AUBURN -- The Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education has new leadership to pilot the district into the next academic year.

Charlie Cator and Sam Giangreco were both unanimously elected as board president and vice president, respectively, during the annual reorganizational meeting Monday.

"I think the board is heading in the right direction," Giangreco said. "We have to continue to stay on that path."

Cator, recently re-elected to the board for a second three-year term, ascended to the top position after spending the past year as vice president. Incumbent David Lansford opted not to run for re-election.

Improving communication between the board and the community is Cator's primary goal. He intends to coordinate at least three brown bag sessions additional to the regular board meetings throughout the year, held perhaps on Saturday mornings, to create a free-flowing dialogue between the community and the district. Such sessions could include discussion on school law, the No Child Left Behind Act and the property tax cap proposed by Gov. Paterson.

"We're looking for the discussion of real issues that are out there in the community," he said.

Cator acknowledged that Superintendent J.D. Pabis and other district officials hold meetings with the community, but "I think what we need, as a board, is to get out there as well."

Giangreco, first appointed to the district in 2005 and re-elected to a full term in 2006, said the community is often silent during the public comments portion of meetings and it is important to get feedback.

For more, read Tuesday's Citizen