On May 21, residents will vote to fill two seats on the Schoharie CSD Board of Education for three-year terms beginning July 1, 2024. The seats are currently held by Lance Hellstrom, who is not seeking re-eletion, and Lynda Lewandowski, who is running for a second term. Their current terms expire June 30, 2024.
The board is comprised of seven residents who serve overlapping, unpaid terms of three years each. Together, they establish district policies, approve an annual budget proposal, approve or disapprove the superintendent’s recommendations on personnel matters and contracts, review courses of study and textbooks, and act as a communication link between residents and the school district. Board of education candidate information is provided below. They are listed in ballot order.
Lynda Lewandowski is running for re-election to her second term on the Schoharie CSD Board of Education.
She previously worked in the Jr./Sr. High School for ten years as a teacher aide, substitute teacher, attendance office, ISS room, business office, study hall, cafeteria and library aide before accepting her current position at SUNY Cobleskill. She is also employed by the Schoharie County Election Board as an election inspector.
She has volunteered for many years to chaperone sporting events, school dances, bonfires, musicals, graduations and other school functions.
Her seven children are all graduates of Schoharie High School.
Brad Bruno is seeking his first term on the Schoharie CSD Board of Education.
Bruno is employed by Union College as a professor of mechanical engineering. He has been at Union in this role since 2002. He teaches courses in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, internal combustion engines and design. He conducts research in aerogel-based catalysts for automotive pollutant mitigation. He has served three-year terms as the chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department and as a member of the Faculty Executive Committee.
Bruno is a graduate of Holmdel High School in Holmdel, NJ. He has a bachelor of science degree and a Ph. D. degree in mechanical engineering from Penn State University. He also holds a master of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.
He has coached some of the Schoharie’s Odyssey of the Mind teams, and has coached T-ball for Schoharie Little League.
Bruno has two children that attend Schoharie CSD.
Steven Underwood is seeking his first term on the Schoharie CSD Board of Education.
Underwood is employed at the Walmart Distribution Center and works as a replenishment/machine operator. He operates forklifts to select products to be distributed to stores.
He has a Regents Diploma from Schoharie CSD.
Underwood is member of the Central Bridge Fire Department, the Schoharie County Hazmat, Search and Rescue and Fire Prevention teams.
Underwood has three children that attend Schoharie CSD.
Laura Rosenthal is seeking her first term on the Schoharie CSD Board of Education.
Rosenthal is employed by the New York State Department of Health and is the bureau director for nursing home and other long-term core rate setting. She manages a bureau responsible for Medicaid reimbursement.
She is a graduate of Lafayette High School and holds a bachelor of arts degree in International Studies from Kenyon College, as well as a masters degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Rosenthal served on the board and as president of the Schoharie Free Library. She has coached Odyssey of the Mind and SYStem Soccer. She actively supported the school musical and Little League.
Rosenthal has a child that attends Schoharie CSD.