Meet the Poughkeepsie School Board Candidates

By Sheryl Jones

POUGHKEEPSIE – On Tuesday, May 16, Poughkeepsie residents will vote for who they want to fill two of the five Poughkeepsie City School District (PCSD) School Board seats.
Five candidates are running, including incumbents current President Ralph Coates and Gregory Charter. Doreen Clifford, Debra Long, and Gregory Tron Melton are also competing for the seats. Each seat is for a three-year term.

“I want to ensure that we continue to offer programs that will help support all students,” said Current President Ralph Coates. Coates is the Upward Bound Program Coordinator and Academic Advisor at Marist College.

Under his leadership, scholars’ academic achievement rates and graduation rates have increased, full-day kindergarten has been reinstated, and scholars can earn a free Associates degree in engineering at Dutchess Community College while simultaneously earning a high school diploma.

Incumbent Gregory Charter is the former Board Vice President and has been on the School Board for 12 years. Charter is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He was on the constructions committee that built the Poughkeepsie HS Sports Complex from the Excel Grant.

“I would like to see librarians brought back in the elementary schools and a new elementary school built for the kids,” said Charter.

“I will continue to work tirelessly to make sure our children receive the education they are entitled to and deserve,” said Doreen Clifford.

Clifford has been president of the PTA. Clifford has served on several committees, including the district’s Budget Review Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and Task Force for Parent and Community Engagement. She is a Substitute Teacher in the district and was among twenty advocates who went to Albany to speak with legislators about the needs of students in Poughkeepsie. Clifford has a Master’s degree in Urban Studies.

Debra Long attended Marist College’s Upward Bound Program and graduated from Poughkeepsie High School. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Marist College, two Masters degrees from Mercy College, and is currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Education at Concordia University. Long teaches at Dutchess and Westchester Community Colleges as an Adjunct Instructor. Her goal while serving on the PCSD School Board is for every student in the school district to receive a good education as well as develop socially and emotionally.

“Vote for me May 16, 2017 if you want real change and someone (who) is not afraid to protect our children,” said Gregory Tron Melton. Melton believes that Poughkeepsie’s students deserve adequately staffed schools. He desires for the district to become more proactive with communication.

The PCSD School Board of Education carries out functions mandated by the State Constitution, Legislature, and State Education Department. The Board is responsible for establishing PCSD’s philosophy, policy, and goals.

Poughkeepsie residents are invited to meet the PCSD Board Candidates at a public forum on Thursday, May 11th from 6:30-8:30 pm at The Family Partnership Center at 29 N. Hamilton Street in Poughkeepsie, NY.