The proposed $202,072,582 budget represents a 2.62 percent increase over 2025–26. The tax levy would rise 2.20 percent, the maximum allowed under the state cap, up from 1.8 percent this year. Tax impacts will vary across the district, which includes Yorktown, Mahopac (Town of Carmel), Cortlandt, Philipstown, Putnam Valley and Somers.
A vehicle proposition seeks $2,130,813 for the purchase of 18 vehicles: six buses, five 30-passenger vans, three 20-passenger vans, one SUV and three trucks, including a plow. The district has a pending waiver from the state’s 2035 electric bus mandate. A budget hearing is scheduled for May 5 at the administration building.
Five candidates are running for three Board of Education seats. In ballot order, they are incumbent Christopher Eustace, challenger James Hedberg, challenger Keith Baisley, incumbent Amanda Franco and challenger Patricia Martucci-Pace. The top three vote-getters will win seats.
Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 19 at Van Cortlandtville Elementary School, 3100 E. Main St., Cortlandt Manor.
Yorktown News offered the candidates an opportunity to address voters and explain, in their own words, their qualifications and what they see as the most pressing issues facing the district.
Please list your career and educational accomplishments. I have been in education for the past 32 years as a special education teacher, staff developer, assistant principal and a principal for nearly 20 years. Currently, I support all school leaders in New York City, specifically assigned to the Bronx. I have served as a master principal, mentoring new principals in my school district, and I have presented workshops on a number of instructional and leadership topics, including at the ASCD national conference. I have also been a union advocate for the last nine years.
What other leadership positions have you held locally? Educational leadership has been my life for nearly 25 years. I have led a school that at one time had over 1700 students and 200 staff members. I have chaired a number of committees and organizations over the years, both in my capacity as an educator and as a Lakeland school board trustee. I served as an SOAC girls soccer coach for many years and now, while not an official leadership position, I help lead audience participation as a cheer dad.
What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education, and why are you the most qualified to address these issues? As people may have heard me say before if you believe that the Lakeland School District is broken, we will have to respectfully disagree. If you believe that LCSD is a great place that can get even better, I would love to work together to do our part to make that happen. My experience and knowledge of NYS educational law and policy, school budget, union policies and overall school leadership make me uniquely qualified to provide factual information to contribute to solving most issues that we will face as a school board. I believe that while every parent and community member have their own perspective on what the most important issues facing the district are based on their individual circumstance and experience, I think that most would agree that the safety of our students is first and foremost. I had the ultimate responsibility to assure that almost 2,000 individuals, including children and adults, returned safely to their families at the end of every school day. I fully understand the significant role we all play in ensuring the safety of all of our students and staff, primarily because among all of the things I have mentioned above, first and foremost, I am the dad of four daughters.
Please list your career and educational accomplishments. Lecturer (doctoral), the City College of New York, 2013–present, and director of the CCNY Planetarium. Committee work includes physical plant, general education, online education and accreditation. Recipient of the 2019 Provost’s Award for pedagogical and curricular innovation.
Doctorate in physics from McGill University (2011), master’s degree in physics from Portland State University (2005) and bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from St. John’s College (2000).
What other leadership positions have you held locally? Cub Scout den leader, Pack 134, since 2023.
What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education, and why are you the most qualified to address these issues? There are many reasons to celebrate our school district. I’m delighted to know that our children spend their weekdays with amazing teachers and staff in a safe and inspiring environment. They have bountiful opportunities and are, without question, cared for during those hours away from home, from the moment they put their little feet on the school bus steps to when they toss their backpacks off by the front door.
Yet this doesn’t mean that we should stop trying to improve. It’s difficult as a parent to see objectively successful programs cut without coherent explanations or rational, or to look at our neighboring districts and wonder why we can’t have certain things they enjoy. Several times already, we’ve had to reduce our expectations without knowing why, or what tipped the scales in a particular direction. And what is worse, it’s not obvious how the community’s voice impacts the decision-making process.
As an elected board member, I will ask the hard questions, informed by your input, so that we can all understand why choices are made and I won’t be satisfied with cliché responses or platitudes. (For example: Why do we need to buy every second-grader a computer?) This is my job as a scientist, and I would be honored to serve our community with a mandate to do the same.
Please list your career and educational accomplishments. I graduated from Fordham University with a bachelor’s degree in 2003.
The majority of my career has been spent working in commercial real estate at private equity and property management firms. I have provided asset analysis for financing and dispositions of commercial properties, guided homeowners associations toward adopting fiscally responsible and forward-thinking budgets and worked to acquire, develop and operate various real estate properties throughout the country.
What other leadership positions have you held locally? I have been on the board of Cortlandt American Little League for the past six seasons and have been president for the last four. During this time, the league has seen increases in not only enrollment but parent and former-player participation each year. By working with the town of Cortlandt, the city of Peekskill, local businesses, former players and training centers, we have been able to make improvements to our facilities and offer more player-development opportunities while strengthening our financial position and maintaining enrollment costs.
What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education, and why are you the most qualified to address these issues? Our district is unique in that it encompasses several towns and hamlets. The board has traditionally been made up of representatives from the Lakeland High School or specifically the Yorktown side of the district. I feel that in order to truly be one community, we need voices from throughout the district, and living on the Walter Panas High School side of town in Cortlandt Manor, I can help to bring a new voice to the board. I think that having educators on our board brings value when trying to make decisions that drive our children’s education, but I also believe that we need to have a board with members with diverse careers that can add perspective from different angles. Coming from parents deeply rooted in education and having a background in the business world, I believe I can bring a fresh voice and added perspective to the board.
Please list your career and educational accomplishments. I hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degrees in both elementary education and special education. I've been teaching for 25 years in a variety of roles, with the last 17 in special education. I currently provide academic support, conduct educational evaluations, and help develop IEPs to meet the needs of diverse learners in grades K–12.
What other leadership positions have you held locally? I have been part of the Lakeland community for 21 years and stay actively involved in our schools and local organizations. I’ve volunteered at numerous school events, organized fundraising efforts, and coached youth sports, where I’ve built strong relationships with students and families. I’ve been a board trustee since October, which has allowed me to begin building an understanding of the role.
What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education, and why are you the most qualified to address these issues? As a large district, it can be challenging to function as one cohesive unit. With multiple schools across a wide geographic area, it sometimes feels fragmented. While each school has its own culture and identity, every student deserves equitable opportunities to learn and explore their passions in a safe, supportive environment.
Clear communication and transparency are essential to building community. I would like to see increased opportunities for open two-way communication among all stakeholders. People want and deserve timely information about important issues, and community perspectives should help inform decisions. This supports thoughtful, balanced decision making that is fiscally responsible and reflects the needs of both students and the community. Everyone should feel heard, valued, and well-informed.
I am well qualified to address these issues because of my experience both in and out of the classroom. Working in a district similar in size, I collaborate well and have a true understanding of what students need to be successful. I want Lakeland to be a place where students, families, and staff feel supported and proud to be part of the community.
Please list your career and educational accomplishments. School Psychologist (22 years); Committee of Special Education Chairperson (17 years); New York State Psychological Association (NYSPA) Grace Lauro Memorial Award recipient; former college adjunct professor; former high school JV and modified basketball coach; former high school varsity and modified softball coach.
What other leadership positions have you held locally? Volunteer boys basketball coach at Shrub Oak Athletic Club (SOAC); Booster Club coordinator for the Lakeland High School girls soccer program.
What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education, and why are you the most qualified to address these issues? As a parent of two children in Lakeland schools, a resident of this community for 19 years, and a school psychologist with 22 years of experience, I understand our district’s challenges from both personal and professional perspectives. Lakeland’s most important priorities are maintaining academic excellence, supporting students’ mental health and well-being, fostering transparent communication between the Board and community, and making responsible fiscal decisions that protect strong programs.
Our students must be supported academically, socially, and emotionally to succeed. Mental health, school safety, and inclusive opportunities for all students should remain central priorities. Families also deserve a Board that listens, collaborates, and makes thoughtful decisions with students’ best interests at the center.
My career as a school psychologist and committee on special education chairperson has focused on working with families, educators, and administrators to make student-centered decisions and advocate for children. As a longtime community member, volunteer, coach, and parent, I am deeply invested in Lakeland’s future. I will bring experience, collaboration, and a strong commitment to supporting every Lakeland student.
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