Chester School Board snubs Luciana for BOCES nomination

Chester — Mary Luciana will run for a seat on the Orange Ulster Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) Board of Education, no thanks to her own colleagues on the Chester school board. Potential candidates write letters of introduction to all of the school boards in the county, who will eventually vote for the BOCES board. This year, four hopefuls — incumbents Dorothy Slattery of Florida and William M. Boss of Greenwood Lake, along with Ginny Esposito of Pine Bush and Luciana — are competing for three open seats. Chester’s Ann M. Boegert is not seeking reelection after 12 years on the BOCES board. In order to get onto the ballot, at least one school district in the BOCES area must nominate a candidate. Districts may nominate any number of those seeking to be on the ballot. Last week, the Chester school board nominated three of the four potential candidates, all of whom had written seeking nominations from each board in the Orange Ulster BOCES district. The Chester board gave the thumbs up to incumbents Dorothy Slattery of Florida and William M. Boss of Greenwood Lake, and newcomer Ginny Esposito of Pine Bush. They voted 3 to 2 against giving their colleague Luciana a shot at being on the ballot. John Pasichnyk, president of the Chester board, said voting against Luciana’s nomination was nothing personal. He just nominated those he felt could do the best job. “I like the job the incumbents have done,” said Pasichnyk, who said he does indeed know the other three candidates. “I looked at the qualifications of all four and chose based on their qualifications and knowing these folks. They are the three best-suited.” Pasichnyk also said he wasn’t sure you could nominate four when only three seats were available. “It makes no sense to nominate four when only three seats are open,” he said. Besides, Pasichnyk added, other districts did nominate Luciana already. Districts may nominate any number of candidates who are seeking to get on the ballot, according to the BOCES Board of Education clerk, Karen McGuckin. The district isn’t actually casting its vote by nominating them. It simply allows them on the ballot, like any other election, giving voters a choice. After the ballot is set, each district will cast one collective vote for each of those three seats on BOCES election day, April 26. Luciana herself said she is not totally surprised or disappointed in her board’s action. But she does not believe it wasn't personal. “It is so personal,” said Luciana, who has 12 years of school board experience in Chester. “Part of it will always be personal, but this is ridiculous. It has been, from day one, an anti-former board agenda. It has been a tough year. I thought they might not nominate me. But Mr. Pasichnyk should know this is like signing a petition. You can sign as many petitions as you want.” Luciana said she is not disappointed because of the past eight and a half months she has served on this particular board. “If it had been a board I had worked well with, then, yes, I would be disappointed and surprised," she said. "After the last meeting, I almost expected this.” Luciana was referring to the meeting on Feb. 28, when Donato questioned Luciana’s honesty after her letter of intent was read aloud. Some took it as a personal attack on Luciana, and one resident in attendance wrote a letter to The Chronicle blasting Donato for her behavior. Luciana resubmitted her letter, with few changes, which was read at this last meeting. Luciana said Donato’s interpretation of her letter was incorrect, and that the facts were indeed the facts. There has been a definite split on the Chester school board since last year when Pasichnyk, Joan Donato, and Judi Burger, who ran together, won their seats on the board, joining Luciana. A fourth new member, William DeVoe, also won, giving Chester a brand-new school board, with only Luciana having any board experience. Pasichnyk was elected president at the reorganization meeting. The tension at many meetings is palpable, although Pasichnyk said last week that the board members do get along sometimes. There are 38 BOCES campuses in New York State. The BOCES system was created in 1948 by the state legislature as a partnership with local school districts and the state education department. BOCES serves the needs of its component districts and the commissioner of education. The Orange-Ulster BOCES has 17 component districts. Its board has seven members, who each serve three-year terms. A component school district may have only one board member on the board at one time. Currently, the members are from Goshen, Minisink, Monroe-Woodbury, and Port Jervis. How will this situation affect Luciana’s chances of being elected to the BOCES board? Luciana said she is not sure, but added that the situation on the Chester board is known throughout the county. “I don’t think it will affect how boards vote,” she said. “I have been very active and well-known around the county. My biggest concern is that we are here to do what is best for the kids of our district. I believe the wheels have turned and turned and we haven’t done much.”