City Board of Education candidates.

At the May 16 Annual Budget Vote and School Board Election, four candidates are on the ballot to fill three open seats on the Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education. In order of appearance on the ballot, they are: Paul Abbott, Christine Schnars, John Panebianco, and Melissa Paterniti.

Paul Abbott, an incumbent, is seeking his sixth term, having started on the board in July 2008. Mr. Abbott has served as the Board of Education President since 2016. He is a JHS alumnus and graduated from JCC, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Academy and the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. He is retired as the Investigative Commander of the Jamestown Police Department and is currently employed by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department. Mr. Abbott and his wife, Jennifer, have two daughters: Kelsey, a 2013 JHS graduate and Hannah, a 2017 JHS graduate.

“I think it is important to be an advocate for the idea that every student in our district should be pushed to be their best,” Abbott said. “Leadership and experience are important, and I think I bring both of those to the table.”

Christine Schnars, an incumbent, is seeking her third term on the board since returning to it in 2017. She has been a member of the BOE for 31 years. She currently serves as second vice president and Area 3 Director for NYSSBA and is currently a member of the Erie 2 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES Board. She is a past president of the Fletcher PTA and served on the NYSPTA Board of Governors. Mrs. Schnars, her husband Jim and their four children are all JHS alumni. She currently has five grandchildren in the Jamestown schools.

“Having gone through a few difficult years here, I think having those with experience on the board matters so that, together, we can get through the next few years and into the future,” said Schnars.

John Panebianco is seeking his first full term on the Board of Education. Mr. Panebianco worked for JPS for 14 years, retiring as director of human resources in 2022. A graduate of JHS, Mr. Panebianco and his wife, Cindy, have one son Michael, a JHS graduate and local attorney, and two grandchildren. Mr. Panebianco is a United States Air Force and Army National Guard veteran and holds an associate’s degree from JCC and a bachelor’s, master’s and two administrative degrees from SUNY Fredonia. He is an active member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, a past board member of the Jamestown Community Learning Council and YMCA Camp Onyahsa, and serves as a mentor with Chautauqua Striders.

“I’m running for the board of education because I value public education and support a healthy school district culture for work and learning. I have a wide range of knowledge within the district and community and am a good listener, effective communicator and team player. If elected, I hope to work with all stakeholders in the district and community to continue to find the most effective ways to impact student results through communication and collaboration within the framework of a well thought-out budget. I support a healthy school district culture for work and learning.”

Melissa Paterniti is seeking her first term on the JPS Board of Education.

She graduated from Jamestown High School in 1993 and received an associate’s degree from SUNY Jamestown Community College in 1996. Ms. Paterniti previously worked for The Resource Center and Uber/Lyft rideshare services. She returned to the area in 2019 after previously living in Austin, Texas and currently works for Ballgame Heroes. She is a member of the JPS Safety Committee and also helped raise funds for a memorial to late JHS student Lexy Hughan.

“I am running to be a voice for the children and parents of the city of Jamestown. Since returning to Jamestown in 2019, I have tried to be involved in the community and support the students of JPS and JHS. As a person with no children, I come to the table with a different perspective and I’m running to learn more about the district, how it functions, and how I can help the future of the community.”

Voters can cast their vote at any of our three polling sites: Jefferson, Lincoln, and Washington schools. The polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. on May 16.

To be eligible to vote in the JPS Budget/Board of Education Election, an individual must be: at least 18 years of age, a United States citizen, a resident of the Jamestown City School District for at least 30 days prior to May 16, and a registered voter. If you have a question regarding voter eligibility, please contact Jaunita Walter, District Clerk, at (716) 483-4420.