Two Candidates Seeking Three Open Seats on the WCS Board of Education

On May 19, Waterville Central School (WCS) District residents will elect three District residents to serve on the WCS Board of Education. The individuals elected will serve a three-year term beginning July 1, 2026.

As it stands, the District has two candidates appearing on the ballot to fill three open Board seats. Even though only two names are pre-printed on the ballot, three positions are available to be filled.

The Board is comprised of seven District residents, elected by voters, and is the official policy-making body of the District. Board members are not financially compensated.

Candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot.

Mr. Stephen Stanton lives in the Village of Waterville with his wife, Dr. Andrea Stanton (class of 1998) and their three sons; Connor (20), who is a sophomore at St. John Fisher University and a 2024 graduate of WCS; Rylan (16), who is a junior; and Stephen (13), who is in seventh grade. In 2014, they moved from Deansboro to their current home in the village so that they could be closer to the schools and enjoy village life. They are very involved in the community with their sons’ various sports and musical endeavors, and attend St. Bernard's Catholic Church weekly, where their sons are altar servers. When Mr. Stanton is not cheering for his boys, you can find him coaching soccer and track and field.

Mr. Stanton is running for a fourth term on the WCS Board of Education and, if re-elected, is committed to partnering with the District’s superintendent, administration, faculty, staff, students and community to build upon the District’s current successes and strengths. He fully supports the District’s mission and believes in the power of public education to provide equal opportunities for every child. Over the past nine years, the District has made great progress in its quest to educate the whole child while navigating many challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic as well as state and federal funding gaps. Mr. Stanton will continue to advocate for higher student achievement in all areas, especially reading, math, science and languages while supporting a broad assortment of enrichment activities, including the arts, music and sports.

If elected, Mr. Stanton will place additional focus on three critical areas during his next three-year term: closing the COVID learning gap, professional development for all faculty and staff and fiscal management of the budget. He believes that while the District has made good progress, the pandemic posed great challenges for its students, staff and educators, and it must close the remaining learning gaps while strengthening the professional development of its educators to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Additionally, the District must do this while managing a budget that keeps it fiscally sound as it invests in its future.

Mr. Stanton believes that by working together with teachers, staff and administration, the District can create a positive learning environment for every student where they can be their best. He will continue to solicit input and feedback from all stakeholders, and will draw upon these past nine years of experience on the Board, including four as Board President, to make the best decisions he can for students in the District.

Mr. Stanton has spent his career working in senior roles in business at global corporations, and recently founded GETS AI Management Enterprises, a consulting company specializing in artificial intelligence solutions for small and medium sized businesses. He has extensive experience in finance, human resource management, regulatory compliance and workplace health and safety. He is also an alumnus of Cornell University (‘00) and has ancestral roots in the Finger Lakes Region dating back more than 200 years. Waterville is where he and his wife have chosen to raise their sons, and it is their home. He hopes to have your support for another three-year term on the WCS Board of Education.

Mr. Justin Barth is a 1991 graduate of WCS. He went on to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Management from Mohawk Valley Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Utica University (formerly Utica College).

Mr. Barth began his legal education at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, MI before transferring to the University at Buffalo School of Law, where he completed his degree. After being admitted to the New York State Bar, he started his legal career with a Syracuse law firm, representing both accident victims and criminal defendants.

Mr. Barth later joined the New York Central Mutual Fire (NYCM) Insurance Company as in-house counsel, where he has spent the past 25 years defending the company and its policyholders in courts across New York State. His work has included a wide range of matters, from breach of contract and insurance fraud to negligence claims. Mr. Barth currently serves as Corporate Counsel and Business Unit Manager of Legal at NYCM.

Mr. Barth and his wife, Mrs. Jessie Barth, live in Waterville and are proud parents of three sons – Tyler, Gavin and Maddox. Tyler and Gavin are graduates of WCS and are currently attending college, while Maddox is a student at Memorial Park Elementary School.

A longtime supporter of youth programs, Mr. Barth has coached American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) soccer, Waterville-Brothertown Optimist Club Biddy Basketball, minor league baseball and indoor soccer. He is currently completing his first three-year term on the WCS Board of Education and remains committed to supporting students, staff, families and the broader community.