Four residents are competing for three open seats on the Starpoint Central School District Board of Education.
The winners of Tuesday’s election will each receive three-year terms of office.
These are the candidates:
Lisa Kankolenski
Kankolenski, 48, has two children who attended Starpoint schools. One is currently a junior and the other graduated from high school.
She is a French and special education teacher in the Niagara Wheatfield Central School District and a real estate agent.
Kankolenski said that her background in education would be helpful for improving the district.
“It’s important to know we have a lot of educators on that board and keep educators on board,” she said.
If elected, her focus would be on organizing events that would bring members of the district and community together as well as safety and security in the school buildings.
Jon Kinmartin
Kinmartin, 37, is the chief engineer and plant manager for Kaleida Health. He has three children who attend Starpoint schools.
Kinmartin sees running for a seat on the school board as a way to help out his community and “give back a little bit.”
He feels his experience with construction projects, particularly with HVAC, could bring a helpful perspective to the board as they work on their capital projects.
“I want to make sure the capital project gets finished on time and on budget,” Kinmartin said.
Michelle Leuer
Leuer, 45, is a kindergarten teacher at Charles A. Upson Elementary School in Lockport. She has two children who graduated from Starpoint schools and one who is currently a sophomore.
She is wrapping up her first term on the board and is one of two incumbents seeking re-election this year.
With three years on the board under her belt, Leuer said she would be able to “dig deeper” into enhancing the district’s curriculum and would like to continue to focus on mental health for students and staff if she is re-elected.
“I’m committed to the district and want to make sure all students and staff are represented and their needs are recognized,” Leuer said.
Jason Madden
Madden, 44, is the assistant principal at Aaron Mossell Junior High School in Lockport.
He has two children who attended Starpoint schools. One is currently a junior at the high school and the other has graduated.
Madden is seeking re-election to a second term on the board. He feels his experience as an educator can be beneficial to the board.
“Having that point of view working in a school building and education for the past 22 years, I understand the ins and outs. When there are questions about policies and things like that, I can provide perspective,” Madden said.
If re-elected, he would like to enhance “homegrown” vocational programs in the district by bringing in new courses as well as focusing on student mental health.