Jacquelyn Guarino appointed to BOE

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y.—The Yorktown Central School District Board of Education voted Monday night to appoint Jacquelyn Guarino to its vacant seventh seat, filling the position left open by Jackie Carbone’s resignation.

The board interviewed five candidates during its Nov. 17 meeting. A motion to appoint Adam MacDonald failed, and a subsequent motion to appoint Evan Boucher was not carried after it did not receive a second. Guarino was ultimately appointed in a 4–2 vote.

During the interview process, candidates were asked four questions, including: “In your opinion, what is the greatest strength of our school district and the most significant challenge it currently faces?” Candidates were given up to two minutes to respond.

A mother of two boys—one a third-grader at Brookside and the other a fifth-grader at Crompond—and an aunt to five nieces and nephews, Guarino said she has a “unique opportunity to see our district through the eyes of students at every stage of their educational journey.”

Her family has deep ties to the local community and school district, giving her what she described as a grounded perspective on its strengths and needs.

“I feel the greatest strength is the dedication of our teachers, support staff and administrators. Their commitment to meeting every child where they are, academically, socially and emotionally creates an environment where students of all abilities can thrive. I especially value the support available to students with special needs and the genuine collaboration between parents and school staff,” she said.

“One challenge that we face is ensuring that the high standards of support continue as each student’s needs evolve. Education is not one size fits all, as we all know, and it’s easy for subjectivity to influence how our policies are interpreted or how resources are allocated. As our district grows, maintaining that consistency, equitable and easy access to services and strong academic offerings—including a safe and secure learning environment for both students and staff—becomes complex, so I feel like one of our challenges would be finding ways to meet these demands without compromising safety, personalized attention or strong communications with families.”

Guarino took her oath and joined the board at the table for the remainder of the Nov. 17 meeting.

The district initially received six letters of interest from community members, Board President Lisa Rolle said at the Nov. 3 meeting. One applicant later withdrew, and the board interviewed the remaining five candidates during its Nov. 17 session.

Guarino will serve on the board until the May 19, 2026, school election. Two full-term seats—currently held by Michael Magnani and Catalina Tyndal—will be on the ballot. The third-highest vote-getter will fill the remainder of Carbone’s term, which expires June 30, 2027. The top two vote-getters will serve terms ending June 30, 2029.

The full meeting is available on YouTube on the YCSD Videos channel.