Tag: board of education
2026 Board of Education vacancies and election
Three seats on the Fort Plain Board of Education will be up for election this May to fill vacancies for terms expiring on June 30, 2026. The three-year terms will run from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029.
Regular elections for Board of Education seats are held each year on the third Tuesday in May, the same date residents vote on the school budget. This year’s vote date is Tuesday, May 19.
Petitions to run for the board must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026.
For information on how to be placed on the ballot, contact Becky Smith, District Clerk, at becky.smith@fortplain.org or (518) 993-4000, ext. 1000.
Any U.S. citizen who is a resident of Fort Plain Central School District for 30 days prior to the vote may run for a seat on the Board.
Serving as a School Board Member
What does a Board of Education/school board member do? Why volunteer to serve on the Board? Here’s some helpful information from the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA).
Responsibilities of a Board Member
With school children always their ultimate focus, school board members act officially at the board table, working with other board members to serve students and accomplish the following:
- Create a shared vision for the future of education.
- Set the direction of the school district to achieve the highest student performance.
- Provide rigorous accountability for student achievement results.
- Develop a budget and present it to the community, aligning district resources to improve achievement.
- Support a healthy school district culture for work and learning.
- Create strategic partnerships with the community stakeholders.
- Build the district’s progress through continuous improvement.
- Adopt and maintain current policies.
- Hire and evaluate the superintendent.
- Ratify collective bargaining agreements.
- Maintain strong ethical standards.
Characteristics of a Board Member
Below are attributes that all effective board members should possess:
- Effective Communicator: Can describe what they want and describe what others want; a good listener.
- Consensus Builder: Capable of working toward decisions that all can support and willing to compromise to achieve goals.
- Community Participant: Enjoys meeting a variety of people, can identify the community’s key communicators and reaches out to the community.
- Decision Maker: Is comfortable making decisions and can support group decision-making.
- Information Processor: Can organize priorities and schedules to handle large amounts of verbal and written information.
- Leader: Willing to take risks, be supportive of board colleagues, district staff and community.
- Team Player: Helps promote the board’s vision and goals.
Fort Plain and Canajoharie boards agree to continue to pursue potential merger
Dear Families,
We would like to share an important update regarding the future of our school community. After careful discussion and collaboration, both the Fort Plain and the Canajoharie Central School District Boards of Education have agreed to continue their pursuit of a potential district merger. After receiving further clarification from NYSED, we learned our recent merger study is still in effect. Looming fiscal constraints from the state and federal governments, continued loss of programming and challenges in attracting qualified applicants for employment, coupled with the close vote in both districts last spring, guided the decision of the CFP Development Panel and Boards of Education.
As part of this process, both Boards will move forward with holding a straw poll vote in each community. This non-binding vote will give residents the opportunity to express their opinion on whether the merger should proceed to a binding public referendum.
We understand that this is a significant decision for our districts, and we are committed to ensuring that families, staff, and community members are well-informed every step of the way. Your voice and involvement are essential as we explore what is best for the future of our students and communities. We encourage you to stay engaged, ask questions, and participate in upcoming conversations.
Thank you for your continued support of the Fort Plain and Canajoharie Central School Districts. You will be hearing from us soon regarding the next steps in the process.
Sincerely,
Dr. Karen Geelan
Interim Superintendent of Schools, Fort Plain Central School District
Dr. Nick Fitzgerald
Superintendent of Schools, Canajoharie Central School District
Joint Board of Education meeting, regular meeting to follow – Sept. 17
The Fort Plain and Canajoharie CSD Boards of Education will hold a joint meeting on Sept. 17, 2025 beginning at 6 p.m. The regular meeting of the Fort Plain Board of Education will immediately follow.
The joint board meeting will take place in the Jr./Sr. High School School Auditorium, 1 West Street, Fort Plain, NY.
View the FPCSD Board of Education – Sept. 17, 2025 meeting agenda.
Applications being accepted to fill Board of Education vacancy
The Fort Plain Board of Education is seeking to fill an opening on the board through June 30, 2026. The individual filling this vacancy could then run for a full, three-year term of service during the regular Board of Education election held in May 2026.
Interested individuals should contact Becky Smith, District Clerk, at becky.smith@fortplain.org by Sept. 9 at 2 p.m. to request an in-person interview with the board and district administration.
Board of Education responsibilities and eligibility
The Fort Plain Board of Education develops policies, rules and regulations for the operation of the school district and for the education and well-being of the district’s students.
Any U.S. citizen who has been a resident of the Fort Plain Central School District for 30 days or more is eligible to apply for this seat on the board.
Learn more about the responsibilities and characteristics of a board of education member.
Fort Plain CSD Announces Interim Superintendent – Dr. Karen Geelan
The Fort Plain Central School District Board of Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Karen Geelan as Interim Superintendent of Schools, effective Aug. 15, 2025.
Dr. Geelan brings a wealth of experience in educational leadership as an elementary principal, high school principal and as a superintendent of schools. Since retiring, Dr. Geelan has successfully served as interim superintendent in both the Olean City School District and the Greater Johnstown School District.
“Dr. Geelan is adept at leading school communities through periods of transition,” commented David Ziskin, HFM BOCES District Superintendent. “Students are her top priority and she is deeply committed to staff collaboration and community engagement. Dr. Geelan is familiar with our region. During her time in Johnstown, she was a valuable contributor to our regional leadership team as we collectively struggled with the uncertain conditions created by the pandemic.”
As the district transitions following the departure of Superintendent Lauren Crisman, who will be leaving in late August to become the superintendent in the Mount Markham Central School District, the FPCSD Board of Education sought a steady, resolute leader.
“The Board is confident that Karen Geelan’s expertise and thoughtful approach will support our students, staff and families during this important time,” stated Fort Plain Board of Education President Sara McDuffee.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Geelan to the Fort Plain community.
Board of Education meeting – Aug. 5
A special meeting of the Fort Plain Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 5.
The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. in the Ronald H. Thibodeau Conference Room in the District Office, 25 High Street, Fort Plain, NY.
View the agenda for the Aug. 5 meeting of the FPCSD Board of Education.
Brenna Kirkpatrick appointed as Director of Special Education
In a special meeting on Monday, July 21, 2025, the Fort Plain Board of Education voted to appoint Brenna Kirkpatrick as the district’s new Director of Special Education.
Prior to this vote, the board accepted Ms. Kirkpatrick’s resignation from the Board of Education, on which she had served since 2023.
Brenna Kirkpatrick, a life-long resident of Fort Plain and graduate of our schools, has worked for the past 14 years as an elementary school and an academic intervention teacher at Herkimer Elementary School/Herkimer CSD. She holds an advanced degree in literacy from UNC-Pembroke, and an advanced certificate in educational leadership from SUNY Fredonia.
“Fort Plain has always been home, and returning to serve as Director of Special Education feels like coming full circle,” said Brenna Kirkpatrick. “As a 2004 graduate and life-long member of this community, I’m honored to take on a role that allows me to give back in such a meaningful way. This opportunity is both personal and professional, a chance to work alongside families and staff to ensure every student is supported, valued and given every opportunity to thrive. I’m excited for the work ahead and committed to helping all learners reach their full potential.”
Board of Education reorganization meeting – July 9
The Fort Plain Board of Education will hold a reorganization meeting for the 2025-26 school year on Wednesday, July 9. Regular business will also be on the agenda.
The meeting will take place in the Ronald H. Thibodeau Conference Room in the District Office, 25 High Street, Fort Plain, NY.
Joint Board of Education meeting, regular meeting to follow – June 18
The Fort Plain and Canajoharie CSD Boards of Education will hold a joint meeting on June 18, 2025 beginning at 6 p.m. The regular meeting of the Fort Plain Board of Education will immediately follow.
The joint board meeting will take place in the Harry Hoag Elementary School gym, 25 High Street, Fort Plain, NY.
View the FPCSD Board of Education – June 18, 2025 meeting agenda.
Voters approve 2025-26 Fort Plain school budget
Fort Plain Central School District residents voted on May 20, 2025 to approve a $24,000,000 budget for the 2025-26 school year by a vote of 136 to 24.
Bus Proposition
Voters also approved a referendum by a vote of 127 to 32 authorizing the district to purchase three school buses/vehicles at a cost not to exceed $400,000. These funds will be drawn from reserve funds. The purchase will have no impact on the tax levy.
Board of Education Election
Additionally, voters elected Kaitlyn Webb (115 votes) to fill one of two vacancies on the Board of Education.
Write-in candidates for the second open seat on the board and the number of votes they received are:
- Eunice Douglas (25 votes)
- Janine Brown (18 votes)
- Jamie Bunker (11 votes)
The write-in candidates will now be contacted by the district beginning with the person who received the highest number of votes to confirm their acceptance of the election and willingness to serve on the board of education.
Additional information on the successful candidate of this write-in vote will be forthcoming.
Both successful candidates will serve three-year terms that begin on July 1, 2025.