The Citizens Nominating Committee (CNC) gave its stamp of approval Monday to six candidates for the three open seats on the Pelham Board of Education, according to a letter from the CNC.

The candidates the CNC has put forth for three-year terms on the seven-member board are:

• Jackie De Angelis 
• Natalie Marrero
• Eileen Miller
• Theresa K. Mohan
• Will Treves
• Paula Wood

This year, all three incumbents on the school board whose terms are up have chosen not to seek reelection.

Despite its name, the CNC doesn’t nominate candidates to the ballot for the school election—that’s done by individual candidates collecting 48 signatures on a petition.

The non-partisan CNC interviews and assesses the candidates who sign up for the committee’s process to ensure that each “demonstrates a commitment to public education and an understanding of the board of education guidelines outlined by the New York State School Boards Association,” the letter said.

The CNC can give its “nomination” to more candidates than there are available seats, and a candidate is not required to interview with the committee to run for the board. The deadline to apply for the CNC review process was March 4.

Petitions to run for the school board can be turned in to the district clerk up until April 18, so there could be more than six candidates in the race.

“Since 1954, with the exception of two years marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Pelham CNC has recruited, interviewed and nominated qualified candidates to run for the board of education in Pelham,” the CNC letter said. “The Pelham CNC serves as a resource to both the community and the candidates, providing due process appropriate to this level of public service and answering any questions candidates may have as they consider their decision to run for the board.”

The vote on the school budget and the three board of education seats will take place on May 17.