Meet the Candidates Night will follow the Budget Hearing at 7:00pm on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in the MS/HS Auditorium. Candidates will fill two seats on the Board of Education as the terms of David G. Finch and Jay Goodman will expire on June 30, 2025. Both seats are three-year terms expiring June 30, 2028.
If you have a question for the candidates, please email it to pizzolas@greenvillecsd.org by Sunday at midnight. Please note, questions can not be specific to one candidate. All questions will be chosen by the moderator. The event will be live streamed here.
Listed as they will appear on the ballot, as per required drawing are:
JAMES BUCCI
"I grew up, went to school (class of ’98), went to church (St. John’s), got married to my high school sweetheart (of 28 years!), bought a house, had two children, and started a business all right here in the Greenville School District. It has been a great place for me and my family. If our friends and neighbors will have me, I’d like to give back through my future efforts as a member of the GCSD Board of Education.
As young boy I struggled a bit in school. When my family moved upstate to Greenville, I was blessed to enter third grade with Mr. Kiefer (his first year teaching) and Mrs. Simmons (helped me in reading lab). What a difference it made having teachers that cared and solid curriculum for them to work from. I was up and running in no time and happier than ever to be in school, because I felt like was getting somewhere. The sciences and nature were all brought to life and super fun with Mr. Haley in fourth grade (though I did fall in the creek on one of our expeditions). By sixth grade I found myself writing “I will not forget my homework” one hundred times in my notebook to hand in to Mr. Caputi, a veteran of the Armed Forces and by then a veteran teacher. His disciplined classroom with high standards was one that fostered growth for me and my friends. We looked up to him. We appreciated the structure and knew what to expect and it was good. Seventh grade came and Coach McTavish taught us about hustle and wit (at our expense) as we ran endlessly up and down hills behind the school that have since been flattened. Nearing the end of high school Mr. Sealy ignited my interest in Economics and it was at his prompting that I applied to Siena College, eventually studied business there and received a BA in Economics. My time at Greenville was not all peaches and cream. There were definitely some challenges to overcome as most youths in school deal with. The point of telling this GCS journey is that I’m familiar with the culture and I know I have experienced first hand the incredible gifts that can come from GCS, but I also see areas where we need work and attention.
As the owner of a small coatings application company I have been working on residential, commercial and industrial projects locally since 2005. I believe this experience can be helpful when looking out for the taxpayers and the district when working through capital projects and approaching the budget.
-Community Volunteer for: PTSA, Girl Scouts, Military Ball, Golden Gala, Religious Education Teacher St. John's Church/Horizon KFC Program/ Huntersfield Youth Camp Leader, Nature’s Classroom, Elem/High School Career Day, Immigration Day, Youth Basketball, Assistant Starr's Karate, Men's Study Group.
For more info see: https://jamesbucciforschoolboard.homesteadcloud.com/ "
MARYAH MAC DONALD
"Maryah Mac Donald is a dedicated local Realtor and long-time resident who has proudly called the Greenville area home since 1992. After some years in Canada, she planted permanent roots in Rensselaerville in 2012.
A proud graduate of public schools herself, Maryah is the mother of two daughters currently enrolled in the Greenville Central School District. Her deep investment in the future of our school and community is both professional and personal.
Maryah’s record of community service runs deep. She has served as a volunteer firefighter and Lieutenant with the Greenville Fire Department and held the role of Captain of the Greenville Rescue Squad. Most recently, she completed a three-year term as a Director on the Columbia-Greene Board of Realtors, where she helped guide important initiatives in professional standards, education, and community outreach.
Living in the close-knit hamlet of Rensselaerville, Maryah understands the unique needs and values of rural communities. She believes in a school district that supports every student, engages every family, and reflects the voices of all its towns and villages.
Why are you running for the Board of Education? To continue a lifelong commitment to community service and to ensure that every child in the Greenville Central School District has access to a safe, enriching, and forward-looking education.
What makes you uniquely qualified to serve? With decades of experience working alongside diverse groups, from emergency responders to real estate professionals, Maryah knows how to bring people together to solve problems and find common ground. Her leadership is rooted in collaboration, trust, and a deep respect for every voice in the room.
What education issues matter most to you? Maryah is passionate about preparing students for real-world success in a rapidly changing society. This includes supporting a broad and inclusive curriculum that values college readiness, skilled trades, the arts, and technology. She believes in equipping students with the critical thinking, adaptability, and life skills they need—regardless of the paths they choose."
DAVID FINCH
"David is completing his sixth year on the Greenville Central School board. David retired after 35 years as an Industrial Arts/Technology Teacher at Coxsackie-Athens Central School. During his career with Coxsackie-Athens he always promoted change and improvement to the program. When the District was building their new middle school, he saw the opportunity for a huge transformation, and with district administration and school board, created a world class middle school Technology Program that hosted over 400 educators and administrators during visits and open houses. During the final 3 years of his career, David was involved in the planning of a similar transformation for the high school program at Coxsackie-Athens during a capital project in that building. As department chair of the Technology / Business Programs for 15 years, David helped teachers feel safe to improve their own programs.
After retirement, David was given the opportunity to mentor teachers in other school districts throughout the state. This continues his interest in staying in front of students and helping teachers improve.
During the first 20 years of his teaching career, David also operated a small home improvement business that took him and his team all over Greene County. Now, during his retirement he and his wife operate his five-generation family farm.
David started his education in a small central school in Milford, NY. David holds a BS in Industrial Arts Education from SUNY Oswego and has two MS degrees in Technical Education and Early Childhood Education K-6 from SUNY New Paltz.
David was also part of the Columbia-Greene Federal Credit Union Board of Directors as vice-chairperson for over 15 years. David and his wife Margaret have been married for 42 years and have two children. His son is an Engineer, and his daughter is a Senior Policy Advisor."