Marathon Central School District Board of Education Recap: August 5, 2026
he Marathon Central School District Board of Education met on August 5, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., with Board President Justin Lilley presiding. Board members Floyd Parker, Richard Stearns, Jared Lapin, Chad Parker, and Kristin Kashuba were present, while Charlie Forkey III was excused. Here is everything you need to know about the meeting.
Sarena Eaton · 2026-08-13
The meeting started with an executive session to discuss a labor relations update. Usual proceedings resumed around 7:25 PM. Here is the overview of what happened:
Public Input
Several community members spoke during the public comment period:
T. Prestigiacomo gave an update on the Opportunities for Olympians group, which was formed in April to support athletics and extracurricular activities in the district. The group has been actively fundraising and reported positive community feedback.
K. Matson congratulated the newest board members and highlighted recent district successes, including a well-attended 5K Run for Scholars in June and a strong showing by the Trap Team at the state competition. She also flagged that the sign in front of the school is not working properly.
J. Dann asked for an update on the district's ongoing forensic audit and whether a preventative plan is in place to avoid future budget deficits.
C. Newkirk thanked everyone involved in preparing the athletic budget presentation.
A. Brown raised concerns about proposed cuts to class advisors, noting the impact this could have on the senior trip, which she called a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity requiring significant planning.
Construction Update
Board member R. Stearns reported that construction is underway in the Appleby cafeteria and that the high school cafeteria project is progressing. However, the Capital Outlay flooring project at the high school has not met expectations. Contractors proposed laying tile over the existing wood floors for better long-term durability. The board approved this solution 4-2, with F. Parker and C. Parker opposed.
Athletic Funding
Athletic Director Todd James presented a proposal to fund all athletic programs for the 2026-2027 school year while staying within the approved budget. The first vote on the proposal ended in a 3-3 tie, with C. Parker, F. Parker, and J. Lapin opposed. After further discussion, the board voted again, this time approving the athletic budget 4-2 (opposed: C. Parker and J. Lapin), with the stipulation that spending will be reviewed periodically throughout the year. Video of this discussion is linked to this article.
Personnel Appointments
The board approved several rehires, all 6-0:
Lydia McEvoy – Elementary Teacher, effective Sept. 2, 2026
Kimber Mahoney – Elementary Teacher, effective Sept. 2, 2026
Sav Montoya – Teacher Aide
Samantha Roberts – Teacher Aide
Fall Coaching Appointments
The board approved a full slate of fall coaches:
Todd James – Varsity Cross Country Coach (carried 4-2; opposed: J. Lapin, C. Parker)
Sav Montoya – Modified Field Hockey Coach
Karen Funk – Varsity Field Hockey Coach
Bryan Hoyt – Modified Boys Soccer Coach
Aubrey Brown – Varsity Boys Soccer Coach
Kelly Strobeck – Modified Girls Soccer Coach
Sydney Rosato – Varsity Girls Soccer Coach
Deborah James – Volunteer Assistant Cross Country Coach
(These carried 5-1, with C. Parker opposed.)
Two volunteer assistant soccer coaches were also approved 6-0: Kyle Marsh (Boys) and Kelly Brown (Girls).
Extracurricular Club and Class Advisors
The board approved the following advisors for 2026-2027, all 6-0 unless noted:
Kelly Evans – ASL Club Advisor
Nicole Davis – Appleby Student Council Advisor
Heather Densmore – Appleby Student Council Advisor
Bill Perks – Sportsmen Club/Trap Team Advisor
Donna Forrest – Safety Coordinator
Kacie Penrose – Yearbook Club Advisor
Ashley Wirges – Health & Wellness Coordinator
Todd James – FBLA Advisor
Sydney Rosato – Appleby Archers & Fitness Advisor
Megan Friscia – FFA Advisor
Several advisor appointments were pulled/postponed rather than filled at this meeting. National Honor Society Advisor, Student Council Grades 7-12 advisor, and the Gaming Club advisor positions have not been filled. They were pulled until the positions are filled. HS Drama Club Advisor appointment was postponed to the September meeting. All Class Advisor appointments are postponed to the September meeting.
Other Personnel and Agreements
Susan Lango was granted an FMLA leave of absence, effective August 5, 2026.
The board accepted an unpaid Social Work Internship for Binghamton University student Veronica Mildeberger, under the supervision of Kelly Strobeck.
A Physical Therapy Agreement with Jennifer McConnell was approved.
An Intermunicipal Agreement between school districts for transportation was approved.
The board adopted a resolution confirming tax rolls and authorizing the 2026-2027 tax levy.
The board approved the District-Wide Safety Plan that will be put out to the public to review for 30 days.