Founding Member of the Tech Valley High School Operating Board Paul S. Puccio died February 26 surrounded by his family.
Puccio dedicated his life to public service and community involvement. He was active in the Schodack community for more than 45 years in various roles and capacities. Since starting as vice president of the Maple Hill Preschool in 1974, Paul took on new roles and responsibilities to serve the community. This included serving as a member of the Castleton-Schodack Chapter of the U.S. Jaycees and as treasurer of the Maple Hill Music Parents Association.
Puccio was first elected to the Schodack CSD Board of Education in 1981 and served as a member until his death. He was the Schodack CSD Board president from 1988 to 1998. As president, he helped to establish board policies that still guide school district operations today. He negotiated teacher, staff, administrator and superintendent contracts for more than 30 years – and advocated for greater transparency and community engagement.
Puccio was elected to the Questar III Board of Education in 1999 and served as a member until his death. He helped many of the BOCES programs and services expand and restructure their offerings to better serve students and school districts. He chaired the board’s audit committee, meeting regularly with business officials. Puccio also served as an instructor and curriculum developer for required board trainings. In 2017, he developed an online training program for new and veteran board members.
He was a founding member of the TVHS Operating Board, serving as its first president from 2006 to 2018. As president, Puccio and his colleagues helped Tech Valley High School grow into a nationally-recognized school. Today, it continues to lead public education into the future, fostering new relationships with business, higher education and the community.
Puccio served as a member of the School Board Institute Directors’ Committee of Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA) at the University at Albany from 1995 to 2005. He designed training programs and facilitated meetings on various topics of interest to local board members. He also served as a consultant to several boards on matters such as meetings and executive sessions, strategic planning and community engagement, goal-setting and board-superintendent relations.
Puccio was well-known and respected across New York State. He attended the annual New York State School Board Association (NYSSBA) convention, where he presented on various topics. In 2010, NYSSBA recognized Puccio with its Everett R. Dyer Award for Distinguished School Board Service, the organization’s highest top award for school board service.
Even after his children graduated from high school, Puccio continued to serve on three school boards and the town of Schodack’s Planning Board.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to remember Paul Puccio may contribute to a scholarship fund that will be set up in his name. Checks can be sent to Schodack Central School District, attention L. Bryda, 1477 So. Schodack Rd., Castleton, NY 12033 (notate P. Puccio Memorial in the memo field).