Five vying for two seats on Akron Central School Board of Education
Five candidates are seeking election to two seats to be filled in the upcoming Akron Central School Board of Education election. Each candidate submitted a biography to the District for use in their annual Budget and Meet the Candidates booklet, as well as answered a question submitted by the Akron Bugle.
Erin Behm, Lisa Giallella, Jacob Halleck, Phil Kenline, and Erik Polkowski are seeking the seats currently held by Kenline and Polkowski, whose current terms expire June 30 of this year.
A public hearing for the voters of the District on the 2021-2022 budget and for the purpose of meeting Board candidates is planned on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 7:00 p.m., in the Edward Allen Auditorium, 47 Bloomingdale Avenue, Akron, New York.
Voting on the budget and board candidates is planned on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 from 12:00 noon. to 9:00 p.m., in the District’s High School Gymnasium (orange gym), 47 Bloomingdale Avenue, Akron, New York.
The unedited answers to the Akron Bugle question appear below in alphabetical order by candidate, followed by the biographies submitted to the School District, also in alphabetical order. Candidates were limited to 300 words in their answer to the question for the Bugle, no limits on the submission to the District.
What are the top two issues facing the Akron Central School District over the next three years? Please include why are they are important and how you plan to address them.
Erin Behm
The two biggest issues I see in our district is how will we successfully meet the needs of the students when they return to full-time in person learning and navigating education in a fiscal crisis.
Our children are not the same young people they were last March. Not only were they expected to learn remotely, they were expected to stay home and not have physical contact with their friends, teachers or relatives. I can say from my experience that these were not easy tasks with a 9-year-old only child. I watched her emotions spiral out of control. Her roller coaster emotions were her way of coping and eventually her emotions leveled out. No matter how many times I told her how proud I was of her strength, she would rather hear it from her teacher. Hearing words of encouragement and validation from teachers is what all students want to hear and it makes a difference in how they feel about themselves. How will we as a district and as a community, meet the needs of the students as they return to school full-time? The teachers can’t do it alone. As a district and community, we need to come together by finding every resource available to help our young people in and out of the classroom.
The financial challenges our district will face could possibly be worse than after The Great Recession in 2008-2009. There is no crystal ball to show us what the future will bring, but we know we have to be ready to act. There is no long-term monetary plan for educational funding that can ease our concerns. The financial health of the state is not good and ultimately will impact the funding we receive for several years. But, as a district we have been here before and we know what to do. The students education, health and wellness will always be the focus when making realistic and challenging decisions. As we look ahead, I pray the health and safety guidance on all government levels will come to a unified agreement that will allow for the return of middle and high school students.
Lisa Giallella
Over the next 3 years, the top two issues facing the Akron Central School District are (1) dealing with a post-pandemic world and (2) learning to excel again.
The post-pandemic learning environment will be more than dealing with PPP and social distancing. And not all the changes are bad! Some families have lost loved ones to COVID-19 and that grief, along with the grief of a year of near isolation will not go away simply by returning to the classroom. Families may be enjoying more time together, and participation in after school activities may be affected. Each family and each student will be affected in ways we may not even know about yet. We must be ready to meet each child “where they are”. Post pandemic life it must be about Akron.
The second issue is learning to excel again. Since moving to Akron 26 years ago, Akron has been slipping in the school rankings, as published yearly by Business First. I’m not pretending that I know all the why’s but I’m anxious to ask the questions and look for solutions. Have we been focusing in the wrong areas? Are we challenging each and every person at Akron to think outside the box and be creative?
As a member of the BOE we must be sure we are providing the best environment for success. We must support all employees in their work for the kids. This can take the form of grants, relationships with agencies, and innovations. Thinking outside the box will become increasingly important.
I look forward to being part of a BOE that is laser focused on the children and the community.
Jacob Halleck
As we are approaching this year’s Board of Education Election, I am excited to be in the race with other very respectful and intelligent individuals. I think as a community we all agree that we are looking for what’s best for our students and our district as a whole.
I plan on holding that concept close as I run and hopefully hold office for the upcoming term. This past year has most certainly faced our school district, and community with some unexpected challenges which we continue to face today and will see in years to come. As we move forward and into the next school year I would like to see all the students back in the classrooms 5 days a week again. Of course we will have to manage some adjustments so that every student can attend their classes safely but I think this would be a huge step in the right direction. The best education comes from a hands on, in classroom approach in my opinion and this is something we need to strive for.
Our current Superintendent Administration seems to have the same idea as we move forward and I am excited to work with Patrick McCabe to better our district. Akron is such a great district with a good graduation success rate so I believe being in school all week is a huge part of this concept. Also, being involved with many local organizations and a proud graduate of Akron, I have always thought that Akron was different from other districts on the basis that we are so community oriented. The Village of Akron, and Town of Newstead is a huge part of our school district, and the students are involved with so many events we host throughout the year that I am going to advocate and push for more community relations to better the opportunities for our students. Akron has so many amenities within our community that I think our students would benefit from. Our students are the face of our community and will eventually be the leadership of our community so it is imperative that they are involved and prideful of everything we have to offer and learn from. I look forward to sitting on this board and advocating for our students. Our school is great but there is always room for improvement or adjustments to grow
Philip Kenline
From my time on the school board, the top two issues that I see facing the Akron Central School District are (1) the continued uncertainty of our aid from the state of New York and (2) the lack of infrastructure to support technology.
Each year the District is charged with presenting a budget to the community to support our students and district. All too often the information needed to determine how we fund these expenditures is not available until the last minute or is based on estimates from the state. In the last couple years, we have also been faced with potential mid-year reductions. This kind of uncertainty has required the District and the Board to be critical in our analysis of needs to ensure that resources are used wisely. Mr. McCabe, the Administrators, and our school business official have refined the budget process to give the Board the information and best possible options to ensure we can meet our obligation to provide the best possible program for our students.
Infrastructure shortcomings, specifically the lack of access to high-speed internet, are an issue highlighted by the remote learning required by the COVID pandemic. We will need to continue to bring this issue up to the state through the State Education Department and our local elected officials. It is critical for our student’s to be able access data, whether at home or in the school environment, and that we push for the state to enable companies to provide this access without the endless red tape currently in place. It is imperative that as a Board member I work and continue to lobby and bring this issue to the attention of lawmakers and business leaders.
Erik Polkowski
The last twelve months have caused us to reevaluate education. From delivery and assessment to a student’s mental and social health, it all has been impacted. As the regulations and restrictions ease, students will return to full-time instruction. The superintendent and board have already made full-time instruction the priority. However, once students return, the first issue the district will face is the level of student performance.
When an assessment is made of a student’s expected levels of understanding, there will be a gap among many. The implementation of programs and additional instructional resource tools will be needed to be put in place to assist helping students back to expected levels. These can be created with the use of federal funds already allotted and mandated to be used for this function. However, this will be a short-term solution to a long-term concern. Federal funds will expire.
This leads to the second issue we face, the adaptive use of the resources we receive and currently have. We are a district with a declining enrollment. That will mean less foundation aid in the future. Furthermore, with budgetary questions regarding NYS funding, the issue could be further complicated. Before this last federal bill, NYS was withholding dollars and not fully funding schools. The solution here is for an assessment of our current resources, personnel, and programming. Through creative means and collaborations, we can maximize what we can do with each.
Additionally, school advocacy at the state and federal levels needs to continue to help our district. While these past months have been difficult, it has not been for naught. While we have seen weaknesses in the system, we have also identified strengths within our district. We now must apply the lessons of both to the benefit of our students and our community.
Bios submitted to the District:
Erin Behm
My name is Erin Behm (Shephard) and I am almost a lifelong resident of Akron. I currently live in the village with my 10 year old daughter Maddie and my Mom Sydnee. When I graduated from Akron in 1991, I made the profound statement that many graduates foolishly make, “I’m never coming back.” But I did, and I have no regrets. Just like many others before me, I realized how lucky I was to grow up in a small community with genuine people always willing to look out for one another. I love knowing my daughter Maddie is safe and happy walking the same halls my sister and I walked because our experiences at ACS gave us a strong foundation for the future. A lot has changed since I roamed the hallways but the framework for success is still in place and should serve as a reminder of how blessed we are to call Akron home. The Akron School Board has been excellent at setting the vision, goals, and policy for the district and I would like to be a part of that process. I believe my education, experience and skill set will be valuable to the district in areas of human resources, organizational structure and leadership.
After graduating from Akron, I went on to earn a B.A, in Business Administration from Westminster College. In 2020, I earned a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Medaille College and currently, I am working on my Master’s in Business Administration. I spent 15 years in the gift industry travelling as a sales representative for companies like Gund and Ty Beanie Babies. I loved the travelling but when my daughter took her first steps while I was at a trade show in Atlanta, I hung up my stuffed animals and walked away. I started over and for the past 7 years I have been in human resources where I have gained experience in benefits administration, NYS Labor Laws, project management, budgeting, organizational and decision-making skills. Over the years since moving back, I have volunteered with The Akron Celebration Committee, The Akron-Newstead Community Coalition and The Akron-Newstead Rotary. I served as secretary on The Akron Celebration Committee and a judge for Akron Idol. During my time on The Akron-Newstead Community Coalition, I facilitated a relationship and transportation with Darien Lake for students from Akron to work during the summer.
The decision to run for school board is not a decision I took lightly because the challenging decisions the board is often faced with are decisions that affect all of us. But I believe the best investment any of us can make is in our children and I am confident and ready to invest my time and dedication for your child and mine.
Lisa Giallella
I have been a resident of Akron for the past 26 years, after moving here from the City of Buffalo, and my son is a 2017 graduate of Akron.
I am currently a Project Manager/Scrum Master at M&T Bank, in the Data Technology area, where I have been for the past 6 years. I have also worked at First Niagara Bank, United Health Care and Genesee Community College. I have an undergraduate degree (BA) in Mass Communication from St. Bonaventure University and a Master’s degree (Ed.M.) in Educational Administration from UB.
I am running for a position on the BOE because I was raised on being of service to others. From working on any numbers of fundraisers in high school to joining service clubs in college, it has always been about service. I have also had many opportunities to explore and develop my leadership skills.
While working at Genesee Community College, I had the chance to run a state-wide campaign to get elected as an At-Large Representative to what was then NEA’s national Representative Assembly. I was still in my mid-20’s and at the time was one of the youngest people elected to that position. In more recent years, I have served on the board of the Akron Music Parents and I co-chaired the Chamber of Commerce Sidewalk Sale in 2019.
I believe that education is the basis for success – success as a person, success as a school and success as a community. While the focus has been on getting the students back in the classroom full time (rightly so), that is not the solution to everything that is necessary to return Akron to the top of school districts in WNY. What is holding us back? What tools are needed? Are the administrators, teachers, aides, and other staff members supported in the things they must do AND the things they want to do?
I look forward to being of service to the Akron school community and therefore, the community at large.
Jacob Halleck
As a lifelong member of our community and graduate of Akron, I am excited to announce my candidacy for Akron’s Board of Education! I have always been proud of our school, and community as a whole. Throughout the past few years, I have been an active member, and the Secretary for the Akron Chamber of Commerce, and Operations Manager for Holland Creative Marketing which publishes Tidbits of Akron Falls, and I continue to work closely with our local leaders, and influencers to better us as a community. As a prospective school board member I look forward to continuing to incorporate our community values, within our district to widen the opportunities for our students! Our students are the highest priority, as they are the future and face of Akron. The Village of Akron has always been something special, and the school district is just another example of that. Please remember these values as you vote on May 18th. I’m Jacob Halleck, and I aim to be Akron’s next Board of Education Member!
Phillip Kenline
Phillip Kenline is running for re-election to the school board and has previously served as a Trustee and the Vice President in his first “tour” with the Board of Education from 2010 – 2016. After taking some time to settle into his new position, he was elected to the Board again in 2018. Phil has been a resident of Akron since his retirement from the U.S. Navy in 2005. He served 30 years in the Navy, attaining the rank of Command Master Chief. In this position he served as the senior enlisted advisor to the Commanding Officer at various commands, both afloat and ashore. This experience gave him a broad background in both logistic and personnel matters that have helped him in civilian life.
Upon his retirement from the Navy, Phil decided to try his hand at relaxing but soon found out that he wasn’t ready for retirement quite yet. He became a substitute bus driver for Akron, and after a year and a half realized it would be better to have the children sitting at desks in front of him than behind him on a moving bus. He returned to Buffalo State College where he earned a degree in Biology with a minor in Science Education. After his graduation in 2011, he served as a substitute teacher in various districts in the area and became the science teacher at St Stephen School on Grand Island in September 2014.
As a teacher, he has first-hand knowledge and experience with the daily issues that face teachers in the classroom. This is particularly important as we deal with the consequences of the COVID virus and its impact on school operation. First and foremost the focus is on the safety of the students. He is also active in the administrative side of education and has served as the grant writer for his school, securing grants in science that have had a direct impact on student learning. He helped secured the donation of a greenhouse for the school that has enabled them to expand their Life Skills program. This program provides the students in all grades with hands-on, meaningful and practical opportunities in addition to their traditional subjects.
The Kenline family have all been active in the Akron school system, as students, athletes, volunteers, and employees. The Kenline children; Eric, Kimberly, and Marcus are all graduates of Akron Central and were all soccer players. His better half, Emily, has been employed by the District in a variety of positions in all three schools, and is currently a Secretary in the Middle School office.
Erik Polkowski
Education. The word immediately raises our self-definition as the instruction of reading, writing and arithmetic. It is a basic set of skills that we, as a community, believe will assist and guide the next generation into the roles of tomorrow. It stirs up the thoughts of our own path and experience. But the landscape is ever changing. Are we ready?
The past twelve months have been difficult. We have had to open our eyes to look at education in new ways. Everything from its identity to delivery has been impacted. Academics to athletics. Mental, social, and physical health. Each aspect has raised its own set of concerns and needs, leading us to address them with viable solutions. All the while, each day brings a new set of directions. From recommendations to restrictions, all by outside agencies, to all of which, a district is held accountable.
My name is Erik Polkowski, and I am running for re-election to the Akron Board of Education. As a member of the Akron Newstead community for the past 24 years, it is the place my family calls home. My son Riley is a 2019 ACS graduate. My daughter Emerson is an ACS HS junior. Both have attended Akron since kindergarten. With a large extended family, there are relatives in each building among many of the grade levels. My wife Melissa and I have been active ACS parents, volunteering in everything from class activities like homecoming floats, to working with the Akron Music Parents and PTA. I have worked with athletic teams and as an ACS substitute bus driver. I recognize size and diversity of our district. I know that the school is a central unifying element within our town.
Outside of the school, I have met the needs of the community through leadership. I currently serve on the Trinity Lutheran Church council and have served on the Akron Celebration Committee and the Akron Sports board. I have been a member of the Newstead Planning Board for twelve years. As a small business owner on Main Street, I understand the many issues faced in daily operations and the need for long term strategies. A twenty-five-year veteran in the field of commercial construction and engineering, I have a broad perspective and knowledge of the industry that I carry with me.
As a school board member, I have served as vice president for the past two years. I have served as a board representative on district interview panels and as a part of the construction team for the current capital improvement project. In 2020, I was recognized for my service to the board earning the ECASB Shining Star Award. I am the district liaison for the Erie County Association of School Boards Legislative team. Over the three years in this position, I have meet with both NYS Senate (District 61 & 62) and both NYS Assembly (District 144 & 139) representatives, locally and in Albany. I have advocated in person to Erie County Legislator Greene, former US Congressman Collins, and US Senator Schumer on the district’s behalf. Each time I highlight the needs of the larger school community, our local region and specific concerns of our district. These interactions have brought about important relationships, including with board members from other WNY school districts. These actions have and will continue to aid the district in meeting its mission.
I take pride in representing the people of the community. I am always accessible to listen to concerns, or have conversations regarding the activities and direction the school is heading. The upcoming three years this the next board term will see many concerns that will need to be addressed. First, the return to in person instruction is critical. Students need the one-on-one interaction with teachers and classmates. It is needed for the mental and social health of all students. Second, while a full return is important, assessment and assistance to students is vitally important. We have lost valuable time over the past year. An impact can already be seen in our students. Steps are needed to be put in place to help students recover and return them to the instructional levels expected. Third, there is a fiscal cliff approaching. A few years back, there was the Gap Elimination Adjustment. This was a plan by the state to account for lost revenue and a state funding shortfall. Over five years, the GEA removed billions from schools. The GEA was my initial reason for becoming a school board member. Currently, due to the current economic climate, a shortfall is on the horizon. Once monies from federal stimulus run dry, the burden of funding will return. It could signal a return of a GEA variant. The next few years will require careful planning to prepare for and actively navigate the district through.
My focus is clear. My commitment absolute. Lead as through the eyes of the student. My name is Erik Polkowski and I welcome a vote of your support in the upcoming Akron Board of Education election May 18th. Thank you.