On May 21, district residents will elect three members to the Fayetteville-Manlius School District Board of Education. The individuals elected will each serve three-year terms.
The board is the official policy-making body of the school district. It is responsible for carrying out the laws and regulations pertaining to the education of the community’s children.
It adopts school district policy, curriculum and programs of study, approves the hiring of all personnel and establishes the conditions of employment.
In addition, the board has the responsibility of maintaining facilities, establishing an annual budget and setting a tax levy. The school board adopts a proposed operating budget each year at a public meeting. Eligible residents then have the opportunity to vote upon the proposal.
The F-M Board of Education is made up of nine school district residents who are elected by voters to three-year terms in an annual election. Terms are staggered so that three members are elected each year. Board members are not compensated for their work.
Eight candidates filed nominating petitions for the three available seats:
(Photos and candidate profiles that were submitted to the district are listed below. Candidates’ names are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot.)
Daniel Toolan
Daniel Toolan, of Manlius, is seeking his first term on the Board of Education.
He and his wife Deirdre have two children, one who attends Enders Road Elementary School and one who attends Eagle Hill Middle School. Toolan has been a district resident for five years. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Notre Dame, and a Master of Arts degree from U.S Naval War College. Following 21 years of service, Toolan retired as the Commanding Officer of the Navy Reserve Center in Syracuse. He currently serves as a program manager for a defense company in Central New York. He has coached two seasons of girls F-M Youth Basketball League and is a volunteer for Honor Flight Syracuse, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring and celebrating United States military veterans for their service.
Anne Marie P. Voutsinas
Anne Marie P. Voutsinas, of Fayetteville, is seeking her first term on the Board
of Education. She and her husband James have lived in the district for 50 years and have three children, who graduated from the district in 1996, 2001, and 2005. Voutsinas received a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Mathematics Education from SUNY Fredonia, a Master of Science in Urban Education from Syracuse University, and took Educational Leadership courses at Syracuse University and Le Moyne College. Voutsinas currently serves as a consultant for New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), providing services to area retired NYSUT members. She is a retired Syracuse City School District teacher, where she taught mathematics for 38 years. Voutsinas is a Eucharistic Minister, Faith Formation Catechist, and Catechetical Leader (PreK-8) at Immaculate Conception Parish. She is also a member of the Syracuse Teachers Retirees (STARS) and serves as the SECNY FCU Board Vice President.
Sarah R. Pinsky
Sarah R. Pinsky, of Manlius, is seeking her first term on the Board of Education. She and her husband Todd have two children, one who attends Eagle Hill Middle School and one who attends F-M High School. Sarah has been a district
resident for 13 years. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Classical Civilizations from University of Michigan, and currently works as Vice President of Partnerships at KABOOM!, a national nonprofit organization that seeks to grant children access to great places to play. Sarah’s career has focused on building healthy kids and communities, ensuring children can experience the developmental benefits of outdoor play. As Vice President of Partnerships, she is responsible for developing strategic partnerships with municipal systems, including school districts, park and recreation departments, and a diverse range of corporate and foundation funding partners to address the growing disparity in access to playgrounds and other playspaces nationwide. Sarah regularly volunteers for HSA events, and previously served as the president of Enders Road HSA, a member of the Site Based Teams at Enders Road and Eagle Hill, and on the district Wellness Committee. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Jewish Community Foundation of Central New York and the CNY Gym Centre Booster Club.
Ann K. Bersani
Ann K. Bersani, of Fayetteville, is seeking her first term on the Board of Education. She and her husband Tom have two children, one who attends
Fayetteville Elementary School and one who attends Wellwood Middle School. Bersani has been a district resident for eight years. Bersani received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from SUNY Fredonia, and a Master of Science degree in higher education and student affairs administration from Canisius University. Bersani is the Director of Residence Life and Housing at SUNY Cortland and is responsible for managing multiple facilities and fostering a community of belonging for residential students by providing a safe, civil, and vibrant environment that supports the university’s academic mission. She is currently a volunteer for Fayetteville Elementary School’s and Wellwood Middle School’s Home and School Associations, and a member of the Fayetteville Recreation Department Committee.
Marissa Joy Mims
Marissa Joy Mims, of Manlius, is seeking her sixth term on the Board of Education. She has lived in the district for 19 years and has two children, both
of whom graduated from FMHS in 2019. Mims received a Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University and is currently working towards a Masters degree in STEM Education from Grand Canyon University. She works as an International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program Design and Technology teacher at JT Roberts Middle School in the Syracuse City School District, and also serves as the UB Community Project Coordinator, the VEX IQ Robotics advisor, and yearbook and student council advisor. Mims currently serves on the Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Committee and leads the Diversity, Equity, and Belonging committee. She is the current Board of Education president at F-M, serves on the policy and audit committees, and is a member of the F-M Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee. Mims also represents both F-M and Jamesville-Dewitt school districts as a member of the Onondaga-Cortland-Madison (OCM) BOCES board of Education (2020-Present). She is a member of the Town of Manlius Comprehensive Planning Committee and is chair of the Onondaga County Justice Center Oversight Committee.
Daniel Seidberg
Daniel Seidberg, of Manlius, is seeking his third term on the board of education. He has lived in the F-M district his entire life, having attended Mott
Road Elementary School and Wellwood Middle School before graduating from F-M High School. He and his wife Jenée, also an F-M graduate, have two children: one is a 2021 F-M graduate and one attends F-M High School. He volunteered as a trustee of the FM Education Foundation, served as a youth soccer coach for 14 seasons, co-chaired the Cavalry Club swim program, served as a member of the F-M Community Facility Task Force and has been involved in other F-M programming. Mr. Seidberg received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Boston University School of Law. Mr. Seidberg is an attorney and also the president and co-founder of an international company that provides emergency technology and communication tools to fire departments, emergency medical services agencies, police departments and other first responder entities throughout North America.
Gavin Goodwin
Gavin Goodwin, of Manlius, is seeking his first term on the Board of Education.
He and his spouse Rachael have three children, one at Mott Road Elementary School, and two at Eagle Hill Middle School. Goodwin has been a district resident for nearly three years and is currently self-employed, working as a landlord. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Utah and a Master of Business Administration from California State University Fullerton. Goodwin has served as an F-M Room Parent and is involved in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and church.
Christopher P. McKee
Christopher McKee, of Manlius, is seeking his first term on the Board of Education. He and his wife Maggie have two children, one who attends Mott Road Elementary School and one who attends Eagle Hill Middle School. McKee
has been a district resident for eight years. He studied teaching at Kean College Ocean County Community College and has received multiple advanced certifications in information technology and engineering. He is a Senior Solution Architect in the Chief Technology Group at IBM and is also a member of IBM’s Veterans Group and the Be Equal Business Resource Group, which strives to improve the understanding and lives of those affected by disabilities in the workplace and community. McKee has helped support Mott Road HSA and science nights at Enders Road Elementary School. He has served as parent volunteer for the Fast Bees track program for eight years, is a member of the Aquatic Community Center of Manlius group, and has judged and participated in local science fairs, including at Utica University, the MOST and Bishop Grimes. McKee currently serves as a board member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association International Erie Canal Chapter, which recently awarded grants to teachers and scholarships to students totaling $50,000, and is also a member of the Manlius Democratic Committee.