2021-2022 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

May 2021 Maroon Monthly - Budget Edition

Meet the 2021-2022 School Board Candidates

Matteo Bartolotta  I have been a resident of Auburn for almost 20 years. My wife, Kristen, and I have four daughters, all of whom attended/attend the Auburn School District. Our oldest daughter will be graduating from Saint John Fisher College in May with a Masters degree in Library/Media Specialist. Our second oldest daughter is completing her senior year at Auburn High School and will be attending Mercyhurst University. Next Fall we will have a sophomore at the high school and an 8th grader attending the junior high. As a local businessman, for 27 years, a father of four, and the husband of an educator, I firmly believe I have a very unique perspective to offer the school board. I am running for a seat on the Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education because I have a vested interest in our school community as a whole. Providing equitable educational opportunities and making sound fiscal decisions will be my mission if elected on May 18th.

Rachel Cyzc  I am running for the AECSD Board of Education and seeking to keep the children at the focus of every Board decision. I am married and we have six children ranging from 9-19 years of age. In our home we have a diversity of cultural backgrounds which gives me a unique and fresh perspective. I spent the past 10 years advocating for kids in our district, navigating policies and procedures for children with unique learning challenges. I have a degree in education. I would like to see more transparency and accountability in how our budget and curriculum are best meeting the needs of our children. I am an advocate for school safety. I would like to help bridge the gap between life long educators and our community and support policies and procedures that open up communication within the district.

Nate Garland  Nate is a native of Cayuga County by birth and an Auburnian by choice.  After moving back to Cayuga County in 2012 to serve as an Assistant District Attorney, Nate and his wife Kristin were drawn to Auburn by its sense of community and relocated here in 2017 with son Atticus (11) and daughter Josephine (9).  As the Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Auburn, Nate advises municipal boards and the Auburn City Council on matters within their areas of governance.  If elected, Nate hopes to combine this expertise with his genuine drive to improve the school experience for students and teachers alike by lowering class sizes. 

Salvatore J. Giangreco  Sam, a lifelong resident of Auburn, is married to Sheila Rhodes Giangreco with 6 children, (Tracy Kulis, Carene Kulis, Susan Bray, Mandi Mehl, Heather Giangreco, Kevin Giangreco), 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He is currently a three-term incumbent seeking a 4^th term on the AECSD School Board, having also served 2 terms as Vice President. Sam presently chairs the Facilities Committee and is committed to seeing the Capital Project through its entirety. Sam chaired the City of Auburn Planning Board and was the longest serving city member of the Emerson Park Committee. He is a 4^th Degree member of Knights of Columbus and the former lead musician of the Blue Lights Band for over 35 years. Sam is a 1969 graduate of Mount Carmel and attended CCC majoring in liberal arts. Sam retired from AECSD after 35 years as a senior custodian/maintenance worker. He was employed by Seneca Cayuga ARC as a skills enhancement specialist III and Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES for 6 years as a job coach for the Community Experience Program and is currently a private care giver. Priorities: Provide tools and programs for every student to succeed in a safe and secure environment, hire dedicated teachers to provide the best education possible for all students, and advocate and encourage parents’ involvement in their students’ education.

Patrick Mahunik  I am a proud graduate of Auburn High School, and I reside in Auburn with my wife, Amy, and our five children. Our two oldest, Matthew and Patrick are Auburn graduates; and our three youngest, Connor, Ryan, and Emma are current students at AECSD. I hold a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education and a CAS in School Building and District Leadership. I have been an educator for 24 years. I have served as a middle school Social Studies teacher, and a school administrator.  I have worked collaboratively with teachers to create CNY’s first project-based learning school, Innovation Tech.  In my new role as Director of Secondary Education, I continue to work with teachers, staff, students and families to develop programs that ensure success for all students. I served as a County Legislator for 12 years.  I have served as Minority Leader, Chairman of several committees, Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the Legislature.  I have been involved in developing and overseeing budgets and regularly collaborated with local, state and federal officials. I have been the President and coach of Auburn CYO basketball; was a founding member of the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser, raising over $500,000 in 5 years; the Cayuga/Seneca Action Agency Programs; and the Cayuga Community College Board of Trustees. My experiences and public service provide me with the qualifications to confidently sit as a Board of Education member. I have a vested interest in the children of AECSD. I would be honored to sit in a seat that would allow me to support a well-rounded, quality education experience for all children.

Ian Phillips  I'm proud to be completing my first term as a Board member and thankful for the opportunity to continue to give back to this district for all it has afforded me. I've spent my professional life advocating for kids and schools. First, as a parent advocate in Philadelphia, then as a middle school teacher in Detroit, and currently with New York State United Teachers. I've been able to help create and lead our district Advocacy Committee which has put a spotlight on more than a decade of state underfunding. Thankfully this year, for the first year in many years, we are adding back programs for our students and adding back needed staff to bring our students up to speed from all they've missed over the last year.I'm running for school board because I want to support the learning of our students and innovative educators that support them along the way.

Kathleen Rhodes  Kathleen is a retired teacher and school administrator. She worked for the Cayuga Onondaga BOCES as a special education teacher for 18 years, the Union Springs School District for 2 years and 13 years for the Auburn Enlarged City School District as a teacher and administrator. She is a 1971 graduate of Auburn High School. She earned An Associates degree from Cayuga Community College, Bachelors of Science and Masters Degree in Education from Nazareth College and earned her Degree of Advanced Studies from SUNY Cortland. Kathleen is a life long resident of Auburn and has deep family ties to the community. She is married to Brent Rhodes and has 2 children, Andrew 36 and Katie 35, both graduates of Auburn High School. She has worked on the board for the past 9 years. She was a BOE vice president for 4 years and board president for 2 years.

Isabelle Wellaur  A resident of the Auburn School District for 15 years, I have been blessed with a wonderful husband, Michael, and together we are raising four incredible children, Lea (18) Chloë (14) Michael (12) and Tymere (2). I am a small business owner, offering yoga and deep tissue massage therapy. As a family, we are active in our schools, community and church. My eldest daughter has spent her senior year serving on the School Board as a student representative and walking alongside her during this experience has given me a window into the process and provided me with a tremendous appreciation of the many responsibilities of the board. I believe fresh perspectives and a strong voice offering solution oriented strategies would benefit our students and teachers. I see the value in prioritizing resources for the betterment of our children while being fiscally responsible to our district families. I feel my love for children, passion for public school education, desire to serve our community and commitment to strengthening the bridge between the board and the administration would be an asset to the Auburn BOE.