Yorktown school-board candidates outline approaches to AI, budgets and special education at community forum

At a community forum hosted by the YCSD PTSA Council, three candidates for seats on the Yorktown Central School District board introduced themselves and answered questions on technology, budgets, special education and curriculum.

Mike Mignani, who said he has served on the board since 2006 and chairs the district’s fiscal and facilities committees, described his priorities as maintaining academic programs, supporting student safety and stewarding taxpayer dollars. “I strongly believe in the value of public education,” Mignani said, adding that his financial-planning background informs fiscal oversight during capital projects and enrollment growth pressures.

Incumbent Jacqueline Guarino, a parent and special-education advocate who identified herself as a current board trustee, emphasized supporting students with diverse needs, improving communication with families and protecting classroom instruction. “Every child learns differently, and our district should continue striving to meet the students where they are,” Guarino said, calling for teacher training, expanded mental-health services and transparency about how technology and student data are used.

Challenger Adam McDonald said serving would let him give back to the community and stressed practical readiness for life after graduation. On the topic of artificial intelligence, McDonald warned about misuse of the tools and cited a recent example of professional filings that used AI improperly. “There were tremendous amounts of AI hallucinations,” he said, arguing that students must be taught responsible use alongside critical thinking.

All three candidates said AI should supplement — not replace — instruction. They pointed to shared priorities including digital literacy, data privacy, ethics, teacher training and continued investment in social-emotional supports.

On budget priorities, the candidates agreed classroom instruction, special education, mental-health supports and school safety are central. Guarino called for long-term planning to address enrollment growth and urged state advocacy for costs tied to the transition to electric buses. Mignani said the board must balance excellence with fiscal responsibility under the tax cap and look first for operational efficiencies before cutting classroom services. McDonald said safety and teacher retention would guide his decisions and that he would learn more about the fiscal implications of mandates like electrifying the bus fleet.

When asked about special education, Guarino noted personal experience with a 12:1:2 classroom and recommended families engage SEPTA and district staff; McDonald said he would consult teachers and families to inform decisions; Mignani pointed to district PPS leadership as a resource and said the board needs to ensure adequate staffing and budgeting for specialized programs.

On curriculum and book selection, none of the candidates supported wholesale sanitizing of history or broad book bans. They all said materials should be age-appropriate and reviewed by staff committees, and that teachers should be supported when discussing difficult topics so families can reinforce lessons at home.

Asked about the board’s relationship with the superintendent, candidates described standard governance roles: setting policy, overseeing finances and evaluating the superintendent through annual objectives and a formal review process. Mignani described the board’s annual objective-setting and evaluation process; Guarino and McDonald emphasized community engagement and school outcomes as benchmarks.

The forum closed with each candidate summarizing their vision for Yorktown: continuing strong academics and extracurriculars, completing capital projects, planning for enrollment growth and maintaining open communication with families. The event was moderated by Lisa Bupelo, president of the YCSD PTSA Council, with Laurie Consaga and Ron Fidelli assisting. The candidates did not propose formal motions or votes at the forum.

The Yorktown Central School District will next consider these issues in future board meetings and during the election process; no board action was taken at the forum itself.