Scribbling notes and listening intently, parents of the West Genesee Central School District met their potential new superintendent on Tuesday. 

“My concern is that this decision will be made with the current board of education rather than the three new board of education candidates that were just voted in,” said parent Tonya Wilson.

There are three finalists after late superintendent Chris Brown left the position following controversy about social media posts accusing him of having a relationship with a district employee. Though the finalists were presenting to the public, attendees could not ask questions in person. Instead, they submitted comments provided by a board of education prompt.

“My concern is that the decision has already been made and there may not be enough parents taking the opportunity to give the feedback that the district needs because we have had so many interesting challenges in the last six months,” Wilson said. 

David Bills, Linda Goewey, and Brian Kesel are all vying for the position. 

Bills and Goewey have served as superintendents and Kesel as an assistant superintendent. Bills served 11 years as superintendent of the Honeoye Central School District, outside of Rochester. Goewey served three years for the Hudson Falls Central School District, north of Albany. 

Kesel served as assistant superintendent for the past 12 years at the West Genesee Central School District. 

“I think the format was a pretty good one. There are things that I think would have been important like a specific parent-stakeholder group that could have asked questions of candidates,” said West Genesee Central School District Teacher's Association President John Mannion. 

The community is simply hoping that no matter the decision, the board considers the input of the community and helps the district move forward. 

“We have to turn a corner and get back to where we were,” Mannion said.