Voters choose Roach, Wilson and Alexander-Mann for school board

Voters choose Roach, Wilson and Alexander-Mann for school board

The community elected three Board of Education members in the district’s first May board vote.

Four people ran for three seats in the May 15 election: incumbents Ellen Roach and Tabetha Wilson, newcomer Damarise Alexander-Mann and former board member Kenneth M. Bruce. Bruce ran again after resigning from the board in May 2017.

Roach received 2,320 votes and was elected to a second term. Wilson, who was appointed to the board in September 2017 to fill the seat vacated by Bruce's resignation, received 2,290 votes. Alexander-Mann received 2,136 votes. Bruce received 1,203 votes.

Roach and Wilson will serve full four-year terms; Alexander-Mann will serve one year to complete the term that opened with Bruce's May 2017 resignation. All will begin their terms July 1.

The state moved the district's board elections from November to May last summer to align Albany with the vast majority of public school districts statewide, which annually hold their board elections and budget vote together on the third Tuesday in May.

Board President Sue Adler's term will expire June 30. She did not seek re-election.

The mission of the City School District of Albany is to work in partnership with our diverse community to engage every learner in a robust educational program designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for success. The district serves more 9,600 students in 18 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood schools, the district includes several magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students, including four themed academies at Albany High School.