North Salem CSD Board of Ed president Andrew Brown will not seek re-election

After 15 years serving on the North Salem Central School District Board of Education, Andrew Brown will step down when his term expires this June. Brown, the current Board president, confirmed in an email to the North Salem Post that he will not seek re-election.

“My original motivation for running 15 years ago was to work on getting a turf field for the school. When we passed the resolution to build a field in 2021 I decided this would be my last term,” Brown said. “The field is turning out beautifully and 15 years has a nice ring to it. I am proud of the field and our improvements in safety.”

Brown, along with Board of Ed vice president Kurt Guldan, whose seat will also expire at the end of June, is a longtime member of North Salem’s emergency services teams. Brown is a lieutenant with the North Salem Police Department and Guldan has served as the president of the North Salem Volunteer Ambulance Corps and coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management for the Town of North Salem.

Guldan confirmed that he will seek re-election. The three-year school board terms begin July 1, 2023 and expire June 30, 2026.

Brown and Guldan faced backlash from community members earlier this school year when they voted ‘no’ on adding a second school resource officer for the district. After securing additional state funding and budget maneuvering, the Board eventually moved to add a second officer, who started at PQ Elementary earlier this month.

To date, no other community members apart from Guldan have sought petitions to run for the two open Board of Ed seats. All petitions must be submitted by Monday, April 17. If the race is contested, the League of Women Voters of Northeast Westchester will moderate a candidate forum on May 2 in the North Salem Middle/High School Library.

North Salem Central School District superintendent Dr. Ken Freeston will also retire at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. He will be replaced by Duncan Wilson, who is the current Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at Ardsley Union Free School District.

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Voting for the Board of Ed trustees and the 2023-2024 school budget will take place on Tuesday, May 16. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.at PQ Elementary School.