Niskayuna Central School District residents are invited to "Meet the Candidates Night" on Monday, May 2 at 7 p.m. in the Van Antwerp Middle School auditorium.

The event presents an opportunity for community members to hear the three candidates running for the Niskayuna Board of Education discuss their views on education. Voters will elect two school board members from the following three candidates: John Buhrmaster, Deborah Oriola and Richard Reitz. The school board election takes place during the annual school budget vote on Tuesday, May 17 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Niskayuna High School.

Due to the resignation of a board member last summer, New York State law permitted the Board of Education to appoint an interim member to fill the position until the next election. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall serve a three-year term beginning May 18. The candidate with the second-highest vote total will serve a three-year term beginning July 1. Both terms expire June 30, 2014.

"Meet the Candidates Night" is sponsored by the PTO Council. A moderator will take questions from the public at the event.

John Buhrmaster of 6 Glenwood Drive, Glenville, is seeking a first full term on the Board of Education. Buhrmaster was appointed in July 2010 to serve out the term of a school board member who resigned. Buhrmaster is the current president of the First National Bank of Scotia where he has been employed since 1986. He has served as chairperson and on committees for several national and state-level boards, including the Independent Community Bankers Association, Independent Bankers Association of New York State, New York State Bankers Association, and the National BancPac Advisory Board. He holds a bachelor’s degree in management information systems and marketing from Syracuse University. Buhrmaster currently serves on the district’s audit committee and ad hoc budget cost and process committee. He is the current board liaison to Iroquois Middle School. Buhrmaster has been a New York State high school track official for 26 years and has also served as coach and assistant coach for the Niskayuna Soccer Club, Niskayuna Baseball and Niskayuna Junior Warriors basketball program. Last year, he served as Cubmaster for Glencliff Cub Scout Pack 36. Buhrmaster and his wife, Leslie, have lived in the district for 16 years. They have three children—Jennifer, Amanda and David—who attend Niskayuna schools.

Deborah Oriola of 1226 Viewmont Drive, Niskayuna, is seeking a second full term on the Board of Education. Originally elected in 2007-08, Oriola served out the remaining 13 months of a term of a board member who resigned. She was subsequently elected to her first full term in May 2008. Oriola served as the Rosendale Elementary School PTO treasurer (2003-05) and co-chair of the school’s Learning Fair (1999-2004), and as a member of the PTO’s long-term planning committee. She had participated on Rosendale’s shared decision making committee (2001-2003), and also served on Niskayuna High School PTO’s shared decision making committee. Oriola is a member of the district’s audit committee and Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) committee, and is the treasurer for the Capital District School Boards Association (CAPSBA). She is the current board liaison to Craig Elementary School. Oriola earned a master’s of business administration from the State University at Albany and is employed as a program manager for the University’s School of Public Health. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Oriola and her husband, Chuck Batzinger, have resided in Niskayuna for more than 13 years and have two children: Peter, a graduate of Niskayuna High School, and Kate, a high school freshman.

Richard Reitz of 1210 Rosehill Boulevard, Niskayuna, is seeking a first term on the Board of Education. Currently a senior at Niskayuna High School and a lifelong district resident, Reitz, who will be graduating in June, has attended Niskayuna schools for the past 13 years. Reitz plans to attend Schenectady County Community College beginning in the fall. He also plans to cross-register in math courses through Union College. Reitz achieved AP Scholar with Honor status while at the high school. He has received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for community service each of the last four years (2007-2010) and anticipates receiving the award in 2011. Reitz currently serves as co-president of Nisky S.T.A.R.T. (Students Today are Recycling Together), the recycling club at Niskayuna High School. An accomplished musician, he is also a cellist in the Empire State Youth Orchestra. Reitz is also active in community clubs and organizations. As of April 15, he has achieved Eagle Scout status. He also participates as a member of Cap City Bang Bang, a local ultimate Frisbee team.

(April 27, 2011)