There will be some new faces representing the Dryden Central School District community on the Board of Education moving forward. Bridget Flanigan, Justin St. Juliana and Nancy Crawford were all elected to their first terms on the board on May 18. (Flanigan and St. Juliana will have three-year terms while Crawford will have a two-year term.)
All three ran against incumbents Ron Szymanski, Joan Stock and Lawrence Lyon for the four open spots on the board. Szymanski was the lone incumbent to retain his seat. Flanigan received the most votes (606), followed by St. Juliana (599), Szymanski (595), Crawford (591), Stock (572) and Lyon (564).
Crawford
Incoming board members Flanigan and St. Juliana sat down with the Dryden Courier to discuss their victories and what they hope to achieve during their terms. (Szymanski and Crawford were unable to answer the Courierâs questions prior to the paperâs deadline.)
The Dryden Central School District held a virtual public forum to introduce the board of education candidates for the upcoming election on May 3. All six candidates were given an opportunity to answer 10 questions curated by the district staff as well as district families.
There are four seats up for grabs in this yearâs election â three of which are three-year terms and the other just a two-year term. Incumbents Lawrence Lyon, Ron Szymanski and Joan Stock look to retain their seats on the board, while newcomers Bridget Flanigan, Nancy Crawford and Justin St. Juliana vy for a first term.
Many of the questions asked at the forum centered on politics and diversity in the districtâs education system. The candidates were asked whether or not they believed students should be educated on politics in their classrooms, to which all six agreed that politics should have its place in the curriculum.