July 2003
Contact: Holly Brooker
(845) 255-1450 xt.1301

Arnold J. Gottesman was elected as the new president of the Ulster BOCES Board of Education during its annual reorganization meeting held at the Ulster BOCES Conference Center in New Paltz on July 2. Gottesman has been a member of the Ulster BOCES Board of Education since 1987 and has served as vice president for the past two years.

Gottesman is a retired teacher, counselor, and administrator from the Rondout Valley Central School District and a retired educational consultant from Ulster County Social Services.

According to Gottesman, if he could achieve any one educational accomplishment it would be to see that every student graduates with the life skills necessary to participate positively in the democratic process and possess the marketable skills and/or the academic skills necessary to benefit from further education.

In addition to his Board of Education commitments, Gottesman is the immediate past president of the Ulster County School Boards Association (UCSBA). He is also a member of the New York State School Boards Association, New York State Everett Dyer Award Committee, Dutchess/Ulster/Sullivan/Orange School Board Association, Council of Local School Boards Association, and the State Legislative Network. In previous years, he also served on the Rondout Valley Board of Education for six years and held the position of president.

Salvatore Tantillo, who has been a member of the Ulster BOCES Board of Education since 1987, was elected to serve as vice president.

According to Tantillo, he joined the Ulster BOCES Board of Education because, “Not all students can or should go to college. I want to encourage students to learn a trade of their choice. There is a great need now for trades people and the need keeps growing. Ulster County BOCES has the best staff and facilities for anyone to learn.”

Tantillo, who owns and operates a local automotive repair shop, also served on the Highland Central School District Board of Education for 15 years where he held the position of vice president.

In addition to his Board commitments, Tantillo is a member of the New Paltz Rotary, St. Joseph’s Parish Council, New Paltz Chamber of Commerce, and the Ulster County School Boards Association.

District Superintendent Martin Ruglis looks forward to continuing to provide exceptional educational opportunities to Ulster County students and the community under the new leadership of the Board of Education. “Our Board members are committed to ensuring that we offer quality services in a collaborative manner. That way equity, equality, and access are the same for all of Ulster County’s school districts,” comments Ruglis.