Board of Education Members
2009-2010
.
MRS.
MIA PFITZER, President
(term expires in 2011)
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 junior at Boston University
and their
son, Michael, is a senior at Tufts University. Her e-mail address is miapfitz@msn.com and her phone number is 583-2964.
MR. JAY C. RIFENBARY, Vice
President
(term expires in 2012)
Mr. Rifenbary was
elected to the board in 2006. He is president of
Rifenbary
Training & Development and author of the international
best-seller, “No Excuse! –
Incorporating Core Values, Accountability, and Balance Into Your
Life and Career," awarded book of the
year by the North American Book Dealers Exchange. Mr. Rifenbary is
a professional speaker, trainer, and consultant, and
provides his expertise in the areas of personal development,
leadership and communications training to
organizations,
associations and schools nationwide. He
serves on the Board of Directors for the Saratoga YMCA and Patriot Hills
of New York, and is a member of the 20th Congressional District
service academy selection committee. He is also a columnist for
The Saratogian and a member of St. Clement's Church. He received his
Bachelor of
Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West
Point in 1980 with a concentration in nuclear physics.
Residents of Saratoga Springs since 1993, Jay and his wife Noni
have two children
who are graduates of Saratoga Springs High School:
Nicole, 26, a graduate of the University of Vermont, with a
Master’s Degree from the University of
New Mexico, and Jared, 22, a
graduate of Bentley University. Mr. Rifenbary’s
e-mail address is jay@rifenbary.com and his phone numbers are
587-6501 (home), 587-6411 (work), and 573-4709 (cell).
MR.
AARON AuBUCHON
(term expires in 2012)
Aaron AuBuchon, a resident of Greenfield
Center, is a native Kansan who was born, reared and educated in
Pittsburg, Kansas, before moving to Saratoga Springs in 2003.
Mr. AuBuchon graduated from Pittsburg State University with a
Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and a
major in finance. As a scholarship athlete, he garnered two-time
All-American status as a collegiate golfer, and in September
2008 he was inducted into the Pittsburg State University Sports
Hall of Fame. Mr. AuBuchon has worked with biotech companies for
the past twelve years. His current position is with Genoptix
Medical Laboratory. He also has background experience in
banking, working with a regional bank in Kansas as an investment
broker. He has participated in numerous management/leadership
courses, including Leadership Pittsburg. These positions and
courses have helped Mr. AuBuchon fine-tune his communication,
analytical, and problem-solving skills. Mr. AuBuchon and his
wife Sandi have two preschool children, Averie, 4, and Chase, 2.
His phone number is 587-6494.
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. He is also chairman for the Saratoga District of the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Gailor is married to Gail, and they live in Saratoga Springs with their son, Alex, a student at Saratoga Springs High School, and daughter, Mary, who attends 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.
MR.
STEVE GRANDIN
(term expires in 2012)
Mr. Grandin was elected to the Board in 2009. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Arts from Cornell University in 1977. He is a Senior Account Executive at Capitol Hill Management Services in Albany, where he has worked for 22 years. He serves as Administrative Director of two national organizations (the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators, and the Academy of Certified Archivists), Editor of the New York State Legislative Reference Guide, and Administrator for the New York State Education Department's Ophthalmic Dispensing practical licensing examination. Mr. Grandin, who has lived in Saratoga Springs for 27 years, previously worked as an editor for Gannett News Service, including seven years as Sports Editor of The Saratogian. He served on the school district’s Facility and Space Planning Team, and is an active member of the New York State Sports Writers Association. Mr. Grandin and his wife, Renee, live in Saratoga Springs and have three sons, all graduates of Saratoga Springs High School – Philip (Class of 2001), a high school physics teacher in Leominster, MA, and adjunct astronomy professor at Fitchburg State College, MA; Alex (Class of 2006), a senior at Boston University, majoring in Classics Education; and Will (Class of 2008), a sophomore at Binghamton University, majoring in Music. Mr. Grandin can be reached at 584-5917 or sgrandin55@aol.com.
MR.
FRANCIS G. PALUMBO
(term expires in 2011)
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
are students at the Saratoga Springs High School. His phone number is 587-6007 and his e-mail
address is
f.palumbo@ctmale.com.
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. He works for New York State at the Office of Homeland Security in Albany. Mr. Phillips and his wife, Ingrid, have three children, all graduates of Saratoga Springs High School. His e-mail address is cphillips10@nycap.rr.com, and he can be reached at 581-9820.
MR.
JEFFREY W. PIRO
(term expires in 2011)
Mr. Piro was elected to the board in 1999. He holds a Bachelor of Science 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 30 years, Mr. Piro is currently working part-time and offering independent consulting services in that capacity. 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 and a granddaughter. Abby is a 2000 graduate of Saratoga Springs High School and currently working on her undergraduate degree to eventually become a special education teacher. Lauren is a 2004 graduate of the high school and a 2008 graduate of Syracuse University who recently moved to Berkeley, CA, to eventually commence graduate studies. Natalie attended Lake Avenue Elementary School in second grade and transferred to Dorothy Nolan Elementary School for the 2008-09 academic year. Mr. Piro lives with his wife in Greenfield and can be reached at 587-8192 or jwpiro@verizon.net.
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. A doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Sage
Graduate School will be conferred in December 2009.