On May 20, 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.
Five 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.)
Jon D. Van Valkenburg
Jon D. Van Valkenburg, of Fayetteville, is seeking his first term on the Board of Education. He and his wife Jen have two children, one who attends Wellwood Middle School and one who attends F-M High School. Van Valkenburg has been a district resident for 12 years. He is a graduate of John C. Birdlebough High School in Phoenix, NY and received his bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Rochester. He is currently the executive director at Upstate Orthopedics Ambulatory Surgery Center. He serves on the board of directors of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association and the New York State Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, the latter of which he previously served as board president. Van Valkenburg also served on the board of directors for Fayetteville-Manlius Pop Warner and is a current member on the Fayetteville-Manlius Youth Lacrosse Association’s board of directors, a F-M Pop Warner coach, and involved in the Fayetteville-Manlius All Sports Booster Club.
Angelique Massey
Angelique Massey, of Manlius, is seeking her first term on the Board of Education. She and her husband Bruce have two children, one who attends Eagle Hill Middle School and one who attends F-M High School. Massey has been a district resident for almost 6 years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Chapman University and a Master of Arts in English Literature from Rutgers University. She is employed by Syracuse University for the recruitment and admission of prospective students, application review, as well as communications and marketing development. She previously served on the committee to review F-M High School principal applicants and has participated in a variety of subcommittees across the district. Massey is currently the co-president of the Eagle Hill Home and School Association, and has been involved in Girl Scouts and youth soccer.
Gavin Goodwin
Gavin Goodwin, of Manlius, is seeking his first term on the Board of Education. He and his wife Rachael have three children and have been district residents for nearly four years. Goodwin attended Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts, received a bachelor of arts from University of Utah, an MBA in Organizational Leadership from California State University Fullerton, and is now self-employed. Goodwin has served as an F-M room parent and as a member of the Community Interview Committee. He’s involved with Scouting America, F-M Pop Warner Football, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Sarah Rose Pinsky
Sarah 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. Pinsky has been a district resident for 14 years. She graduated from East Grand Rapids High School, received a bachelor of arts from University of Michigan, and currently works as Vice President of Partnerships at KABOOM!, a nonprofit that mobilizes volunteers to build playgrounds and sport courts in low-income communities. Pinsky is involved with Backstage Backers, All Sports Booster Club, and Eagle Hill HSA. She’s previously served as Enders Road HSA President, on Site-Based Team at both Enders Road and Eagle Hill, and on the district Wellness Committee. Pinsky is involved with the CNY Gym Centre Booster Club, is a board member for the Jewish Community Foundation of Central New York, and serves as a volunteer alumni student recruiter for the University of Michigan.
Sarah Fitzgerald, of Manlius, is seeking her second term on the Board of Education. She and her husband Patrick have four children, two who attend Enders Road Elementary School, one who attends Eagle Hill Middle School and one who attends F-M High School. She has been a district resident for 24 years. Fitzgerald graduated from LeRoy High School, received a bachelor of science degree from LeMoyne College, and is a human resource business partner for SmartestEnergy US. Fitzgerald currently serves as the F-M Board of Education president and participates in various parent involvement opportunities that support classrooms and teachers. She was previously a parent volunteer at Enders’ school library and in fall 2024, was a Recreation soccer coach.