2 incumbents, 3 newcomers run for C-D board

The five candidates are incumbents Brandow, Gavin-Palmieri and Zucker and first-time candidates Aniston Keff and Nicole Plank.

Brandow, who was first elected to the board in 2014, has lived in the district since 2002 and has volunteered for Cairo Little League and community coaching. At the time of his initial run, Brandow said being a good board member required an individual to make decisions for the students without thinking of personal interests.

“I am a parent and my kids mean the world to me,” Brandow said. “I feel I need to give something back.”

Zucker has been a resident of Durham since 1987. Both of her children graduated from the district and her grandchildren attend Cairo Elementary School. A local business owner and realtor for more than 30 years, Zucker said she knows how the quality of a school district impacts home values. Zucker cites her experience with developing budgets and learning to compromise with other board members as strengths that will continue to make her an asset to the district.

“It’s an honor to serve on a board that works cohesively to make sure our students have every opportunity and our staff is appreciated,” Zucker said.

“I’d like for us to continue a capital building plan and work with Columbia-Greene Community College and other SUNY campuses to bring more online courses to our students and to continue to promote graduation rate.”

Another business owner, Gavin-Palmieri, innkeeper at Gavin’s Irish Country Inn, cites her experience getting the district through the pandemic as being formative. She also said she is proud of the work of the board and all the staff in getting the district removed from the list of New York Focus schools.

“As a business owner of now two hospitality businesses in the Cairo-Durham district, a member of my Church Finance Committee, many community organizations and past board member of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce and the East Durham Irish Cultural Center, I would love to continue to be a board member and sustain what our board has been doing,” she said. “Focusing on our children and what is best for all involved at C-D is what makes this place a great place to be.”

Newcomer Keff graduated from the district two years ago, so will bring a solid understanding of current school issues, she said.

A dispatch trainee for Greene County as well as a weekend teller at National Bank of Coxsackie, Keff was born in Greene County and has lived in the district since 2012. She is running for the board to see enhanced trust and communication among all stakeholders in the district.

“In my sophomore year I went to speak at a meeting and was telling the board about a staff member that was suspended without reason. I was speaking with a mic in my hand, and the board were on their phones. They were ignorant,” Keff said. “I’m really looking to strengthen communication and trust between board members, students and staff.”

The mother of four children in district schools and resident of Purling, Nicole Plank was born and raised in Greene County. Plank holds a bachelor of science degree in psychology from the University at Albany.

“I have a passion for education and the training of young minds to be successful in life,” Plank said.

Plank cited her strengths of tenacity, passion for teaching and leadership as equipping her well for the position of board member. At this juncture in life, Plank said she feels the strong desire to serve.

“I want to do more in service to my community and I believe being a member of the board of education will address the desire I have to serve. I want to give parents a voice in identifying the current issues that challenge students of every race, gender or background,” Plank said.

Terms for those elected will run from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026.