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The Brewster Board of Education is made up of seven unpaid citizens elected to staggered three-year terms. The Board governs through setting policy and District goals. It regularly hears reports and receives information on progress toward its goals and on other matters that reflect policy. It delegates the Superintendent of Schools and professional staff the authority to achieve those goals; provides oversight and evaluates progress. Individual trustees act in authority only when assembled as a Board, at all other times they are private citizens.
All residents are encouraged to take an active role in the development of our schools by attending the Board’s business meetings which are generally held in the District Office. Meetings usually occur twice monthly and are open to the public. Residents have two opportunities at each meeting to speak on matters of interest.
Special meetings are occasionally held; dates and locations of such meetings are posted on the website, marquee and in the local newspaper.
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District Clerk
Lauren Zagorski-Treuel
30 Farm to Market Road
Brewster, NY 10509
(845) 279-8000, Ext. 6121
ltreuel@brewsterschools.orgContact the Board of Education:
To contact the Board, you may click on the "Contact Us" tab or send an email to:
(Please note that the Board of Education email is also viewed by the Superintendent.)
You may also contact the District Clerk for a return call.
Open Meetings Law requires all Board deliberations which may lead to action or policy changes to occur in public; therefore, the content of public/Board communications and e-mails will be reported at upcoming Board Business Meetings. Emails will be confirmed, received, and may be followed by a formal written response from the Board president/vice president and/or district personnel, if that was requested in your communication.
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Brewster Board of Education Biographies
Kerry Cunningham has been a member of the school board since May 2017. During that time, she has served on the Finance Committee, Audit Committee, Wellness Committee and the Facilities Planning Task Force. In July 2020, she was elected President of the Board. Kerry has three children who have attended or attend Brewster schools.
Kerry says, "As a member of the Board, I've come to understand the importance of public education in our country and the challenges school districts face in educating all of the children in any district. It is vital for our community and district to work together to provide a comprehensive education to our students that includes both exceptional curricular offerings and a wide-variety of extra-curricular options."
Looking forward, Kerry hopes that the community supports the various capital improvements for our schools. Aside from our students and staff, our buildings and grounds are the most vital assets our district has. As a community, we need to ensure that the school facilities are responsibly improved and maintained in order to provide our students with a safe and positive learning environment.
Asked what she likes best about the Brewster community, Cunningham said she values the fact that her children “have a safe place to grow up."
In his second year as a Board trustee, Erik Grutzner is looking to ensure that every Brewster student and family benefits from the district’s success. “There seems to be a great deal of pride in the community and passion about the district,” he said.
Grutzner’s daughter is in fourth grade and his son is in sixth grade and he noted that, as his children have gotten older and moved through the schools, he has become more aware of the district’s accomplishments and challenges. “I feel that my experience and perspective will be helpful going forward,” he said.
“I believe that the true measure of success for a Board of Education is an over-reaching commitment to the students and families of the district,” he said. “Every accomplishment that enhances the experience of our students is important.”
Grutzner, who is the Police Chief in Pleasantville, NY, points to STEM and fine arts instruction as two areas he is especially interested in seeing continue to grow in the district, as they provide critical connections for students. He also looks forward to introducing the new superintendent to the district, and vice versa. “Successfully navigating that process may be the most important job the Board will have during my time.”
Coming soon.
Coming soon.
Cynthia is an alumna and the mother of three children within the district. With a profound background in public education and psychology, she is inherently student centered and goal oriented. Cynthia understands the importance of establishing a solid academic and social emotional foundation in students through a whole child approach. She advocates for data-driven instruction with an emphasis on intervention and enrichment opportunities to ensure each student’s success. Moreover, she supports best practices that will strengthen our core, elective, and extracurricular programs as well as create diverse pathways to graduation. Cynthia is committed to safeguarding the fiscal health of our district and serving the needs of our community.
Coming soon.
Jamie Callanan is a mom of three BCSD students and is herself a graduate of Brewster. Jamie has been actively involved in our community and BCSD for many years, including serving as a member of several BCSD committees and task forces.
Jamie works in the corporate sector and, although she understands that education is most certainly not corporate, the two are not mutually exclusive. She sees firsthand the skills our children need to learn to be successful leaders and employees. She also understands the importance of clear communication, transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility – attributes she brings to her role as trustee. Jamie’s goals for becoming a board trustee focus on ensuring our children have the opportunity to gain a great education in Brewster Schools and that we foster a positive learning and work environment for all students, teachers and staff.
