Board of Education Members
2007-2008
.
MR.
FRANCIS G. PALUMBO, President
(term expires in 2008)
Mr. Palumbo was elected to the board in 1999. He holds a
bachelor’s of landscape architecture from the SUNY College of
Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University and a
master’s of urban and environmental studies from Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute.
As a licensed landscape architect and site development group
manager for C.T. Male Associates P.C. in Latham, an engineering
firm, he has been involved with site development and facilities
planning for school districts statewide. A 1989 graduate of the
Leadership Saratoga Program, he has a history of community
involvement with the Saratoga County Arts Council, Franklin
Community Center, Wilton Recreation Commission, Presbyterian-New
England Congregational Church, and as a soccer and lacrosse
coach for the Saratoga Recreation League. He and his wife,
Susan, live in Wilton with their sons Colin and Peter, who
attend the Saratoga Springs High School and
the Maple Avenue Middle School.
His phone number is 587-6007 and his e-mail
address is F.Palumbo@ctmale.com
MR.
WILL MARTIN, Vice President
(term expires in 2009)
Mr. Martin was elected to the board in 2000. He received his
bachelor of science degree in psychology from the State
University of New York at Fredonia in 1973 and completed
master’s level coursework in general experimental psychology at
St. Bonaventure University.
He is a career public servant with the state Department of
Civil Service, where he is currently employed as a Chief
Municipal Personnel Consultant with responsibility for providing
consultative services to local governments statewide on matters
relating to civil service testing programs. As a representative
of his department, he also served as president of the
Mid-Atlantic Personnel Assessment Consortium, a professional
organization of public sector personnel agencies from the
northeastern United States. Mr. Martin and his wife, Shelley,
have five children: Ben, Chris, Dan, Ryan, and Renee. His e-mail
address is wmartin7@nycap.com and his phone number is 587-4706.
MR. ERNEST J. GAILOR, PE
(term expires in 2010)
Mr. Gailor was elected to the board in 2007. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil and environmental engineering from Clarkson College of Technology in 1977. He is a senior principal of Harlan-McGee of North America, PLLC, an engineering and architectural firm located in Malta Ridge and Buffalo. Mr. Gailor served as chapter president of the New York State Society of Professional Engineers, and is a senior member of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers. He has served with several community organizations, including the Saratoga Springs Jaycees, the City Center Volunteers, the Saratoga Springs Urban Cultural Park Program, Leadership Saratoga, Saratoga Springs Boy Scouts Troop 7, St. Clement's Church, and the school district's facilities committee. Mr. Gailor is married to Gail, and they live in Saratoga Springs with their son, Alex, and daughter, Mary, who attend the Maple Avenue Middle School. His phone number is 584-7656 and his e-mail address is ernie@harlan-mcgee.com.
MRS. REGINA M. GAPCZYNSKI
(term expires in 2010)
Mrs. Gapczynski was elected to the board in 2007. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Dominican College and a Master of Science degree in education and administration from SUNY Albany. Mrs. Gapczynski retired recently after serving 20 years as elementary principal for the Greenwich Central School District. Mrs. Gapczynski was honored as Elementary Principal of the Year by the Capital District School Development Association, and selected by the Adirondack Girl Scout Council as a Woman of Distinction for 2007. Prior school and community positions include president of the Caroline Street PTA; president of the Saratoga Springs Teachers' Association; member of the Saratoga school district's Facilities Advisory Committee; and Girl Scout leader. Currently, she is a Eucharistic Minister and Faith Formation Instructor at St. Clement's Church, a member of the high school PTSO, and serves with the Saratoga County Children's Committee. Mrs. Gapczynski is married to James. Their daughter, Gabrielle, is a student at Saratoga Springs High School. Her phone number is 587-2652 and her e-mail address is jgapczyn@nycap.rr.com.
MRS.
MIA PFITZER
(term expires in 2008)
Mrs. Pfitzer was elected to the board in 1999. She holds an
associate’s degree in science from Northeastern University. She
has been actively involved in the local schools for many years.
Mrs. Pfitzer has served as president of the Home-School
Association at the Dorothy Nolan Elementary School, has been
involved with school drama productions at the elementary, middle
and high school levels, and has served on numerous school
committees. She and her husband, Greg,
live in Wilton.Their daughter, Sally,
is a sophomore at Boston University
and their
son, Michael, is a junior at Tufts University. Her e-mail address is miapfitz@msn.com and her phone number is 583-2964.
MR. CHARLES E. PHILLIPS
(term expires in 2010)
Mr. Phillips was elected to the board in 2007. He is a resident of Milton and has been actively engaged with school district policy and programs through Parent-Teacher-Student Organizations, including service as president of the junior high PTSO in 1998-99 and co-president of the high school PTSO from 2001-2003. He also worked for many years on both student and "graduate" surveys for the high school. Mr. Phillips graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He served as an Army officer for 22 years, specializing in leadership and leader development, including tours at West Point (where he received a Master of Arts in Leader Development) and at the Center for Army Leadership in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Currently, he works for New York State as an assistant to the director at the Office of Homeland Security in Albany. He is a graduate of the Leadership Saratoga program and serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Mr. Phillips and his wife, Ingrid, have three children: two daughters who graduated from Saratoga Springs High School and one son who will graduate in 2008. His e-mail address is cphillips10@nycap.rr.com, and he can be reached at 581-9820.
MR.
JEFFREY W. PIRO
(term expires in 2008)
Mr. Piro was elected to the board in
1999. He holds a B.S. degree in environmental studies and a
bachelor of landscape architecture, both from the SUNY College
of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University. A
licensed professional landscape architect for over 20 years, Mr.
Piro is a senior associate at J. Kenneth
Fraser and Associates, where he spends much of his time
assisting public schools and their architects with their site
and infrastructure requirements. Mr. Piro
once served on the District Facility
and Space Planning Team, and is the former vice chair of the
Geyser Road Elementary School Shared Decision-Making Team. Other
community service activities have included: 1988 graduate of
Leadership Saratoga; board of directors of the local American
Red Cross chapter; board of directors and building committee
chair of the YMCA of Saratoga; vice chair of the Town of
Greenfield Planning Board; chair of the Town of Greenfield
Master Plan Committee; and president of the Saratoga County Arts
Council. Mr. Piro and his wife, Debbie, have two daughters.
Abby is a 2000 graduate of Saratoga Springs High School
and
Lauren is a 2004 graduate of the high
school who attends Syracuse University.
Their granddaughter attends Lake Avenue
Elementary School. Mr. Piro lives with
his family in Greenfield and can be reached at 587-8192 or
jwpiro@verizon.net.
MR. JAY C. RIFENBARY
(term expires in 2009)
Mr. Rifenbary was elected to the board in 2006. He is president of the Rifenbary Training & Development Center, and author of the international best-seller, “No Excuse – Incorporating Core Values, Accountability, and Balance Into Your Life and Career.” The book earned the “Book of the Year” award from the North American Book Dealers Exchange. Mr. Rifenbary is a professional speaker, trainer, and consultant, and has provided his expertise in the areas of personal development, leadership and communication training to Fortune 500 companies, associations and schools nationwide. He received his bachelor of science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1980, with a concentration in nuclear physics. He and his wife, Noni, have two children: Nicole, 24, and Jared, 20, and reside in Saratoga Springs. Mr. Rifenbary's e-mail address is jnoexcuse@aol.com and his phone numbers are 587-6501 (home) and 587-6411 (work).
MR.
STEPHEN T. RODRIGUEZ
(term expires in 2009)
Mr. Rodriguez was elected to the board in 2003. He received a
bachelor of science in civil and environmental engineering from
Clarkson College of Technology in 1979 and a J.D. degree from
Western New England College School of Law in 1982. He is a
member of Rodriguez & Doern, PLLC, a law office located in
Saratoga Springs and Johnstown. Mr. Rodriguez served as a
delegate to the New York State Bar Association, served on the
executive council of the New York State Council of Bar Leaders,
and was an executive committee member for the Saratoga County
Bar Association. He has served with several community
organizations, including the Saratoga Care Foundation, the
Saratoga Springs Urban Heritage Area Program, Leadership
Saratoga, and St. Paul's Lutheran Church. He has also served as
a volunteer on several school district committees. Mr. Rodriguez
is married to Linda, and they live in Saratoga Springs with
their daughters, Elise, a 2007 Saratoga
Springs High School graduate attending Dickinson College, and Rachael,
a student at the high school. His phone number is 583-1161.
JANICE M. WHITE
Superintendent of Schools
Mrs. White assumed the superintendency of
the Saratoga Springs City School District on July 1, 2007. She
has been an educator for 33 years, including seven years with
Saratoga, where she served first as director of elementary and
middle education and, since 2001, as deputy superintendent.
Before coming to Saratoga, Mrs. White was an administrator in
the Lansingburgh City School District and an administrator and
teacher in the Voorheesville Central School District. She
received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education
and psychology from the State University at Oswego, a Master of
Science degree in developmental reading from SUNY Albany, and
School District Administrator certification from the College of
St. Rose.