Two incumbents, one newcomer campaign for BOE

PINE PLAINS — Come Tuesday, May 21, eligible voters residing in the Pine Plains Central School District will choose from among three candidates for two open seats on the Pine Plains Board of Education (BOE).

The two available seats each have a three-year term from Monday, July 1, through June 30, 2022. Running as incumbent candidates are current BOE President Chip Couse and BOE member Amie Fredericks. Meanwhile, Pine Plains resident Scott Peters will be running as a new candidate for the board.

Chip Couse

Running for his seventh term, Chip Couse knew from an early age that he wanted to serve his community as a member of the Board of Education. Having nurtured his academic career in the Pine Plains Central School District and having worked alongside the BOE on and off since 1986, Couse offers a historical perspective on how the BOE has evolved over time.

“What I think I bring to the board is a certain perspective of how we arrived to where we are today,” Couse said. “It also allows me to interject when we’re going down a road that we’ve been down unsuccessfully.”

He not only considers that an asset when it comes to bargaining, Couse said this perspective of his provides continuity in terms of moving district contracts in a particular direction.

Reflecting on district accomplishments over the last seven years, Couse takes pride in the significant level of trust established among the BOE, the administrative team and Pine Plains Superintendent of Schools Martin Handler. He also spoke highly of the district’s sound financial structure, which has allowed the board to focus on educational excellence.

Amie Fredericks

Reaching the end of her first term on the BOE, Amie Fredericks shared her readiness to run for her second term, likening her service on the board as “more of a long-term adventure” rather than a short commitment. Working in multiple school districts in Dutchess County as a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing, she professed that she “lives and breathes education every day” and that her experiences in traveling among districts has given her a wide depth as to how other school districts operate, which she can later share with the Pine Plains BOE.

“I really view educating a child as educating the whole child,” she explained. “There’s a multitude of categories that go into the school district’s position to educate a child, whether it’s academically, emotionally, socially, physically or psychologically.” 

While she commended the district for its strong academic standing, good financial health and sound partnership with the community, Fredericks said, “We can never settle because the students deserve the best possible education.”

Scott Peters

A resident of Pine Plains for the last eight years, Scott Peters’ motivation to run for the BOE was sparked by his desire to promote and support positive change in relation to the education of local youth.

“I believe in education and I believe in making it a priority for our youth here in our community,” he said. “I want to serve as an appropriate advocate for students, parents and members of the community… I’ve always wanted to be an advocate for people in my community and I want to be an outstanding member of this community.”

Currently employed as a registered nurse at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, Conn., Peters has observed a greater need to implement stricter anti-bullying campaigns in school districts, given the dramatic increase in suicidal ideation among youth. If elected to the board, he said he’d like to work collaboratively with the BOE to organize stricter anti-bullying policies and raise awareness toward mental health. 

He also said he would like to lend a hand in handling issues related to the budget. Overall, he said his main goal is to help meet the students’ program needs while remaining fiscally responsible to taxpayers.

When and where to vote

The BOE Election will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, at Stissing Mountain Junior/Senior High School. 

District voters will also have a chance to vote on the 2019-20 school budget; the approval of a new capital reserve fund; and a proposition to purchase three new buses.