The Fayetteville-Manlius Board of Education is the official policy-making body of the school district. It is responsible for carrying out the laws and regulations pertaining to the education of the community’s children. It adopts school district policy, curriculum and programs of study, approves the hiring of all personnel and establishes the conditions of employment.
In addition, the board has the responsibility of maintaining facilities, establishing an annual budget and setting a tax levy. The school board adopts a proposed operating budget each year at a public meeting. Eligible residents then have the opportunity to vote upon the proposal.
The board includes nine school district residents who are elected by voters to three-year terms in an annual election. Terms are staggered so that three members are elected each year. Board members are not compensated for their work.
In addition to the elected members, the board includes a non-voting student member selected each year by the administration to serve a one-year term. The student, who must be a senior at F-M High School, attends all public meetings and is allowed to participate in all public discussions.
2022-23 Board Membership
- Jason Catalino: Term expired June 30, 2023
- Rebecca Cohen: Term expired June 30, 2023
- Sarah Fitzgerald: Term expires June 30, 2025
- Kelly Fumarola: Term expired June 30, 2023
- Cynthia Hefti: Term expires June 30, 2025
- Sharon Lindars: Term expires June 30, 2024
- Marissa Joy Mims: Term expires June 30, 2024
- Daniel Seidberg: Term expires June 30, 2024
- Daryll Fitch Wheeler: Term expires June 30, 2025
- Victoria Cavalline: Student Board Member
2022-23 Board Action
Directed by a policy that was adopted by the board, the district established its first Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in Education in March 2023. Forty members serve on the inaugural committee, comprised of parents, teachers, students, administrators, support staff, community members and four board members. In addition to the committee’s forty members, there are two committee co-facilitators, Dr. Ynesse Abdul-Malak and Dr. John Palmer, both of whom are community members, district parents, and professors at Colgate University. The committee serves as an advisory group to district leaders and its primary focus is to support the diverse needs of all students, staff and families by creating a welcoming school community where everyone feels respected, included, valued and connected.
As requested by the board, the district established a Mental Health Task Force in an effort to support the mental health needs of all students and staff by enhancing mental health instruction and developing social-emotional learning opportunities. The task force is facilitated by Dr. Melissa Carman, a local mental health care provider who partners with the district to provide mental, emotional, social and behavioral health services to F-M students, and Dr. Cory Wallack, the Counseling Center Director at Syracuse University. Serving on the task force are students, parents, F-M staff and community members, mental health experts and professionals, as well as four board members.
Audit/Finance Committee
Overseeing internal and external audits conducted by third-parties, the committee reported the district received clean audits with no material weaknesses. The audits concluded that there were no major findings or concerns and the district’s financial operations and reporting are compliant with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) standards.
Community Relations Committee
To help evaluate the school environment, the board asked the district to conduct a Student Climate and Culture Survey. The district partnered with Research & Marketing Strategies (RMS), a third-party area market research firm, to administer the survey. Students in grades 5 through 12 voluntarily participated in a confidential survey to gauge students’ perceptions of the school climate. Students completed a questionnaire that prompted them to evaluate their perspective of school engagement, safety and environment. Additional questions regarding stress factors were asked of students in grades 9 through 12. The results will be used to inform goal setting, priorities and will allow the district to establish a baseline for future comparison and evaluation.
Facilities Committee
Charged with maintaining the district’s long-range facilities plan while keeping safety and security at the forefront, the committee oversaw the High School capital project approved by voters in December 2021, including construction phasing and bid awards. Additional oversight checklist items included the repaving of Pride Lane, the building condition survey and capital transfer projects, such as the installation of a security entrance at Enders Road Elementary School, the installation of air conditioning at Fayetteville Elementary School, and planning for bathroom renovations and air conditioning installation at Mott Road Elementary School to be completed during summer 2024, pending NYSED approval. The committee also approved the execution of recommendations per the district-wide safety and security audit.
Policy Committee
The board amended the student board member selection process to promote student inquiry, innovation and collaboration, as well as student voice and choice. F-M High School students will vote during student elections to select a student to serve on the board. Previously, the position was held by the president of the senior class.