To the editor:

As we leave behind one of the most tumultuous years in the history of the Pelham Union Free School District, it’s crucial to move forward with experience and expertise on the board of education. That’s why we support Jess Young for reelection.

In her tenure on the board, Young has proven herself invaluable to ensuring the best outcome for our capital building projects. Professionally, Young is an architect at an award-winning firm in New York City. Her expertise and skills were crucial to navigating the complex bond process for the new Hutchinson School, Prospect Hill addition and Glover Field improvements, which she did while simultaneously managing a high-performing school district in the midst of a global pandemic.

Young’s work with the bond steering committee started even before she was a school trustee, when she joined the committee tasked with addressing the failing Hutchinson school building. As the current chairwoman of the steering committee, she has successfully managed a process that will result in a new $27 million school, which will open on time and on budget this fall, despite the overwhelming instability and uncertainty of 2020. Her attention to detail, experience and skill set are critical to the middle school/high school renovations and Prospect Hill building project, as well as to capital improvement projects the board may pursue in the future. In addition to her expertise in construction and finance, Young has been instrumental in the sound fiscal management of the school budget; she remains dedicated to keeping budgets below the tax cap while making strategic use of reserves to continue to shelter residents from an ever-increasing tax burden.

As a school board member for the past three years, Young has worked tirelessly to help ensure the health, safety and education of every student in the district. At a time when many in the community were stretched thin, Young dedicated countless hours to making sure our district did everything possible to provide a quality education to all our students, while following the guidance of a task force of Pelham doctors and experts.

Young strongly believes in the public school system and in providing an equitable and accessible education to all Pelham families. She will put students first by fostering an environment where all students feel welcomed, supported, respected and challenged to reach their individual goals. Young is committed to working with the community to address concerns of equity, inclusion and anti-bias. She brings no pre-conceived solutions to these difficult conversations; instead, she is open and willing to listen, learn and collaborate on sustainable change.

Many of us know her as a neighbor, friend, Girl Scouts camping expert, Pelham rec and travel soccer coach, lacrosse mom and former board member for the Pelham Children’s Center. Young is currently the only Hutchinson parent on the school board, and she is the only Hutchinson parent running. We believe the board functions best when there is balanced representation across the whole community.

Please take the time to learn more about Young at jessyoungforboe.com and at upcoming PTA meetings and the candidate forum. Young is not on social media, but she wants to hear from the community so don’t hesitate to reach out.

Please join us in supporting Jess Young for reelection to the board of education on May 18th!

Melissa Mulrooney Deighton

164 Ancon Ave.

Lynda Banfield

Kate Carpenter

and

Kathryn and Garrett Ahitow

Suany Aquino-Chudavala

Jen and Ben Argyle

Adam Banfield

Brady Butterfield

Katie Butterfield

Mike Carpenter

Will Cavanagh

Becky and Eric Collins

Diandra and Brian D’Amico

Alexandra and David Drinkwine

Amy and Roy Eappen

Lauren Dunkelberger and Shaun Foley

Diana and Jon Freeland

Alexa and Dan Gordon

Atasha and Maurice Greene

Sunetra and Ananda Haldar

Solange Hansen

Lisa Hill-Ries

Casey Howard

Katherine Hughes

Edgar Jaimes, M.D. and Kim Jaimes

Melissa Kagan

Stacey Kaplan and Eric Sznip

Deborah Lowery Knapp and Toby Knapp

Amy Lienert

Chris and Colleen Maiberger

Solimar and Paul Martinez

Stephanie McGovern

Mariette and Tom Morrissey

Francile and Chance Mullen

Tracee and Adam Neumann

Stephanie and Jared Otero

Thomas J. Ow, M.D., and Bethany Ow

Haley Price and Nate Stricker

Kristy and Jim Rebele

Thyra and Michael Roff

Lauren and Geoff Rudaw

Jason Sample, M.D., and Ellen Sample, R.N

Liz and Stu Schnabolk

Brian and Tim Seely

Judy Shampanier and Mike Bowen

Anna Shampanier-Bowen

Jennifer and Nima Shirazi

Mary and James Smithmeyer

Jessica and Russell Solomon

Ariel Spira-Cohen and Victor Birutti

Yan Stacy

Laura Topal

Marie and Bob Tracy

Danya Vega-Thomas and Rick Thomas

Saya Verma, M.D.

Paula Wood and Josh Wallach

Linda and Kenneth Woodward

Janna and Mike Zagari

Kim Barrett

Namita Basavatia

Karen Beatty

Annemarie Burns

Lily Burns

Dana Caputo

Aileen and Tim Dosé

Ashley and Stephen Dolan

Richard and Laura Fogel

Lori and Hans Helmers

Sandy and Andy Horan

Pavithra Mandappa

John Pachuta and Susan Sales

Eden Perry and Marcos Rollan

Jonathan and Kasia Platt

Silmara and Ron Sucena

Lela Schindler

Carly Snarr

Deepti Thomas-Paulose, M.D.

Aura Truslow and Mark Adams