He lost his campaign for re-election last year but because he says he genuinely missed his time on the board, he decided to give it another try.

“Over the years I’ve accumulated a huge amount of experience,” said Woodhull, a NFA graduate and retired IBM employee. “The City of Newburgh is in trouble financially and I want to help make sure we can get the best education we can for our money.”

Married with two grown children, Woodhull has been involved in many organizations including the New Windsor – Cornwall Rotary Club, the school district’s Health and Safety Committee and the New York Association of Small City School Districts.

The current treasurer of a new food distribution program called Abraham’s Table says he is proud of what he has been able to accomplish during his time on the school board; including helping to keep budget increases low while maintaining high academic standards, working with community partners to make sure schools are safe and defending the district’s pre-kindergarten program.

William Swart

For William Swart, a retired school administrator with nearly 30 years experience working as a teacher and assistant superintendent for the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, running for a seat on the Board of Education is the perfect way to get back into the field he loves.

“I enjoyed working in the school district and I believe I have the experience necessary to make a valuable contribution to the school board,” said Swart, a Town of Newburgh resident who, together with his wife Eileen, has raised two Newburgh Free Academy graduates.

In addition to his experience, Swart – who has a long history of community service and currently sits on the Board of Trustees for Saint Mary’s Church – says he is diligent, responsible and committed to learning more about the current issues plaguing the school district; including the budget, student attendance and test scores.

William Morgan

William Morgan is a product of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District and now he is running for a seat on the school board as a way to give back to his local community.

“Kids are our future,” he said. “I figured the best community service I could do would be to volunteer my time as a school board member.

Morgan has lived in the Town of New Windsor since 1987 and he and his wife Madeline have a 7-month-old son. The former vice president of Newburgh’s Central Compact Committee holds a business degree from Mount Saint Mary College and he is heavily involved in Saint Francis Church. As a retired pre-kindergarten registration specialist for the school district, Morgan says he gained valuable experience while having the opportunity to meet local families and see students in action.

By JESSICA McALEESE
jmcaleese@tcnewspapers.com