Board of Education

• Role of the Board
• Board Members 2025-26
• Board Committees 2025-2026
• Addressing the Board
• Board Meeting Dates, Agendas and Minutes
• Videoconferencing Under Extraordinary Circumstances
• Board of Education Elections
• Vision, Mission, and Goals
• Vision
• Mission
• District Goals
• Student Achievement
• Social-Emotional Learning
• Highly Prized Personnel
• Resource Provision
• Fiscal Health of the District
• Community Relationships
• Focus Areas
• Professional Growth
• Operational Integrity
• Collaborative Culture
• Student Excellence

Role of the Board

The Board of Education consists of seven local citizens elected by the qualified voters of the school district. Members of the Board serve 3-year terms, beginning on July 1 following their election. They are not paid for their service.

State statues define the powers and duties of school boards. Some of the basic responsibilities of the Board of Education include:

• Establishing district policies to be implemented by the Superintendent for operation of the school
• Approving the hiring of personnel recommended by the Superintendent
• Adopting an annual budget for presentation to voters
• Reviewing and approving financial reports of the school system

The Board employs a Superintendent who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the district.

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Board Members 2025-26

David D’Amore, President
Jennifer Sponnoble, Vice President
Leslie Buggeln-Bosworth
Elizabeth DeRosa
Marjorie Kline
Joyel Richardson
William J. Stock
Isaac Heroth, Ex Officio Student Member

Board Committees 2025-2026

Academic and Extracurricular Committee

Leslie Buggeln-Bosworth, Marjorie Kline, Jennifer Sponnoble

Audit, Budget & Finance Committee

David D’Amore, Elizabeth DeRosa, Marjorie Kline

Facilities Committee

David D’Amore, Elizabeth DeRosa, William J. Stock

Personnel Committee

Leslie Buggeln-Bosworth, Joyel Richardson, Jennifer Sponnoble

Addressing the Board

Please remember that complaints are often best handled by the administrator in charge of the unit closest to the source of the complaint (Chain of Command). In most instances, complaints should be made to the building principal if the matter can’t be resolved by a teacher; or to the Director of Student Engagement if the matter can’t be resolved by a coach or advisor. If complaints aren’t resolved satisfactorily at this level, they may be carried to the Superintendent. If complaints aren’t resolved satisfactorily at the Superintendent level, they may be carried to the Board of Education.

• By email: Residents, staff and students may express their views by sending an email to boardofed@johnstownschools.org.
• In writing: Residents, staff and students may express their views by writing to the Board of Education in care of the District Clerk, Greater Johnstown School District, 1 Sir Bills Circle, Suite 101, Johnstown, NY 12095. Materials submitted will be distributed to all Board members.
• At a board meeting: As a matter of courtesy, and to foster a spirit of cooperation, the Board provides a forum for public comment during its monthly business meetings. Interested parties may speak regarding specific agenda items or on education topics of general interest. Speakers are limited to a maximum of three minutes.

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Board Meeting Dates, Agendas and Minutes

Please visit the BoardDocs website to see a list of upcoming board meeting dates, times and locations, to view meeting agendas and minutes.

Members of the public are welcome to attend Board of Education meetings, in compliance with NYS Open Meetings Law.

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Videoconferencing Under Extraordinary Circumstances

In compliance with Public Officers Law (“POL”) § 103-a(2)(a), the Board of Education of the Greater Johnstown School District (“District”), following a public hearing on January 15, 2026, authorized a resolution for the use of videoconferencing as described in POL § 103-a.

The following procedures are hereby established to satisfy the requirements of POL § 103-a(2)(b):

1. Board of Education members may participate in Board meetings via videoconference from a remote location without providing public access to such location provided such Board member(s) is unable to attend the Board meeting location(s) open to the public due to extraordinary circumstances. Remote participation by a Board member due to extraordinary circumstances is only permitted when a quorum of the Board will be present at the meeting location(s) open to the public. If it is not possible for a quorum of the Board to be physically present at the in-person meeting location(s), the meeting will be rescheduled as soon as possible. A member who is participating from a remote location that is not open to in-person physical attendance by the public shall not count toward a quorum of the Board of Education but may participate and vote if there is a quorum of the Board of Education at a physical location(s) open to the public.
2. For purposes of these procedures, the term “extraordinary circumstances” shall include the following circumstances: (1) Board member’s disability; (2) Board member’s illness; (3) Board member’s caregiving responsibilities; or (4) any other significant or unexpected factor or event which preclude the Board member’s physical attendance at such meeting.

• Board members may request permission to participate in a Board meeting via videoconference from a private location due to extraordinary circumstances by sending a written request to the Board President, Superintendent of Schools and District Clerk with a copy to the Board of Education at least four (4) business days prior to the scheduled Board meeting date. If extraordinary circumstances occur within four (4) days of a schedule meeting which prevents the Board member from submitting a timely request, the Board member shall send a written request as soon as practicable under the circumstances. The request shall include the reason(s) why the Board member cannot participate in a meeting location open to the public. The Board President shall make a determination as to whether the stated reason constitutes extraordinary circumstances as required by the Open Meetings Law. The Board President’s determination of whether the Board member’s stated reason qualifies as an extraordinary circumstance permitting videoconferencing participation from an inaccessible location shall be final and binding on the Board of Education. The Board President shall provide written notice to the Board member, the Board of Education, Superintendent of Schools and District Clerk of his or her determination as to whether the Board member’s request is granted or denied. The District Clerk shall ensure that proper notice to the public is given.

• Except in cases of executive sessions conducted pursuant to POL § 105, the Board of Education shall ensure that all Board members can be heard, seen, and identified while the meeting is being conducted, including but not limited to any motions, proposals, resolutions, and any other matter formally discussed or voted upon.

• If members of the Board of Education are authorized to participate by videoconferencing from a private location due to extraordinary circumstances, the Board of Education shall provide the opportunity for members of the public to view such meeting by video, and to participate in proceedings by videoconference in real time where public comment or participation is authorized, and shall ensure that videoconferencing authorizes the same public participation or testimony as in person participation or testimony.
• The in-person participation requirement of POL § 103-a(2)(c) shall not apply during a state disaster emergency declared by the governor pursuant to section twenty-eight of the executive law, or a local state of emergency proclaimed by the chief executive of a county, city, village or town pursuant to section twenty-four of the executive law, if the Board of Education determines that the circumstances necessitating the emergency declaration would affect or impair its ability to hold an in-person meeting.

• The District Clerk shall ensure compliance with the provisions of the Open Meetings Law with respect to meetings conducted via videoconference, including but not limited to public notice of the meeting.

• These procedures shall be posted on the District website.
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Board of Education Elections

Elected by district residents to serve three year terms, Johnstown’s school board members are ordinary citizens who decide at the local level what is best for our children and community. School board members are not paid for their service, the time and commitment they provide is voluntary.

Filing a Nominating Petition

In order to appear on the election ballot in small city districts such as Johnstown, candidates file a Nominating Petition with the district clerk, signed by 100 qualified district voters. The deadline for filing nominating petitions in a small city school district is 20 days before the election (board elections are held on the third Tuesday in May). The petition must include the candidate’s name and residence address, as well as the names and residences of the people signing the petition. You do not need to be affiliated with a political party. Nominating petitions may be obtained by emailing the district clerk, lcarpenter@johnstownschools.org.

Campaign Expenditures

A candidate who spends $0-$500 must file three sworn Candidate Expense Statements with the district clerk indicating this to be the case. Candidates with expenditures in excess of $500 must file a statement with the Commissioner of Education. Campaign expense statement forms may be obtained by emailing the district clerk.

What if there are not enough candidates, or no candidates?

The election is still held and the vacancies are filled by the qualified individuals who receive the most write-in votes.

Learn More About Board Service

Additional information about running for the school board is available at the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) website, or by contacting the district clerk.

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Vision, Mission, and Goals

Vision

The District will be a regional model school district of educational excellence for all students.

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Mission

Adopted by Board Resolution August 17, 2023

The Greater Johnstown School District will provide the essential educational resources that support a fully engaged culture of continuous improvement and diverse, high-quality academic opportunities that equip students with the knowledge, skills and abilities they need to be contributing citizens in a stronger society.

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District Goals

Adopted by Board Resolution August 17, 2023 for the period July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2025

Extended through June 30, 2026 per Board Resolution adopted September 18, 2025

Student Achievement

Improve measurable student achievement K-12 within a connected, supportive, and pervasive data-informed culture, using highly effective instructional systems designed and evaluated to create optimal learning in a safe and caring environment.

Social-Emotional Learning

Make effective social and emotional learning a priority and actively support the rigorous pursuit of personal wellness within a culture of mutual respect and active appreciation of diversity in a caring and compassionate learning environment for all students and staff.

Highly Prized Personnel

Hire, develop, supervise, and evaluate a community of highly effective and mutually collaborative faculty, administration and staff, prioritizing an overall culture of positive morale that encourages happiness and performance excellence in service to students.

Resource Provision

Develop, procure, maintain and ever-improve resources (facilities, equipment, technology, materials and supplies), coupled with decision-making that is intentional to the importance of relevance and sustainability.

Fiscal Health of the District

Prepare a fiscally sound and responsible budget, inextricably tied to long-range planning, that strives to balance the equitable, ongoing, and changing needs of students with what the District can/must ask its citizens to sustain. The District will make every effort to seek out or create alternative funding sources.

Community Relationships

Prioritize full, equitable, and equal community relationships to address adaptive challenges faced by the District, and build external and internal transparency and communication with diverse stakeholders with full consideration for the knowledge, experience, and expectations and values they hold.

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Focus Areas

Professional Growth

Supporting the continuous development of staff knowledge, skills, and practices to enhance student learning and foster a culture of excellence.

Operational Integrity

Sustaining systems that support student success and advancement of learning, and ensure a smooth, effective functioning of our schools.

Collaborative Culture

Fostering a culture of trust through meaningful partnerships with students, families, staff and the broader community.

Student Excellence

Ensuring every student is empowered and equipped to reach their full potential and beyond.