07/29/2019
New York State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia has appointed Elizabeth A. Chetney, a teacher in the Baldwinsville Central School District, to fill an open position on the NYSTRS Board of Trustees.
Chetney replaces long-time Trustee Paul J. Farfaglia, who retired from teaching at the end of the school year and therefore was no longer eligible to serve on the Board. She will need to be elected by her peers at NYSTRS’ Annual Delegates Meeting in November to fill the remainder of Farfaglia’s term.
Chetney, a graduate of SUNY Oswego with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education, has taught in the Baldwinsville Central School District since 1992, serving as an English teacher in all but one of those years. She has permanent certifications in both elementary education and English grades 7-12.
A long-time NYSTRS delegate, Chetney has served as president of the Baldwinsville Teachers’ Association since 2009. Previously, she served as her local union’s vice president and secretary. Chetney is also co-president of the Onondaga County Teachers’ Association. In addition, she has served New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) in several capacities, including working as a member of the NYSUT Pension and Retirement Committee, the NYSUT Policy Committee and the Committee of 100.
As mandated by state law, there are three active teacher members and one retired teacher member on the Board. The other active teacher members are Ron Gross of William Floyd Union Free Schools and Sheila Sullivan Buck of Rush-Henrietta Central Schools. David P. Keefe of Hempstead currently holds the retired teacher position on the Board and serves as the Board’s president.
NYSTRS’ Retirement Board sets policy and oversees operations for the nearly $120 billion Retirement System. The 10 members of the NYSTRS Board serve without compensation and represent various constituents, including active and retired teachers, school administrators, school boards, and financial experts. They are responsible as fiduciaries to protect the long-term value of the System’s investment portfolio and provide benefit security for its more than 430,000 active members, retirees and beneficiaries.
See the Board Members page for each trustee's full bio.