On Liverpool's School Board, the Routine Vote Is Always 5-4 — the Real Ones Never Are

Key Actions & Decisions

• ◆ June 8, 2026: all fourteen routine business items (minutes, personnel actions, treasurer's reports, a budget transfer) passed on the identical 5-4 vote — Nicholas Blaney, Kimberly Martin, Daniel McKeever, John Solazzo and Alexandra Gyder voting yes each time; Jecenia Bresett, Stacey Chilbert, Kimberly Melnik and Matthew Jones voting no each time
• ◆ June 8: after two speakers addressed workforce reductions and early-retirement incentives during public comment, a motion to table a resolution abolishing an unspecified number of positions failed 3-4-1 (Blaney abstaining); the abolishment resolution itself then carried 6-2, with McKeever and Jones the only dissents
• ◆ June 8: the board voted 5-3 to appoint Michelle Merlino to fill the seat left by Kimberly Martin's resignation, effective June 30, 2026
• ◆ June 8: the meeting opened at 6:37 p.m. and did not adjourn until 12:34 a.m.
• ◆ July 7, 2026: at the annual reorganization meeting, newly elected members Dawn Curry-Clarry and Victoria Baratta and appointed member Michelle Merlino took their seats; Stacey Chilbert and Daniel McKeever no longer appear among members present; the board elected Alexandra Gyder as President and Kimberly Melnik as Vice President, both unanimously
• ◆ July 7: a motion to enter executive session later that night failed 3-5-1, with Gyder abstaining
• ◆ July 21, 2026: a proposed tax certiorari settlement with Target #1475 in the Town of Clay tied 4-4 and failed
• ◆ July 21: the board voted 5-3 to appoint Kimberly Vile as Deputy School Purchasing Agent and 2-5-1 to reject a routing-efficiency study contract with FEH BOCES