Somers Board of Education Election Guide

SOMERS, N.Y. - On May 20, voters in the Somers Central School District will head to the polls, tasked with approving the 2025-26 budget, a $63.9 million capital project, and filling three seats on the Board of Education.

The proposed budget of $113,477,113 is $2,666,382 higher than the current $110,810,731 spending plan, representing a 2.41 percent increase.

“Proposition 2” covers the proposed capital project, which encompasses infrastructure upgrades including paving, HVAC/electrical/water systems, roofing, STEM labs, athletic field lighting, and repairs to classrooms and auditoriums.

A crowded field will see seven candidates vying for three seats on the Board of Education. Seeking three-year terms are incumbents Ifay Chang, Amanda Kandel, and Chadwick Olsen alongside newcomers Rosalind Gallino, Michael Rinaldi, Michael Ritacco, and Joe Vala.

Ahead of the election, The Somers Record offered the candidates a chance to address voters and explain, in their own words, their qualifications and what they see as the most important issues facing the school district. (Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.)

Ifay Chang

Please list your career and educational accomplishments.

BSEE National Cheng Kung University

MSEE and PhD University of Rhode Island

NATO Graduate School (Freiburg University, Germany)

Fellow, Francis Darne Award Recepient, Society for Information Display and Served as the President of the Society for Information Display

Numerous Publications and Patents in several scientific and technology domains

Assistant Professor, Syracuse University

Engineer, IBM Components Division, Fishkill, NY

Scientist, IBM TJ Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY, Twelve Invention Awards, 31 years of research career

Consultant to IBM Office Products Division (Texas), Promoter of Personal Workstation before PC time

Adjunct Professor, EE Department University of Texas, Austin

Creator of IBM Computerized Medical Records System Applied to Kaiser Permanente

Research Director of Institute of Systems Science, Singapore University, Singapore National IT2000 Program 1985-1988 On Leave from IBM, Creator of Internet Public Information System (IPIS)

Professor (CS&EE), Dean (Westchester Graduate School) and Director of PRIDE (Entrepreneur Research Institute) of Polytechnic University, Creator of first internet platform for online interactive teaching system (I-Care4Learning) and first intelligent medical search engine (MWSearch)

President of TLC Information Services and IPO2U.COM (Internet Technology Companies)

Columnist for bilingual newspaper syndicate, US-ChinaForum.org and .com (2014 - present)

Writer, published eight books on international relations (2015-2022) and a children book – Two Lovely Space Stories

Public TV learning game show host (Scrammble Games, Dr. Wordman Show)

Chinese language teacher, Northern Westchester Chinese School

Learning game volunteer extra-curriculum teacher, Somers Intermediate School

What other leadership positions have you held locally?

Somers School Board (2007 – present)

Director, Northern Westchester and Putnam Teacher Center Policy Board (2008- present)

Director, Westchester Putnam School Board Association, (WPSBA) three years          

Former President, Somers Republican Club

What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education?

The biggest long-term issue is the expenditure per student, which reflects the efficiency of the school administration and fulfillment of educational goals in a comparative sense. Somers has an over $45-$46,000 per student, per year expense, which is higher than even Chappaqua. The board needs to manage that to fit the community's financial and educational expectations.

Rosalind Gallino

Please list your career and educational accomplishments.

As a proud graduate of Somers High School, I bring a lifelong commitment to education, service, and community. I hold a B.A. in European History and Political Science with a minor in Economics from Barnard College, Columbia University, and an M.A. in Special Education (Grades 7–12) from Grand Canyon University. As a career educator, I have taught in diverse academic environments—public, charter, Catholic, and special education—at both the middle and high school levels. I’ve also served as a Special Education Coordinator and led social-emotional learning programs to support student well-being.

What other leadership positions have you held locally?

My dedication to Somers schools extends to volunteering at numerous levels. I have held leadership roles as PTA President at Primrose, SIS, and SMS, and currently serve as Class Parent for the Class of 2028, Co-President of the PTA Council, and President of the Somers Education Foundation (SEF), where I previously chaired the grant committee. I’ve collaborated closely with teachers and administrators, helping lead impactful events like Holiday Happiness, the SIS Birthday Party, Science Night, and SMS Socials following the pandemic. My work chairing grants has deepened my understanding of the financial needs of educators and the importance of strategic, student-focused funding.

What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education?

With our district entering a new era under the leadership of a qualified superintendent, we have an opportunity to build stronger partnerships between schools and the community. I am committed to ensuring fiscal responsibility, academic excellence, and meaningful support for every student—whether through academics, the arts, athletics, or emotional development. As a parent, educator, and volunteer, I bring a multi-faceted perspective to decision-making. I believe in reflective listening, inclusive dialogue, and thoughtful leadership that keeps students at the heart of every conversation.

Amanda Kandel

Please list your career and educational accomplishments.

PACE University Elisabeth Haub School of Law; J.D. May 2002 cum laude, (Top 7%)
Honors: Ranking Scholar; Dean’s List; Federal Judicial Extern Honors Program; Pace University School of Law Merit Scholarship; Pace Environmental Law Review Articles Editor
The George Washington University; Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, May 1999
I worked as a litigator in the city and White Plains focusing on land use, planning, zoning and municipal law. I stopped practicing in 2011 to stay home with my triplet boys. While I do not currently practice, I maintain my law license.

What other leadership positions have you held locally?

Elected to the Somers Board of Education in 2022 and finishing my first term.  One year as the Vice-President, and this year I am the Board of Education President.  For the past three years I have been on the Citizens Finance Committee, the Communications Committee and liaison for the Westchester Putnam School Board Association and this year led the Superintendent Search.

Member and Officer of the Somers Special Education PTA. I spent five years as treasurer (I am the current Treasurer), one year as Vice-President and three years as Co-President. 

I was a parent member of the Re-entry Task Force where I sat on the Special Education subcommittee as a parent member.

Member of the Social Emotional Wellness Advisory Committee and helped organize the Wellness Summit this year on caring for your mental health. 

What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education?

Three years ago, I decided to run for a seat on the Somers Board of Education, due to my passion for our school district and my desire to build positive relationships between the schools, parents, children, and the community. This commitment has remained steadfast.  This year I created a Community Questions and Answers section for our Board website so that questions raised at public comment can be answered for the benefit of the entire community. I firmly believe that every student deserves a safe, welcoming learning environment where they can achieve success and reach their full potential and I will support the administration in continuing to offer multiple pathways for all learners. 

This past year, I led and unified the Board in choosing our next Superintendent.  On Feb. 25 we unanimously appointed Dr. Adam Bronstein.   I believe that we need experienced leadership on our Board of Education as we welcome Dr. Bronstein into our Somers School family.

As costs continue to rise for all of us, it is important to be fiscally responsible while maintaining our rigorous coursework, programs, arts, and athletic programs. Fiscal stewardship ensures that every dollar is spent wisely and effectively, allowing the district to offer high-quality education and diverse extracurricular activities without compromising our financial stability. By prioritizing fiscal responsibility, we can continue to provide the resources and supports necessary for our students to thrive academically, artistically, and athletically, even in challenging economic times.

Chadwick Olsen

Please list your career and educational accomplishments.

 Resident of Somers for the past 22 years.

BS – Economics from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. 

Career experience in IT Applications and Business Consulting. (Arthur Andersen Business Consulting; First Consulting Group; Lord and Taylor)

As a stay-at-home Dad raised three daughters through k-12 at SCSD. 

Currently a Sales Specialist at Lowe’s Home Improvement.

 What other leadership positions have you held locally?

I love our town and community, am passionate about our public education and filled with great hope for the future successes of our children. I am currently or have served:

Three terms as a trustee on the SCSD Board of Education

Current Vice President of the SCSD Board of Education

SCSD Superintendent Search, BOE Policy committee, BOE Audit committee, BOE Citizens Finance committee, BOE Social Emotional Wellness committee, SCSD Safety committee

Former Girl Scout Troop Leader

Girl Scouts: Veterans Cookie Project leader for many years

What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education?

I love our town and community. My priorities to continue as a SCSD BOE Trustee will be to ensure the SCSD vision, mission, and policies reflect the needs of our community. I pledge to actively listen with understanding and make decisions guided by data, and to work in partnership with families and with the administration to ensure that the tools to succeed in this continually evolving century are provided. We must continue to offer the breadth and depth of options to all students in order to meet their varied needs and give them a path to success.

I will ensure our district provides a supportive and safe environment for learning with our investments in advising, counseling and mental health supports, provides continued and varied pathways to high levels of math and science, develops strong reading and writing skills, encourages cross-curricular lessons to make deeper connections and passions with learning, continues to offer strong Music and Arts programs, and offers wide opportunities for extracurricular programs. To those ends, we must support our teachers and staff with the resources and training they desire and continue to encourage a learning community of collaboration and support. We have highly skilled and caring educators – and I want them to know they are greatly appreciated, valued and respected. 

Drawing on my eight years serving on the BOE, I will use what I have learned to lead our partnership with our new SCSD superintendent to ensure excellent communication and transparency with our community.  Fiscal challenges will persist, and I will work to guide responsible and effective investments to benefit all of our students.

The future is dynamic and we are responsible for providing our youth with the skills and knowledge to find their success as they become independent members of our society.

Michael Rinaldi

Please list your career and educational accomplishments.

Bachelor’s in Business Administration, summa cum laude from Manhattan College. Managing Director at a global finance firm.

What other leadership positions have you held locally?

Eagle Scout; served as company representative on the boards of a university education program and a technology startup; founded company program to develop talent; manager of my son’s hockey team; active participant in my local church

What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education?

I was honored to be invited to the BOE Forum hosted by the League of Women Voters and Somers PTA Council and initially accepted, believing voters deserve to hear directly from candidates. However, I’ve since learned of serious concerns about the forum’s fairness and structure, including credible claims of bias. I therefore have decided not to participate and will instead focus on meeting voters through other opportunities as we approach this critical May 20 election.

I’m running for the Board of Education because we need a board that puts Somers and our children first. The current board has been ineffective and too often acts as an extension of the administration rather than an oversight body willing to ask hard questions, make tough decisions, and challenge direction when necessary.

As a result, our district is suffering. Test scores are declining. Somers now ranks in the bottom half of Westchester County while having one of the highest per-pupil costs. Our community’s generous support is not being matched by results. Transparency around spending and key metrics is lacking, and existing programs fail to adequately prepare students for the real world.

As a father of three young boys in the district and husband of a teacher who has served over 20 years, I have a deep vested interest in the success of our schools. We’re one election from extreme ideology returning—I’ll fight to stop it.

We deserve more from our Board. I will be the leader who makes it happen.

Read Michael Rinaldi's additional candidate statement here. 

Michael Ritacco

Please list your career and educational accomplishments.

I am a 20-year career educator with a wide range of experience in teaching, building administration, and district leadership. I began as a high school mathematics teacher, later becoming a high school assistant principal and Supervisor of Math and Science, and now serve as Director of Technology for Port Chester Schools. Throughout my career, I have led district-wide curriculum initiatives, expanded STEAM programs, improved academic achievement, and managed major infrastructure and safety projects. I have also led professional development for teachers, helped create innovative student programs, overseen large-scale budgeting efforts to maximize resources for students, and driven the thoughtful use of technology to enhance classroom learning.

What other leadership positions have you held locally?

I have taken on additional leadership roles in Port Chester Schools. Some of these include the Vice President of my administrators' union, leading negotiations and advocating for staff while balancing district priorities. I have been an active member of my district’s Safety Team, both the district Curriculum Committee and Policy Committee, as well as leading the district Technology Committee. In every role, I have worked to build strong partnerships with teachers, parents, and community members to support student success.

What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education?

I believe the most important issues facing the Somers Central School District are maintaining academic excellence, enhancing school safety, and ensuring smart financial stewardship. I am committed to expanding academic opportunities for all students while also strengthening essential supports for struggling learners. With a deep experience across curriculum, budgeting, technology, safety, and leadership, I bring a well-rounded, practical perspective to these challenges. As both an educator and a Somers parent, I am uniquely positioned to help Somers schools continue to thrive, combining professional expertise with a strong commitment to the community’s future.

Joe Vala

Please list your career and educational accomplishments.

With over 30 years in sales, account management, management, mentorship, and leadership, I have consistently been a top performer, recognized as the Top Salesman for 2025. My career spans roles where I have mentored colleagues, led teams to success, and fostered collaboration while driving results. I have honed skills in strategic decision-making and resource management, ensuring practical solutions that benefit all stakeholders. Educationally, I have pursued lifelong learning to complement my professional experience, equipping me to navigate complex challenges with a clear, informed perspective. My background as a first-generation American has instilled in me the values of hard work and perseverance, which I apply daily.

What other leadership positions have you held locally?

As a 10-year Somers resident, I have been deeply engaged in our community. I’ve served on the SEET committee and the hiring committee at Somers Schools, advocating for students and educators. I’ve contributed to the Somers Education Foundation (SEF) by attending events that support educational initiatives. I have also been an active PTA member. Additionally, I have supported Somers PBA contributions, fostering partnerships that benefit our town. These roles reflect my commitment to collaboration and service.

What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education?

The district faces rising costs, transparency concerns, and the need to prioritize student well-being. Taxpayers deserve fiscal responsibility; my experience in revenue generation and cost management ensures wise spending. Parents demand a stronger voice; I’ll promote oversight and engagement, drawing on my community involvement. As a father of two daughters—one who graduated from Somers High School in 2023 as Student Body President and another currently in 5th grade—I am deeply invested in the future of our schools. My leadership experience allows me to make informed decisions, ensuring our schools thrive while protecting students’ physical and mental health.