Seven vie for three seats on Mahopac School Board

In addition to deciding whether to approve the school district’s $148 million 2026–27 budget (which comes with a flat tax levy but dips into reserve funds) and five additional propositions related to buses and facilities, Mahopac Central School District voters have a large field to choose from for the school board on Election Day, May 19.

Read more: Mahopac CSD offers budget with 0% tax hike

Seven candidates are on the ballot: In alphabetical order, they include Joseph Catalli, Lindsay DiCerbo, Jaime Dickson, Evan Yi-Win Fu, Michael Mongon (the only incumbent running), Adam Savino and Alana Sweeny.

We sent each candidate the same set of questions and asked them for written responses within a relatively tight word count. All seven met our deadline and stayed under our word limit.

There will be a Meet the Candidates event on Thursday (May 7) at 5:30 p.m. at Mahopac High School.

Here are the candidates, presented in alphabetical order.

Joseph Catalli

Joseph Catalli, a lifelong Mahopac resident and graduate of the Mahopac High School Class of 1998, seeks a seat on the board, citing both his personal ties to the community and decades of financial experience. 

Catalli, a certified public accountant with more than 23 years in the field, is also the parent of two children currently enrolled in Mahopac schools, in fourth and sixth grade. His involvement in the district extends beyond his household: he has served as treasurer of the Lakeview Elementary School PTO for more than five years and is active as a youth soccer and basketball coach. 

“I decided to run for the school board because this community has given so much to me and my family,” Catalli said, adding that his perspective as both a graduate and a parent has deepened his investment in the district’s future. 

He pointed to his professional and volunteer background as preparation for the role, emphasizing the importance of “strong leadership, fiscal responsibility, and community engagement.” Catalli said he feels “a responsibility to step up, give back, and help guide our schools with a focus on students, strong academics, and responsible budgeting.” 

If elected, Catalli said his priorities would include maintaining academic standards, supporting teachers, and ensuring school safety. He also stressed the need for careful financial management. 

“I will work to ensure responsible budgeting that respects taxpayers, and I will remain committed to keeping our schools safe—so every student feels secure, supported, and ready to learn,” he said. 

Catalli described his candidacy as grounded in both experience and community connection. 

“I bring a unique combination of experience, commitment, and perspective,” he said, pointing to his background as a CPA, his role as a parent, and his years of involvement in school activities. 

“I understand our community, I am involved in our schools, and I will always put students, families, and taxpayers first,” he added. 

Lindsay DiCerbo

Lindsay DiCerbo, a Mahopac resident for the past 12 years, brings two decades of experience in education and active involvement in the local community to her candidacy. 

DiCerbo is the parent of two children who attend Lakeview Elementary School and has spent 20 years working as both a general and special education teacher with the New York City Department of Education, serving students in Manhattan and the Bronx. Over the course of her career, she has taught kindergarten through eighth grade, served on the Committee on Special Education, and currently teaches an advanced U.S. history Regents course to students with diverse needs. 

Her involvement in Mahopac extends beyond the classroom. DiCerbo is an active member of the Lakeview PTO, where she has volunteered and chaired school events. She has also served as a Girl Scout leader and a coach with the Mahopac Sports Association for the past four years, most recently helping oversee its in-house basketball program while coaching both in-house and travel teams. 

DiCerbo said she is seeking a position on the board because of the perspective she can offer through both her professional and community experience. 

“I believe my professional experience in education and my deep involvement in the community provide a valuable perspective for our district,” she said, adding that she hopes to help strengthen collaboration and communication within the board and across the community. 

“I believe it is essential to refocus our efforts on supporting students and families while working together transparently and effectively,” DiCerbo said. 

If elected, she said her priorities would include strengthening curriculum and promoting stability within the district by reducing staff turnover.

“Supporting and retaining high-quality educators is essential to maintaining strong academic programs and ensuring consistent, effective services for all students,” she said. 

DiCerbo also emphasized the importance of collaboration between the board, district leadership, and teachers, including expanding professional development opportunities and encouraging “open, constructive communication across all levels of the school community.” 

On the financial side, she called for a long-term, thoughtful approach to budgeting. While acknowledging the appeal of a zero-percent tax levy, she expressed concern about relying on reserve funds to meet ongoing needs, saying decisions made today must protect the district’s future. 

DiCerbo said her overall approach would center on students and families. 

 “My focus is on education, not politics,” she said, adding that schools are strongest when the community works together “with respect, transparency, and shared purpose.” 

“Our community has always taken pride in supporting its schools,” she added. “By fostering collaboration and focusing on what unites us—providing the best possible opportunities for our children—we can continue to move forward in a positive and productive way. I am dedicated to being a thoughtful, steady voice in that effort.”

Jaime Dickson 

Jaime Dickson, a Mahopac resident since 2014 and a mother of two young children in the district, points to her personal connection to the schools and professional background in finance as central to her candidacy. 

Dickson’s son is a first-grade student at Lakeview Elementary School, while her daughter is enrolled in the district’s universal prekindergarten program (UPK). 

“Like many families in our community, my connection to the district is personal and rooted in my children’s daily experiences,” she said. 

Her involvement extends beyond the classroom. Dickson said her children participate in Mahopac Sports Association programs, and she coaches her daughter’s cheer team, experiences she said have helped her build relationships with other local families and stay engaged in the community. 

A graduate of Brewster High School, Dickson earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Manhattan College and works as a professional liability underwriter specializing in architects and engineers. In that role, she focuses on “risk assessment, accountability, and responsible decision-making,” skills she said would translate to school board service. 

“As a parent, I see firsthand how decisions made by the Board of Education impact students, families, and the direction of the district,” Dickson said. “I decided to run because I have a personal investment in our schools and a strong desire to ensure they remain focused on what matters most—providing a safe, high-quality education for our children.” 

She said she believes the district should reflect community values, including “academic excellence, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and respect for parents,” and emphasized the importance of student mental health. Dickson described that issue as deeply personal, noting that she lost her father to suicide, an experience that has shaped her views on “support, awareness, and early intervention.” 

“That perspective reinforces for me how critical it is that students have access to strong support systems,” she said, adding that schools must ensure students feel safe and supported, particularly in an era where online interactions and social media can affect well-being. 

Dickson said her top priority would be “putting children first in every decision the district makes,” including maintaining strong academics, ensuring a safe environment, and providing the support students need both inside and outside the classroom. She also stressed the importance of careful financial management, saying she supports “managing the budget wisely while maintaining high-quality programs and opportunities for students.” 

She called for continued focus on academic achievement, along with increased transparency and open communication between the board, administration, and families.

“Every decision should reflect what is best for students while remaining accountable to the community,” she said. 

Dickson described her candidacy as grounded in both her role as a parent and her professional experience.

“As both a parent and a finance professional, I bring a balanced perspective that values strong schools and responsible budgeting,” she said. “I am committed to listening to the community, asking thoughtful questions, and making informed decisions. Every decision I make will come back to one simple principle: what is best for our children.” 

Evan Yi-Win Fu

Evan Yi-Win Fu’s approach to answering Halston Media’s questions differed from that of the six other candidates in a way that can only be reflected by showing as much of his written statement in its original form as possible. The quotes below appear with minimal editing outside of punctuation and words inserted [in brackets] for readability. Since he sent his responses as one long paragraph, we offered Fu a chance to address the questions more directly and share more of his background.

“I think this make my intention very clear,” he said about revising his answers. As for qualifications, he declined to elaborate “since I do not really have a career either probably because my life is still kind of early.”

Fu, who is just 18 years old and left Mahopac schools to earn his GED, said he decided to run for school board “even though in reality a trustee position is not worthy to be still decide to run, this town already have been here 18 years and now the basic chains are broken.”

“At least there will be no one see me as minor,” he said. “You do not have any right kind of thought in people. Since the basic chains are broken I decided to run but actually already have thought the beginning of last year ever since when me and my family been oppressed by the modern not-so-kind system, falsely reporting, lousy court cases, lousy confiscations and not willing to return if does not apply or do a lawsuit.” 

Fu, not added that some of his experiences have been difficult. 

“And the really held accountable is three people: me, a lousy school psychologist, and a fake nice assistant principal,” he wrote. “Really the others like judges and my family members are victims by the oppressing puppets. What I have seen is that society is no longer what it once was, toleration and freedom of ideals and speech are already lost, if someone disagrees they will attempt to fake agree and do opposite actions that are not so kind.

“Of course it is okay to disagree but still need to remain individual freedom of ideals not even censoring one’s ideals and attempt to forcefully eliminate those ideals by what some people say are mental health issues, but in reality there is no issue at all,” he added. 

Asked about the budget and taxation, he connected school taxes with an effort to limit freedom.

“Now school taxes are high and assessment value is increasing even tax levy cannot stop this—mainly now school taxes become a safeguard to let a certain group censor freedom of ideals.”

He said the priority for trustees should be to “[protect] freedom of ideals and speech [and to] separate school taxes from property assessment value, limit contracts, end district legal expenses, [foster] toleration, find volunteers or persons that want less compensation (administrators), end mandatory academic and curriculum, and [reject] mandates that disrupt individuality and character.

“This will be best for a trustee to remember their purpose,” he added. 

As for evaluating specific decisions made by the board and administration, he said he didn’t consider himself a “policy person” because “making too many policies under one's group such as the Board of Education may make policies that are too stubborn [and] sometime will end up following oppressive policies.”

Ultimately, he said he launched his candidacy to make a point.

“I know the chances of me getting elected are low but that is not really the purpose,” he concluded. “Simply [it] is [to] remind that toleration and freedom is vanishing and if not careful will lose forever in United States of America Mahopac. Hopefully the person that read this message will take on the mission in securing freedom of ideals and speech whether it is a board trustee or someone else.”

Mike Mongon 

Incumbent Mike Mongon, a lifelong Mahopac resident and graduate of Mahopac High School’s Class of 1979, is seeking another term on the Board of Education, emphasizing experience, stability, and a deep personal connection to the district. 

Mongon said his ties to the community span decades, from his own time in Mahopac schools to raising a family in the district. 

“Quite simply, my heart and soul are in this district,” he said. 

Mongon said that his professional background is grounded in leadership and decision-making, with a focus on evaluating priorities and managing resources.

“Those experiences have shaped my approach: stay focused on the facts, be fiscally responsible, and always do what is right, even when it’s not easy,” he said. 

Mongon said he initially sought a seat on the board out of a commitment to the community and its schools, adding that “strong schools are the foundation of a strong community.” He said his approach to board service centers on “steady, focused leadership that puts students first, respects taxpayers, and operates with transparency and accountability.” 

Among his priorities, Mongon pointed first to student-centered decision-making, including maintaining strong academics, extracurricular programs, and a safe, positive learning environment. He also called for expanded hands-on learning opportunities to better prepare students for life after graduation. 

In addition, Mongon said he supports a more balanced approach to technology in the classroom. While tools such as Chromebooks and iPads play an important role, he said the district should work to “reduce over-dependence and ensure they enhance, not replace, meaningful learning.” He also highlighted the importance of expanding sensory opportunities to better support students with a range of learning and developmental needs. 

Fiscal responsibility remains another key focus, he said, emphasizing the need to be “good stewards of taxpayer dollars” while continuing to invest in student programs and long-term district success. Mongon also stressed the importance of accountability and communication, saying the community should feel “informed, respected, and confident in the decisions being made.” 

Looking ahead, Mongon said he would like to see continued emphasis on long-term planning, both academically and financially, while building on what he described as the district’s existing strengths, including dedicated staff and strong programs. At the same time, he said there is room to improve communication and community engagement, as well as ensuring discussions remain productive and focused on students. 

He also called for a renewed focus on “process, clarity, and consistency” in decision-making, adding that important decisions should be made transparently and with a clear focus on what is best for students and the district overall. 

“Mahopac is not just where I live—it’s where I grew up, where I’ve built my life, and where I remain deeply invested,” Mongon said. “I am committed to working hard to ensure our schools stay strong, our students are prepared for the future, and our community continues to be something we are all proud of.” 

Adam Savino 

Adam Savino, a former school board member, is seeking another go-round as a trustee, pointing to his prior experience in district leadership and decades of service in the community. 

A Mahopac resident for 32 years, Savino said the school district has long been central to his life. He and his wife, Claudia, are raising two children who attend Mahopac High School.

“Mahopac is home,” he said, noting that his own experience in the schools helped shape his decision to remain in the community and raise his family there. 

Savino previously served six years on the board, including terms as both president and vice president. His involvement in the district began earlier, with three years as PTO president at Lakeview Elementary School. Beyond the schools, he has spent more than 30 years as a volunteer firefighter, including leadership roles as a chief officer and fire commissioner, and two years as chairman. 

Professionally, Savino has worked in telecommunications for more than three decades and currently serves as a technical operations supervisor and project manager. He said his career and public service have been rooted in “leadership, accountability, and results.” 

“Service has always been at the center of my work—whether in my career, the fire department, or our schools,” Savino said, adding that he has remained active in the district because he believes leadership requires “showing up, listening, and taking responsibility.” 

He said his decision to run again is driven by what he sees as ongoing needs within the district.

“There is still important work ahead,” Savino said. “Our district needs steady, experienced leadership focused on results, collaboration, and earning trust.” 

Savino said his approach to school board service emphasizes thoughtful decision-making.

“Good decisions come from asking the right questions, listening to different perspectives, and following through,” he said. 

Among his priorities, Savino cited putting students first, maintaining safe and stable schools, operating with transparency, and ensuring fiscal responsibility. He also pointed to the need to continue modernizing aging facilities and maintaining a focus on both physical and emotional school safety. 

Savino said he would advocate against unfunded mandates, including the state’s electric bus requirement, which he said could place additional burdens on taxpayers while impacting transportation services. 

He also highlighted the importance of stability within the district and said he looks forward to working with the new superintendent. In the classroom, Savino said he would focus on ensuring students feel “supported, challenged, and prepared for life beyond graduation,” including expanding opportunities, strengthening special education programs, and aligning curriculum with real-world readiness. 

Savino described himself as an independent, nonpartisan candidate and said school board decisions should remain focused on students rather than political considerations.

“Clear, honest communication is essential to building trust and moving our district forward,” he said. “As a parent, longtime resident, and former board member, I am deeply invested in Mahopac’s future. I will continue to lead with integrity, listen to our community, and stay focused on results that benefit all students.” 

Alana Sweeny 

Alana Sweeny, a Mahopac homeowner of more than four decades, is seeking a seat on the board and points to a long career in education policy, nonprofit leadership, and public service. 

Sweeny holds a bachelor’s degree in child studies and a master’s degree in learning and behavioral disabilities and is a certified school administrator and supervisor. She also completed doctoral coursework in curriculum development.

“Education is a thread that has run through my entire career,” she said, noting that her work has influenced policy “at the local, state, and national levels.” 

Her experience includes serving as executive director of a state agency, where she coordinated policy, regulation, and budget priorities across 13 education, health, and human services agencies. In that role, she said, she secured significant savings for the Mahopac School District, including “$104,000 a year on transportation costs alone, for one child.” 

Sweeny has also worked closely with state leadership, co-chairing task forces with the New York State Commissioner of Education on issues including school/community collaboration, family literacy, and school violence prevention. She served on multiple Regents subcommittees and on the Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, contributing to initiatives such as Children’s Centers in the Courts and early childhood development strategies. Following the Sept. 11 attacks, she collaborated with state mental health officials to develop guidance for parents. 

Her nonprofit leadership includes serving as executive director of the Police Athletic League, overseeing a $25 million budget and programs serving 45,000 children, and later as president and CEO of the United Way of Westchester and Putnam. There, she helped develop an ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained/Employed) data report and brought literacy and professional support programs to schools. “Children [were able] to achieve more than a year’s progress in reading in a year,” she said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she also worked with the New York State PTA to provide online tools to help parents support their children’s reading. 

Sweeny said she is running for the board because of her understanding of community needs and her commitment to educational opportunities. 

“I have a passion for educational excellence and opportunity for our students,” she said, adding that her experience allows her to “use data to target efforts” and manage priorities while remaining “fiscally prudent.” 

She emphasized concern over the local tax burden, saying residents “are drowning in school taxes and need relief without compromising educational goals and student success.”

She also highlighted her experience analyzing budgets to identify savings and stressed the importance of maintaining clear roles between the board and district administration. 

Among her priorities, Sweeny pointed to expanding opportunities for student debate and critical thinking, improving building maintenance, and strengthening collaboration between the district and the broader community. She also raised concerns about past curriculum purchases made without sufficient research into effectiveness, leading to added costs. 

“The Mahopac schools are good but have the potential to once again be an exceptional district against which other districts benchmark their success,” she said. “I believe that I have the background and experience to move that needle."