On Tuesday, May 19, in addition to voting on the proposed budget for the 2026-27 school year, the community will also elect two candidates to serve on the board of education for three-year terms beginning July 1, 2026.
In total, four district residents are vying to fill two Board of Education seats that are open due to expiring terms. Information about the candidates is published below in the order that their names will appear on the ballot:
Victoria Donnelly, Laurence Truscello, Adam Wass, Shane Sportman
Victoria Donnelly of 99 2nd Avenue, Watervliet, is running for a second term on the Board of Education. First elected in 2023, she serves as the board’s advocacy liaison to the Capital Region BOCES.
A lifelong resident of the city, Ms. Donnelly graduated with a Regents diploma as part of Watervliet High School’s Class of 2002. She then earned an Associate Degree in early childhood education from HVCC and a Bachelor of Science from the College of St. Rose.
Ms. Donnelly serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Prime Companies, a real estate development and management firm in Cohoes. In her role, she is tasked with managing the team, the finances, and the schedules and more to ensure the business runs smoothly on a daily basis.
Ms. Donnelly’s two children attend Watervliet Jr.-Sr. High School: Lily is a sophomore and Bryce is in 7th grade.
Ms. Donnelly volunteers with her daughter at The Ronald McDonald House in Albany. She also supports Catholic Charities through St. Joseph’s/St. Ann’s kitchen, and organizes the annual giving tree for Prime Companies, which provides holidays gifts for multiple families within the company’s apartment communities in Cohoes.
Laurence (Larry) Truscello of 443 6th Avenue, Watervliet, is seeking a first term on the Board of Education.
A resident of Watervliet for the past 14 years, he graduated from Cohoes High School in 2007, and earned an Associate Degree in electrical construction and maintenance from Hudson Valley Community College in 2009.
Master Sergeant Truscello has served in the New York Air National Guard for the past 16 years. In his current role as the Human Resources and Administration Craftsman, he manages the Active Guard/Reserve careers of over 1,600 Airmen throughout New York State.
Sgt. Truscello and his wife, Catherine, have three children: Anthony, an 11th grader, and Ethan, an 8th grade, at Watervliet Jr.-Sr. High School; and Julia is in fifth grade at Watervliet Elementary School.
He is the modified wrestling coach for Watervliet schools and is the current president and a coach for Watervliet Youth Football and Cheer.
Adam Wass of 2522 8th Avenue, Watervliet, is running for a first term on the Board of Education.
A Watervliet resident for the past 17 years, he graduated from Lockport Senior High School with a Regents diploma in 1999, and is currently studying business information technology management through Broome Community College.
Mr. Wass is employed as a warehouse manager for Stone Management, a third party logistics (3PL) company located in Watervliet that partners with businesses large and small to provide public and dedicated warehousing, leasing, and supply chain solutions.
He and his wife Jessica have raised five children: Jacob Matthews, who is training to be a NYS Trooper; Daniel Wass, who attends Quinnipiac University; Zoie Wass, who studies at HVCC; Matthew Wass, who is pursuing the electrical trades at the Lineman Institute of the Northeast; and Amelia Wass, a fifth grade student at Watervliet Elementary School.
Mr. Wass is an active member of the Watervliet PTA, and coaches CYO girls basketball.
Shane Sportman of 1 Ninth Avenue, Watervliet, is seeking a first term on the Board of Education.
A resident of the city for 40 years, he graduated from Watervliet High School with a Regents diploma, and earned a bachelor’s degree in systems architecture from RPI in Troy.
Mr. Sportman is employed by New York State as a service-oriented management solutions architect who customizes user-facing technology systems for the Department of Labor.
He has volunteered for Soak the Suits Executive Dunk Tank, a fund-raising effort for local veterans.
Mr. Sportman has one daughter, Keira, who is in the 7th grade at Watervliet Jr.-Sr. High School.