New faces challenge school board incumbents

The ballots have been set for the 2007 school board elections, with opposition in all three Amherst school districts.

Amherst Central

School District

In the Amherst Central School District, incumbent Laura Meyers Rogerson and non-incumbents Jo Ette Mosey-Zaccagnino and Illana Lane are vying for two board seats. Board member David J. Dengler is not seeking reelection.

Meyers-Rogerson is chief executive officer of a large not-for-profit organization. She holds a Ph.D. in social foundations of education and a master's degree in counseling and student personnel.

Mosey-Zaccagnino is a graduate of Amherst High who received bachelor's degrees in marketing and economics. She works in her family's real estate and investment business. She has also been a high school and middle school PTSA co-president and has served on the Windermere Leadership Team.

Lane received a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University, and a master's in education and Ph.D in social foundations of education both from UB. She holds many distinctions at Medaille College including assistant professor, program director for the Teacher Education Preparation program and program administrator for the School of Education.

She has been involved with the Windermere Leadership Team for the past two years and has worked with the Windermere PTA.

Sweet Home Central

School District

Four candidates have filed for three seats on the Sweet Home Central School Board.

Deborah Adams, Douglas Galli, Marianne Jasen and Scott Johnson will each be seeking election on May 15.

Adams and Jasen are new candidates for the board. Galli, an incumbent, is seeking reelection to a full five-year term.

Johnson was appointed last year by the board to fill the unexpired term of former board member Heidi Dizer.

Michael Morrow is not seeking reelection.

The two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected to the five-year terms. The third-place candidate will complete the final year of the unexpired term.

Williamsville Central

School District

Two incumbents have filed for reelection. In addition to those two seats, the seat held by Dr. Khalid Qazi, who is not seeking reelection, will be available.

Current board president Ramona Popowich is seeking her third term. She has also served as board vice president. Incumbent Carolyn Giambra is seeking her second term on the school board.

Two first-time candidates are seeking seats. Dawn Cerra and Carrie Kahn.

Kahn, executive dean of workforce development for Erie Community College, said her professional experience and investment in the district are great resources. Her son is a student in the district.

She is also a national speaker on workforce development and education, targeting students, faculty, administration and community college trustees.

Cerra is involved in the Parent Teachers Association, as well as the Parent Teachers Student Association. Her children, middle school students, are involved in many acitivites including the Amherst Skating Club and Boy Scouts.

Her decision to run for school board was about timing.

"I thought it was time for me to take a step. With Dr. Qazi retiring, I had watched him for several years, and admired him, and thought I would try to fill his shoes, although they are very big shoes to fill," she said.

This year's election, for all three districts, will be held on May 15. Polling hours will be announced closer to the election.