In accordance with New York State GML Article 3-A, Section 44, the Municipal Cooperation Agreement (the Agreement) is administrated by an elected Governing Board (the Board) of up to 15 members. A Board member must be either a Participant’s Chief Fiscal Officer or another designated officer or employee of the Participant who has knowledge and expertise in financial matters.
NYCLASS Governing Board
Governing Board Meetings
Mr. David Gleason, Executive Director
View BioDavid currently serves as the Executive Director for the NYCLASS Governing Board. Now retired, David most recently served as the Executive Director of Business and Operations for the Rockland BOCES. In 1997, he began his career as the Director of Finance for the Fulton City School District before accepting the position of Assistant Superintendent with the Elmira City School District. David received a Bachelor of Arts from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Syracuse University. He also received a Certificate of Advanced Study from SUNY Cortland.
David is a member of the New York State Association of School Business Officials (NYSASBO), the Education Summit Planning Committee of NYSASBO, and is a Director for the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium. He has a long tenure with the NYCLASS Governing Board, first serving from 2000-2001, then from 2004-2006, and finally returning in 2016.
Robert currently serves as the District Treasurer for the Howells Fire District, the Circleville Fire District, and the Village/Town of Mount Kisco and has been involved with finance for his entire life, both in the public and private sectors. Previously, he served as the Comptroller for the Town of Fishkill and as the Director of Accounts Receivable & Credit Operations for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York, Inc. Robert received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a focus on Finance from Saint Michael’s College and a Master of Business Administration in Accounting from Iona College.
Robert has spent much of his life doing volunteer work for both ambulance and fire departments, starting in college on a fire and rescue squad in Vermont. He served as a Fire Department Officer for 23 years, with 13 of those years spent in a Chief Officer position, and as an Emergency Medical Technician for 36 years. Robert has been a member of the NYCLASS Governing Board since 2005 and has served as Chairperson since 2017.
Dr. Grace Chan
Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations
Nyack UFSD
Region IV, 2026
Grace is the Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations for Nyack UFSD, a position she has held since September of 2016. She is responsible for budget development, accounting, bookkeeping, and financial reporting for a budget in excess of $163 million. Additionally, Grace has held various administrative business positions for other schools including Port Washington UFSD, Valley Stream CHSD, East Williston UFSD, and Lindenhurst UFSD. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Western Connecticut State College, a Master of Business Administration in Information Systems and Taxation from Pace University, and an EdD in Administration and Supervision from Fordham University.
Grace is an active member of the New York State Government Finance Officers Association, the New York State Association of School Business Officials, the New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal, and the Long Beach Volunteer Fire Department. Grace joined the NYCLASS Governing Board in 2020.
Karen currently serves as the Treasurer for Jefferson County, a position she has held since 2011. She is responsible for the cash management of an $110 million portfolio, the annual financial statements, general ledger oversight, and ensuring proper funding for all County obligations. Prior to this role, Karen most recently served as an Audit Manager at Sovie and Bowie, CPAs where she conducted audits of government and not-for-profit agencies as well as the preparation of tax returns for businesses and not-for-profit agencies.
Additionally, Karen served as a Senior Audit Manager for Beard Miller Company, CPAs and as an Accounting Supervisor at the Watertown Savings Bank. She received a Bachelor of Science in Public Accounting from SUNY Oswego and is a Certified Public Accountant. Karen is a past president of both the New York State Government Finance Officers Association and the NYS County Treasurer’s Association. Karen joined the NYCLASS Governing Board in 2022.
John currently serves as the Village Administrator for the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook, where he started his career of over 35 years working with municipalities. In addition, he has been a consultant to eleven Long Island Municipalities and Chambers of Commerce. John received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Adelphi University and a Master of Public Administration from Baruch College. He holds the designation of Certified Municipal Clerk.
John has served as a Finance Committee Member for the Nassau County Village Officials Association and as a founding Board Member of the Long Island Municipal Cooperative Purchasing Group. He was named Clerk of the Year by the New York State Association of City and Village Clerks and is the recipient of numerous awards including the New York Conference of Mayors’ Main Street Award and the Nassau County Village Association’s Downtown Alive and Best Practices in Village Government award. John has been a member of the NYCLASS Governing Board since 2016.
Mr. Timothy Hilker, Vice Chairperson
Asst. Superintendent for Business
Saratoga Springs City School District
Region III, 2025
Tim currently serves as Assistant Superintendent for Business for the Saratoga Springs City School District. He has a long history with school boards and administration, beginning in 2009 as the District Treasurer for the Niagara Wheatfield Central School District. Tim received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Buffalo (SUNY) and a Master of Business Administration along with a CAS/NYS Certification for School District Business Leadership from Niagara University.
Tim actively serves many different organizations and commitments. He is currently on the Board of Directors for the New York State Association of School Business Officials (NYSASBO) and serves on their Professional Development Committee. Additionally, Tim serves on the Executive Committee for the Capital Region Chapter of NYSASBO, the Executive Committee for the WSWHE Health Insurance Trust, and the Planning Board for the Town of Hadley. His current affiliations include the New York State Society of CPAs’ Public Schools Committee, the District Management Group, and ASBO International. Tim has been a member of the NYCLASS Governing Board since 2016.
Donna currently serves as the Treasurer for the Village of Saltaire where she is responsible for the accounting and business management activities related to the fiscal affairs of the Village. This includes budget preparation and management, tax collection, financial transactions, installation and maintenance of accounting systems, accounts payable procedures, purchasing, financial planning, budgeting for capital projects, and the preparation and analysis of financial reports.
Donna is a longstanding member of the New York State Society of Municipal Finance Officers, the New York State Government Finance Officers Association, and the Long Island Village Clerk Treasurers Association. Donna joined the NYCLASS Governing Board in 2020.
Karen currently serves as both the Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations and District Treasurer for the Salamanca City Central School District. She has been with the district since 2010 and has previously served as a Business Executive. Karen earned both a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration from St. Bonaventure University in addition to a Master of Science in Education from Pace University. She holds the certification of a School District Business Leader.
Karen is currently the Vice President for the Cattaraugus Allegany Association of School Business Officials, serves on the Treasurer’s Steering Committee for the NYS Association of School Business Officials, and is a member of the International Association of School Business Officials. Karen joined the NYCLASS Governing Board in 2017.
Karen currently serves as the Treasurer for the Village of Rhinebeck where she is responsible for the maintenance and reporting of the village’s financial records and the cash management of various funds in excess of $3 million. She also assists with fund balance analysis, presents a monthly treasurer’s report, and files the annual update document with the NYS Comptroller’s Office.
Karen is an active member of the New York State Municipal Finance Officers Association, where she served as president from 2003 to 2004, and the New York Government Finance Officers Association, where she is currently Vice Chair of the Downstate Council. She is a Notary Public for the state of New York. Karen joined the NYCLASS Governing Board in 2019.
Lori currently serves as the Village Clerk/Registrar and formerly served as Treasurer for the Village of Potsdam, where she has spent the past 29 years of her career and started as the Keyboard Specialist for the Planning and Development Office in 1992. She is a Notary Public for the State of New York and graduated from the Massena School of Business with a General Business Diploma.
Lori currently serves as the Secretary for the St. Lawrence County Municipal Clerks’ Association, where she has previously served as a Vice President and is an active member of the Local Government Conference Committee. Outside of work, she is the Secretary of the Norfolk American Legion Riders NY Post 925. She has been a member of the NYCLASS Governing Board since 2017.
Deborah currently serves as the Treasurer of the Port Jervis City School District, a position she has held since 2004. She has previously worked as Treasurer for Smith Plumbing and Heating, Inc. where she implemented a computerized accounting system. Deborah received an Associates of Science in Accounting from Orange County Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Business, Management, and Economics from SUNY Empire State College.
Deborah is an active member of the New York State Association of School Business Officials and the New York State Association of Municipal Purchasing Officials. She has served as Treasurer for the Port Jervis Middle School PTA and the Deerpark Reformed Church as well as President for the Port Jervis High School PTSA in 2012 and 2013. Deborah has been a member of the NYCLASS Governing Board since 2016.
Nick currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the Pioneer Central School District, a position he has held since 2005. As the district’s second in command, he helps lead an organization of 2,500 students and nearly 500 employees while also serving as the Chief Fiscal Officer. He is responsible for the management of legal issues, insurance and risk management, and the supervision of the non-instructional aspects of the school district including budget, accounting, and finance. Nick received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Niagara University and a Master of Business Administration in Accounting from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Additionally, he maintains School Business Administrator, School District Administrator, and Certified Public Accountancy credentials.
Nick is the Co-President of the Allegany-Cattaraugus Chapter of ASBO New York, serves on the boards of the Healthy Community Alliance and the Character Council of Western New York, and is an active member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Nick joined the NYCLASS Governing Board in 2018.
Abbas currently serves as the Director of Finance for the Town of North Castle where he is responsible for preparing and managing the town’s budget, managing the audit process and regulatory filings, issuing reports on the town’s finances, and preparing financial statements. Prior to his position with the town, Abbas was an Assistant Controller for GE Capital, Working Capital Solutions where he was responsible for the timely completion of monthly and quarterly processes, reviewing all account reconciliations, and managing external and internal audit reviews.
Additionally, he held the roles of Accounting Manager for SAC Capital Advisors, LP and Controller for Subrogation Group, LLC. Abbas received a Master of Business Administration with a focus on Finance and Operations from Binghamton University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Mr. Stephen Tibbetts
Asst. Superintendent for Business
Southern Westchester BOCES
At-Large, 2026
Steve currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Business and Administrative Services for the Southern Westchester BOCES, a position he has held since 2009. He develops policies and procedures to ensure that the financial resources of Southern Westchester BOCES are secured, accounted for, and used consistent with applicable laws. Before joining BOCES in 2002, he worked as a Senior Analyst at Viacom, Inc. and as a supervising Senior Accountant at KPMG, LLP. Steve earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Providence College and a Master of Science in Educational Administration from SUNY New Paltz.
Steve has been a member of the NYCLASS Governing Board since 2014.