ABOUT US

In recognition that the children of our community are our most precious asset, the Engage Canastota Education Foundation is established as a not-for profit to provide a school program which is superior to that which could be provided if the district were solely dependent on public financing.

The Foundation expects to solicit monies from alumni, individuals, corporations, through donations, bequests, and by promoting special events. Its goals are to accrue funds for the purpose of awarding teacher grants and student scholarships to:

enhance existing programs which can be improved by additional private sector financing
finance school projects that are consistent with approved school district programming but require funding beyond the capabilities of the district budget
reward the district's students with financial assistance for higher education
build an endowment fund that can generate substantial income
help foster school spirit within the Canastota Central School District

Proposals for grants will be accepted from all affiliated groups and individuals of any Canastota Central School District School.

Applications for scholarships will be accepted from seniors of Canastota Central High School.

Our objectives are to provide superior school programs, to award grants to groups, teachers, and students, and to build an endowment for future use.

The Foundation commits itself to working to meet the challenges of ensuring continued excellence in education for the Canastota Central School District's children of today and tomorrow.

MEET OUR TEAM

2020 - 2021 Board of Directors

Lorraine Arsenault

Shawn Bissetta

James Caldwell

Don Campanaro

Rocco DiVeronica

Elizabeth Garofalo

Jim Giufre

Bill Haddad

Doug Holdridge

Wesley Hood

Donald New

Stephanie Palmer

Nicholas Panuccio

Patrick Powers

Richard Smith

LORRAINE ARSENAULT

Lorraine Bruno Arsenault is a life-long resident of Canastota and alumna of Canastota High School,

is Investment Manager and CEO of Bruno Properties. She is a founding member of the Village Beautification

Committee, the Canastota Writers Group and past president and trustee of the Canastota Public Library.

SHAWN

BISSETTA

Shawn is the Superintendent of Canastota Central Schools.

JAMES

CALDWELL

A 1961 graduate of Canastota Central Schools, in 1984, James (Jim) formed the present Caldwell Insurance Company. Jim’s special interest in education has had him serving as President of the Canastota Board of Education, and as President of the Madison-Herkimer-Oneida School Boards Association. At present, Jim oversees the Canastota Civic Club dinner program and serves on the Canastota Alumni Association Committee. Jim was instrumental in reactivating the Greater Canastota Chamber of Commerce in 2016.

DON

CAMPANARO

Don is currently an Information Systems Audit Manager at National Grid. He is a former Canastota school board member and volunteers for a number of local organizations. Don is currently President of the Village of Canastota/Greater Town of Lenox recreation commission, a Canastota Little League board member, and a member of the LeMoyne College cyber security curriculum committee.

ROCCO

DiVERONICA

Rocky graduated from Canastota High School and was appointed as the Superintendent of Public Works for the Village of Canastota and served in that capacity for 10 years. Rocky has been very active in the community, serving 13 years on the Junior Chamber of Commerce. He became the Supervisor for the Town of Lenox in 1988 and was the Chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisors for 8 years.

ELIZABETH GAROFALO

Elizabeth (Liz) Garofalo is a lifelong resident of Canastota, a member of the Canastota High School Class of 1975, and a retired business teacher from the Canastota Central School District. She serves as a Board of Trustee member of New York State Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and the Madison County Youth Bureau. She is currently the president of the Canastota Alumni Association.

JIM

GIUFRE

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BILL

HADDAD

Bill is very active in the Canastota Community as Deputy Mayor for the Village of Canastota, the President of the Canastota Board of Education, the Assistant District Administrator of NYS District 9 Little League, a Little League coach, a Pop Warner coach, a member of the CNY Medical Reserve Corps and a member of the Madison County Republican Party.

DOUG

HOLDRIDGE

Elected to CHS Wall of Distinction in 2019, Doug has been a committed member and life-long resident of Canastota school community. Doug has served as Judge, councilman and Supervisor for Town of Lincoln as well as served on Madison County Board of Supervisor’s. He also is founder and president of Canastota Running Club a 501c non- profit organization and involved with Madison County Soil & Walter district as it's chairman since 2000.

WESLEY

HOOD

Project Superintendent with Barrett Paving Materials, Inc.

Wes is a lifelong Canastota resident and a 1981 Canastota CSD Alumni. Married to Jacqueline (Tomarchio) Hood, he and his wife have twin sons both 2014 Alumni. Wes has been a CCSD BOE Trustee since 2014.

DONALD

NEW

Don is a life-long resident of Canastota and graduate of Canastota High School, as well as a retired teacher and coach from CHS. He has demonstrated a life-long commitment to the community and when he isn’t busy with his family and farm, he is actively involved with the Rotary and the newly formed school-community partnership: Engage Canastota.

STEPHANIE PALMER

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Maybe a short bio of each person and their connection to the community or why you want to be part of the Board of Directors.

NICHOLAS PANUCCIO

Nick is the Executive Director of Finance and Operations at Canastota Central School District.

PATRICK

POWERS

A graduate of Sienna College, Pat became a Certified Public Accountant licensed to practice in New York State in 1977. He first joined D’Arcangelo & Co., LLP as a staff accountant, became a partner in the Firm in 1987, and was the Managing Partner of the Utica and Rome offices from 2000-2007. Among many achievements, Pat has extensive experience in governmental and nonprofit auditing. He is a Trustee on the Board of St. Agatha’s Church as well as a Board Member and volunteer of the Madison Oneida Chapter of the American Red Cross.

RICHARD

SMITH

“Dick” is a life-long resident of Canastota and graduate of Canastota High School, Class of 1964. He was inducted as a member of Canastota’s Wall of Distinction in 2011.
He is a graduate of Colgate University and Cornell Law School, Order of the Coif. He was a practicing attorney and senior partner at Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC for more than forty-three years, serving as chair of the firm’s Administrative-Legislative-Regulatory practice group and executive committee.