Meet WVCSD’s Board of Education candidates

Residents within the Warwick Valley Central School District will have three candidates to vote on to fill three seats on the district’s Board of Education: incumbent William Fanos, Tara Cruz, and Mandy Blanton. The latter two candidates will be filling the seats formerly held by Sharon Davis and Lynn Lillian.

The school district recently shared a bit about each candidate.

Tara Cruz

Tara Cruz has been a Warwick resident for 10 years. Her spouse Hernan Cruz currently works at the school as a security supervisor; they have two children in the district. Cruz, a retired NYPD sergeant, holds a master’s degree in counseling and development from Long Island University, a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in social services from SUNY New Paltz, an Associate of Arts and Science degree from SUNY Cobleskill, and a diploma from Monroe-Woodbury. She is also the current PTA treasurer at Sanfordville Elementary School, and a former president and vice president for the Sanfordville Elementary PTA. She is a travel coach for the Warwick Soccer Club and an assistant coach for St. Stephens CYO girls’ basketball team.

In a statement, Cruz expressed a desire to contribute to her community. “I believe I can effectively collaborate as a team with other board members and the superintendent. I want to take my experiences and use them to create the most promising futures for our students...I possess a genuine desire to make a difference in our students’ lives and our community. With my dedicated background in community policing, coaching and years of PTA Board experience, I believe that I can make a unique contribution to Warwick Valley schools and am confident in my ability to prove the understanding and sensitivity necessary for this position.”

Mandy Blanton

Mandy Blanton has been a Warwick resident for 26 years. Her father-in-law is a bus driver for the district and she has four daughters who have attended or are currently attending Warwick schools. Blanton works as a territory manager for Eli Lilly & Company. She went to Sanderson High School in North Carolina before matriculating to East Carolina University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in information processing. During her high school years, she played soccer and basketball. If elected, this would be her first time serving on a Board of Education. However, she is currently on the Warwick Soccer Board where she helps organize youth recreational and travel soccer programs, coaches the U11 Warwick Wildcats Travel Soccer team, and previously coached youth recreation basketball. She also attends and volunteers at Grace Community Church in Warwick.

In a statement, she said, “I wish to be a member of the WVCSD Board of Education to help students and faculty have the best possible experience in school. I also want to help be a voice from our community as we ensure our students are always our top priority. If elected, I am looking forward to collaborating with others on the school board to make positive changes that benefit our school system but at the same time, ensuring we are financially responsible.”

William Fanos

Incumbent Bill Fanos has been a Warwick resident for 48 years and has three children in Warwick schools. He has worked for the New York Fire Department for 25 years, serving as a lieutenant in the Hazardous Materials Technician Unit, Engine Co. 44. Fanos holds a bachelor’s degree in history from St. Bonaventure University, has been on the WVCSD Facilities Committee, and an Orange County School Board Association delegate. He is also a member of the Warwick Republican Committee and has volunteered for the Warwick Soccer Club for seven years. He has served on the school board for three years.

In a statement, Fanos said his mother instilled in him “the values of a strong work ethic and desire to serve others,” and his father taught him “the virtues of honesty and patriotism.” He added, “As a parent of school-aged children, it’s important to have a stake in our public education system, which directly impacts the next generation of entrepreneurs, professionals, educators, military and first responders, etc. A well-informed perspective and the courage to take action is necessary to solve the challenges facing our school district, while building on the many successes we’ve achieved, thus far... I look forward to supporting the important work the BOE, together with the Administration, has achieved in the areas of school safety/security, capital improvements, and special education.”

The 2024-25 WVCSD school budget and board of education vote will take place on Tuesday, May 21, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. More information on each candidate can be found on the district website.