Justin Polly for OCS Board of Education

The news just came out on Parent Square a few minutes ago. I did not win a seat on the board for the OCS School District. I am happy the budget, library, and Capital Reserve passed. Thank you to everyone who supported me and voted for me and congratulations to the winners.

One more hour until polls close!! Go vote for Maggie Mahoney, Tara Lettsome & Justin Polly for Onondaga School Board !! Vote YES on the Onondaga CSD budget! Vote YES on the Onondaga Free Library budget!!

T-minus 2 hours!

Polls are open for another two hours. If you haven’t voted, GO VOTE!!! If you have voted, tell your family, friends, and neighbors to GO VOTE!!!

Voting for the budget? CHECK!

Will stand with public schools? CHECK!

TODAY IS THE DAY: Make sure you get out and vote in favor of your school budget and for candidates who support our public schools.

See a list of endorsed candidates here: publicschoolsuniteus.org/gotv-bb-2025

We have one of the greatest little libraries in the whole county!! Vote YES on the OFL budget!!!

As libraries across the United States are cutting back on staff and resourceful tools & materials for patrons after the Trump administration suspended millions of dollars in federal grants while they try to dissolve the Institute of Museum and Library Services, today (5/20/25) is the day to vote for the 2025-2026 NYS school budgets that include local library funding.

For the districts OFL serves, today's voting takes place at:
-Westhill High School Auditorium Foyer (Grand Avenue Entrance), 7am-9pm
-West Genesee High School Auditorium Lobby, 6am-9pm
-Onondaga Central Schools' Jr/Sr High School's Cafeteria Lobby & Rockwell Elementary School's Gymnasium, 7am-9pm

Here are the links to more budget information for these 3 school districts:
-Westhill:https://www.westhillschools.org/tfiles/folder1025/May%202025%20Budget%20Newsletter.pdf
-West Genesee:https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4048/WGCSD/5523644/WG_Budget_Presentation_25-26_FINAL_April_9.pdf
-Onondaga Central:https://www.onondagacsd.org/tfiles/folder1731/OCS%5FBudgetNewsletter%5F2025.pdf

THANK YOU!!! 🗳📚🫶

It’s Election Day folks!

Polls are open from 7am-9pm and you can vote at either Rockwell or the High School!

Howdy folks! Today is election day and I wanted to let people know about me, my candidacy, and what I’d bring to the school board. I shared an answer to some questions on another FB post of why I wanted to be on the board, and what life experiences I would bring to the board and I thought I’d answer it here as well. I have no intention of disrespecting the other 5 candidates, I only am speaking for myself, and I am understanding if the admins of this group want to remove this post.

If I am elected to the BOE, I would bring a background and experience that is underrepresented by the current board. There are currently no parents of Rockwell students on the board. My son Jack was in two years of Pre-K, Kindergarten, and is currently in first grade. I think having kids represented from all three buildings is critical. I would also be the only public school teacher and special education certified teacher on the board. Special education can be very complicated to navigate and having someone who is confident and comfortable with the vocabulary and would be able to effectively communicate it to parents and fellow board members would be a major asset. I have experience with special education as a student, as a teacher, and as a parent. I was diagnosed with a learning disability when I was in elementary school out in Wyoming. My special education teachers were heroes who helped build my confidence in my reading and writing skills. I struggled in some areas and excelled in others but I always had that support at my back. My son received early intervention services through the county and special education services through OCS. Our county and district did an excellent job giving Jack the attention he needed to get where he is today! would also be one of a handful of current Nedrow residents which is a critical neighborhood of OCS. I am proud to live in Nedrow and want to see this neighborhood grow and thrive. Rockwell is one of the shining parts of this neighborhood and having Nedrow residents on the board could provide more advocates for the neighborhood.

Although not my shining moment, I am also a college dropout. I attended the University of Wyoming for 7 months when I realized that I was not ready for that stage. I was deeply disappointed in myself and uncertain about my future. Two years later I was accepted into OCC and two years after that I graduated with honors. Eventually I earned a BA in history and a MS from Le Moyne with a focus on Special Education. I fell hard when I dropped out of college, but with incredible support from my schools, my family, and eventually my wife and son, I was able to thrive to be the person I am today. That is what I will be as a board member. Support for any and all students, any and all teachers, and any and all parents and families need a wind at their back!

Thank you all for reading and I’d appreciate one of your votes today!

Polls are open 7am-9pm at Rockwell and the High School!!

The 2025-2026 Budget Vote will be held May 20 from 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. at the Jr./Sr. High School Cafeteria and Rockwell Elementary Gymnasium. Visit our website for more information!

For the record, if this ever hits our district or state, I will fight this tooth and nail!

New standards in US state call for teaching election ‘discrepancies’ The new standards were enacted in April

As we enter our final week prior to Election Day (May 20th!!!) I have noticed that we candidates have not had the opportunity to answer questions directly to residents of OCS (no survey questions, no forums ect). We have not had a contested race like this here in OCS for a very long time so we are not used to being faced with this type of decision for our board.

I want my fellow OCS residents/parents/tax payers know that I want to engage with YOU and hear from YOU regarding your questions and concerns regarding OCS’ past, present, and future! Please do not hesitate to reach out to me and ask any questions you have about this critical race for school board! I am open and willing to share space and have a conversation with ALL of my fellow board candidates and bring these conversations to YOU!