11/04/2019
Delegates attending NYSTRS’ 2019 Annual Delegates Meeting unanimously elected teachers Sheila Sullivan Buck and Elizabeth Chetney to the NYSTRS Board of Trustees. More than 500 delegates from across the state also attended numerous pension-related workshops during the Nov. 3-4 meeting in Saratoga Springs.
Buck, who has taught music at Rush-Henrietta Central Schools for more than 20 years, was re-elected to a new three-year term as one of the three active teacher members on the Board.
“I look forward to another three years of service for the teachers of New York state,” Buck said after her election. She also expressed thanks to her fellow teachers, union, Board members and NYSTRS staff for their support and guidance, “especially to David Keefe (Board president) and Paul Farfaglia (newly retired trustee) whose in-depth knowledge and support provide a detailed road map on how to serve with diligence and integrity.”
Chetney, an English teacher in the Baldwinsville Central School District since 1992, was elected to complete the term of Paul J. Farfaglia, who retired from teaching in June after a 35-year career. Chetney was appointed to the Board on an interim basis in July by then-State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia, but needed to be elected by the delegates in order to complete the one year remaining in the term.
“Being entrusted with the responsibility to care for a pension plan so many educators rely upon is a job I will devote my time, energy and passion to each day I serve,” Chetney told the delegates after the election vote. “I will work each day to provide each of you the same level of service Paul (Farfaglia) did.”
The third active teacher member of the NYSTRS Board is Ron Gross of William Floyd Union Free Schools. The Board also has a retired teacher member – David P. Keefe of Hempstead who currently serves as Board president.
PowerPoint presentations from the workshops offered at the two-day meeting, as well as colorful visual recordings combining words and images summarizing the presentations, will be available soon under the 2019 Delegates Meeting tab on the Annual Delegates Meeting page of this website.