On May 18, North Colonie residents will elect two candidates to five-year terms, without compensation, to the Board of Education.
Seats are not at large and candidates had to declare what seat they were running for at the time they picked up petitions. The open seat of current board member Mary Nardolillo is uncontested. The open seat of W. Ronald Von Dell has three candidates running.
Mary Nardolillo
Mary Nardolillo is seeking her fourth term on the BOE. She served two full terms from 2004-2014, then was enlisted to return to the Board to fill a vacancy from 2015-2016. In 2016, she was re-elected to the seat she currently holds. She served as Vice President (2007-2009), President, (2009-2012), chaired the Community Board Relations committee, the Employee Relations committee, and for the past several years, has served as co-chair for both the Audit and Budget committees. Mary served as board liaison for Shaker High School, Shaker Junior High School, and more recently for Southgate Elementary School. Prior to her retirement, Mary was an administrator for Laborers’ Local Union 190 for many years.
“My desire to run for a fourth term continues to be motivated by the excellence of the North Colonie School District, and those affiliated with it, including the administration, faculty, staff, and my colleagues on the school board. As a board member, my greatest reward for service is having a hand in advocating for the welfare, educational standards, and school needs of all our students in North Colonie. As a parent of two North Colonie graduates, and as a former North Colonie graduate myself, I have always had a great respect for the standards of our school district; a respect that has been significantly enriched through service. I count myself fortunate to be part of a school district that is making positive differences in our students’ lives every day. I look forward to future service to help continue and advance the opportunities and growth for which this district is recognized. With your support, I will remain a fully engaged board member and will continue to promote fiscal responsibility with our tax dollars. I encourage everyone in North Colonie to head to the polls at our District Office, 91 Fiddlers Ln. on May 18, 2021.”
Mary Alber
Mary Alber is running for her first term on the Board of Education. She’s a mother of two SHS students and president of the North Colonie PTA Council, secretary of the SJHS PTA, is spearheading the charter for the SHS PTSA, and serving as a representative on the Board of Education Budget Committee. Mary worked for the state for 20+ years in the field of information technology and is currently with the state Teachers’ Retirement System.
“As a caregiver and community member my roots in education, community service and civil service are deep. While my career path led me towards Adult Education and Information Technology, I have always stayed true to my goals of sharing knowledge and fostering positive change while serving the community. My education and love for our community as well as my experiences in parenthood and in my career have led me to seek a position on the Board of Education. Most recently, as President of the North Colonie PTA Council I collaborated with North Colonie administrators, PTA leaders and the United Way to bring the community support fund to life during the pandemic. I strive to listen to my fellow community members and put myself in the shoes of my neighbors when making decisions. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve North Colonie and New York State for many years, represent working parents and advocate for equity of services to all children and families in our school community. I strive to be a voice that asks thoughtful questions while setting expectations and accountability among school leaders to continually seek communication and feedback from school staff and parents. My approach will be rooted in the goal to never lose sight of the children and families that are the root of why we serve. I humbly ask for your vote at the district elections in May.”
Nicholas P. Comproski
Nicholas P. Comproski is running for his first term on the Board of Education. He attended North Colonie Schools from K-12 and has volunteered as a coach for multiple sports including baseball, soccer, and basketball. Nick is employed with the Troy school district as a 7th grade social studies teacher and an adjunct professor at the College of Saint Rose teacher preparation program. Nick has been a firefighter/EMT for Colonie’s Maplewood Volunteer Fire Department since he was 18 years old and holds the title of Lieutenant.
“Community relationships are what make the Town of Colonie the best place to live. As a life long resident, I would not have asked for a better experience growing up. Board members are community leaders who assist in the decisions of the communities’ greatest resource, the school. My experiences in education, working with diverse learners and their families (especially as a former special education teacher) has taught me how to be an advocate that families truly need. My background in education, my dedicated community service and work in school policies/leadership makes me a perfect candidate for the North Colonie Central School District School Board. It would be an honor and a privilege to serve the community and school as a board member.”
Fox Rifenberg-Stempel
Fox Rifenberg-Stempel is running for his first term on the Board of Education. He will be a political science major at UAlbany this fall. He’s an Eagle Scout who started as a kindergarten student in Blue Creek and is currently a senior at SHS, is a charter member of the PTSA and serves on the Senior Events Committee. Fox also served on the Student Representative Committee to the school board for the past three years, and attended nearly every BOE meeting, both in-person and livestreamed. Fox works as an archivist for St Joseph’s Church in Troy and in the summers he teaches camping and wilderness survival at Rotary Scout Reservation in Averill Park.
“I want to become a member of the Board of Education, as I want to ensure all current and future students will have an excellent education and to help continue North Colonie’s rich history of academic excellence! I also want to increase outreach to members of the community when making important district wide decisions, and make sure all students, teachers, parents, and community members are heard and are allowed to voice their opinions. I will make sure every decision is kept in the belief that students and teachers should always come first and must be kept in mind! I also believe I will bring a unique perspective to the board, as if elected I will be a recent graduate of Shaker High, and I believe there is no one better to help make decisions to improve our schools than someone that was recently a student in the district! I also want to help with the transition of the district back to a normal education environment after the end of the coronavirus pandemic, and make sure our students are supported and helped with this transition! Lastly, I believe I have the experience and knowledge necessary to be an effective board member, and hope to work with the other members of the board to ensure the district continues its history of effective and excellent education!”