Jefferson school budget fails, others pass
May 22—Residents rejected the Jefferson Central School District budget by four votes Tuesday, May 21, making it the only district budget in the area to fail.
Residents of the district are slated to vote on a school budget June 18.
The Walton Central School District was the only district in the area that exceeded its tax cap and had to have its budget pass by 60% of voters. Residents approved the budget 216 to 84.
"We want to thank the Walton Central School District community for once again supporting the budget," Walton Superintendent Dr. Michael MacDonald said in a statement. "We appreciate the continued support of our students and staff. This budget allows us to maintain our programming and give our students the best opportunities."
Residents of Worcester rejected the proposed budget increase for the Worcester-Schenevus Library. Residents of Schenevus approved the budget increase for the library 122 to 76, while Worcester residents rejected the $7,500 increase 108 to 84.
The following school districts announced their budget and board of education results:
CHENANGO COUNTY
Afton Central School District
Budget (+4.45%): $19,285,569: Yes, 146; No, 91.
Proposition: Vehicle purchases: Yes, 132; No 105.
School board (1): Brian Hart, 61, Nicki Andrews, 97, and Kelly Graven-Briggs, 71.
Bainbridge-Guilford Central School District
Budget (+7.23%): $24,292,902: Yes, 136; No, 44.
Proposition: Purchase two school buses not to exceed $320,000: Yes, 140; No, 40.
School board (3): Keith Hanvey, 154; Rebecca Sullivan, 151; Mia Gray, 139.
Greene Central School District
Budget (+1.60%): $32,084,906: Yes, 111; No, 68.
Propositions: Purchase two school buses, one van and one SUV: Yes, 127; No, 51.
School board (2 full terms, 1 unexpired term): Brian Milk, 152; Sherwood Fendryk, 151; and Christopher Austin, 90. Austin will fill the vacant seat, which expires June 30, 2025.
Norwich City School District
Budget: $47,355,524: Yes, 344; No, 133.
Proposition: Guernsey Memorial Library budget: Yes, 334; No, 137.
School board (3): Karen A. Sastri, 359; Richard O'Hara, 379; Brian Reid, 337; Tameka Lieb, 214.
Guernsey Public Library trustees (2): Patricia Giltner, 407; Jane Clement, 392.
Otselic Valley Central School District
Budget (+14%): $13,583,193: Yes, 141; No, 45
Propositions: Purchase two minivans: Yes, 135; No, 52. Public library: Yes, 109; No, 76.
School board (2): Richard Rubright, 96; Betty Robinson, 86.
Library board of trustees (1): Kirsten Spear, 158.
Oxford Academy and Central School
Budget (+3.39%): $23,685,320: Yes, 145; No, 60.
Propositions: Purchase student transportation vehicles: Yes, 140; No, 63. $19.5 capital project: Yes, 148; No, 57 Library appropriation: Yes, 151; No, 44.
School board (2): John Godfrey, 175; Nathaniel Emerson, 181.
Library Board of trustees: Matthew Voce, 174.
Sherburne-Earlville Central School District
Budget: (+2.12%): $38,861,835: Yes, 158; No, 29.
Propositions: Capital reserve: Yes, 159; No, 28.
School board (4): Debra Kurtz, 150; William Tyrrell Jr., 151; Ethan Johnson, 149; Kerry Simmons, 141.
Unadilla Valley Central School District
Budget (+5.24%): $25,321,281: Yes, 169; No, 19.
Propositions: School bus lease: Yes, 164; No, 21. South New Berlin Library: Yes, 69; No, 6. New Berlin Library: Yes, 102; No, 12.
School board (3): Mark Davis, 143; Carrie Meade, 136; Debra Taranto, 142; and Samantha Kemnah, 82.
DELAWARE COUNTY
Andes Central School
Budget (+4.75%): $4,897,538: Yes, 84; No, 59.
Proposition: Bus purchase: Yes, 89; No, 54.
School board (2): Karen Bornarth, 83; Kate Liddle, 79.
Charlotte Valley Central School
Budget (+3.42%): $12,483,189: Yes, 89, No, 24.
Proposition: Suburban purchase: Yes, 93; No, 20.
School board (1): Joe Ballard
Delaware Academy and Central School District at Delhi
Budget (+4.47%): $22,511,496: Yes, 193; No, 48.
Proposition: Lease nine new buses for five years: Yes, 201; No, 47.
School board (2): Tammy Neumann, 202; Lauren Raba, 187.
Deposit Central School
Budget (+3.22%): $19,239,581: Yes, 158; No, 27.
Proposition: Bus purchase: Yes, 158; No, 27
School board (2): Stacey Axtell and Dawn Faulkner.
Downsville Central School
Budget (+2.91%): $11,811,460: Yes, 63; No, 10.
School board (1): Gary Champlin was reelected.
Franklin Central School
Budget: $8,435,608: Yes, 116; No, 29.
Proposition: Bus purchase: Yes, 106, No, 38. Franklin Free Library budget: Yes, 111, No, 33.
School board (1): Patricia Taggart 121.
Hancock Central School
Budget (+2.16%): $13,152,044: Yes, 98; No, 52
Propositions: Louise Adelia Read Memorial Library budget: Yes, 119; No, 32. Bus purchase: Yes, 97; No, 53 Establish a capital bus reserve: Yes, 98; No, 51.
School board (2 full terms): Cliff Johnston, 121; Christopher "Jake" Geer Sr., 111; (1 unexpired term): Katt Judd, 99.
Margaretville Central School
Budget (+7.15%): $13,550,825: Yes, 207; No, 37.
Proposition: Purchase two school buses: Yes, 186; No, 56.
School board (2): Marc Osterweil, 140; Ivan Herrera, 99; Matthew Steen, 192; Sharon Gavette, 45.
Roxbury Central School
Budget (+4.98%): $11,164,546: Yes, 178; No, 68.
Proposition: Purchase a bus with a wheelchair lift: Yes, 211; No, 36.
School board (1): Sabrina Miraglio, 37; Laurie Owen, 57; Ryan Hejnal, 35; and Deborah Fox, 98.
Sidney Central School
Budget (+2.45%): $32,071,491: Yes, 88; No, 23.
Proposition: Sidney Memorial Library budget: Yes, 95; No, 16.
School board (2): Anna Banks, 95; Thomas Hoskins, 91.
Library board (1): Janice Vitek, 30; Ann Zieno, 76
South Kortright Central School
Budget (+2.19%): $11,473,77: Yes, 96; No, 18
Proposition: Bus and suburban purchase: Yes, 100; No, 14.
School board (1): Terri Chichester, 97.
Stamford Central School
Budget (+1.98%): $10,999,975: Yes, 170; No, 130.
Propositions: Bus purchase: Yes, 204; No, 96. Technology purchase: Yes, 233; No, 79. Stamford Library budget: Yes, 153; No, 147.
School board (2): Stacey Vasta, 166, was elected to the board with term ending June 30, 2027; Lucas Flachs, 145, was elected to the board with term ending June 30, 2026; Kathleen Cannon, 421; Catherine (Katy) Barber-Graves 105.
Walton Central School
Budget (+3.3%): $25.039,763: Yes, 216; No, 84
Propositions: Bus purchases: Yes, 214; No, 83. Ogden Free Library budget: Yes, 185; No, 112.
School board (2): Tammie H. Tweedie, 261; Jacob T. Davies, 215.
OTSEGO COUNTY
Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School
Budget (+1.14%): $14,768,325: Yes, 147; No, 59.
Proposition: Two bus purchases: Yes, 137; No, 65. Vehicle purchase: Yes, 143; No, 64. Setting up a technology reserve fund: Yes, 144; No, 59. Setting up a capital reserve fund: Yes, 144; No, 62.
School board (2): Ellen Johnson, 131, elected to five-year term; April Aramini, 107, elected to two-year term; Nicole T. Fox, 59; Hilary Fox Lusk, 89.
Cooperstown Central School
Budget (+1.54%): $22,952,542: 462 Yes; 86 No.
Bus lease proposition: 473 Yes; 74 No.
School board (3): Mary Beth Murdock, 453; Keith Parr, 278; William Streck, 439.
Edmeston Central School
Budget (+4.87%): $11,495,411: Yes, 92; No, 19
Propositions: Purchase two school buses: Yes, 88; No, 23. Edmeston Free Library: Yes, 92; No, 18.
School board (2): Andrew Cole, 89 and Dustin Thall, 88.
Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School
Budget (+3.03%): $11,385,000: Yes, 90; No, 46.
School board (3): Whitney Talbot, 99; Sean Barrows, 91. Write-in candidates Lori Peck, 53; Amanda Larsen, 30. Peck will assume the third seat.
Laurens Central School
Budget: $11,628,646: Yes, 119; No, 14.
Proposition: Bus purchase: Yes, 125; No, 8.
School board (1): Gerard Murello, 122.
Milford Central School
Budget (+2.66%): $11,950,694: 157 Yes; 87 No.
Transportation and bus purchases capital reserve proposition: 142 Yes; 87 No.
School board (2): Daniel Lang, 103; Paul Singh, 137.
Morris Central School
Budget (+5.5%): $10,981,679: 86 Yes; 16 No
School board (1): Wendy Moore.
Oneonta City School
Budget (+4.3%): $46,111,901: Yes, 263; No, 62.
Proposition: Bus purchase: Yes, 273; No, 53. Spending $2 million from the capital reserve fund for the capital project: Yes, 292; No, 34.
School board (3): Susan Kurkowski, 269; Mark Seigers, 250 and Eamonn Hinchey, 196.
Richfield Springs Central School
Budget (+1.85%): $14,338,559: Yes, 140; No, 52
Proposition: Purchase two school buses: Yes, 141; No, 51.
School board (2): Nancy Duevel, Scot Mondore.
Schenevus Central School
Budget (+3.17%): $11,032,756: Yes, 147; No, 52.
Proposition: School bus purchase: Yes, 143; No, 56. Establish a capital reserve fund to purchase buses: Yes, 138; No, 61. Worcester-Schenevus Library budget: Yes, 122; No, 76.
School board (1): Jonathan Bartlett, 171.
Unatego Central School
Budget (+6.3%): $25,716,149: Yes, 112; No, 43.
Proposition: Allow a student to be an ex-officio school board member: Yes, 120; No, 32.
School board (3): Matthew Downey, 112; Jim Salisbury, 118; Janette Johnson, 123.
Worcester Central School
Budget (+5.16%): $12,785,747: Yes, 128; No, 64.
Proposition: Request from Worcester Free Library to increase the contribution by $7,500 to $40,000 from the community to fund the library: Yes, 84; No, 108.
School board (1): Stacey Serdy.
SCHOHARIE COUNTY
Cobleskill-Richmondville Central
Budget (+2.55%): $47,069,587: Yes, 543; No, 130.
Proposition: Community library budget: Yes, 541; No, 137.
School board (2): Paige Bulmer, 257; Dominga Lent, 352; Roberta Wilding, 252; and Aimee Yorke, 434.
Library board (3): Abbie Gascho Landis, Patricia Adams and Fred Barnes.
Gilboa-Conesville Central School
Budget (+4.43%): $12,280,482: 117 Yes, 26 No
Propositions: Expand capital reserve fund for a 44-passenger bus purchase: 126 Yes, 24 no. Expend capital reserve fund for a 35-passenger bus purchase: 126 Yes, 24 No. Establish capital reserve fund for bus purchases: 117 Yes, 29 No.
School board (1): Gregory Woodcock. 95 Aurora Zinck-Cornell, 51.
Jefferson Central School
Budget (+5.43%): $8,137,820: 96 Yes; 100 No.
Purchase one bus not to exceed $165,000: 106 Yes; 89.
Establish capital reserve fund: 98 Yes; 97 No.
School board (1): Frederick J. Blumberg, 134; Phoebe Schreiner, 47.
Middleburgh Central School
Budget (+2.42%): $24,900,000: Yes, 69.9%; No, 30.1%.
Propositions: Purchase three buses: approved. Establish a capital reserve fund for bus purchases: approved. Place $200,000 of the unappropriated fund balance into the repair fund: approved.
School board (2): Pamela Standhart and Becky S. Binder were elected.
Schoharie Central School
Budget (+2.99%): $27,623,921: Yes, 244; No, 128.
Propositions: Purchases buses and other vehicles: Yes, 259; No, 113. Schoharie Free Library budget: Yes, 255; No, 117. Establish a bus reserve fund: Yes, 250; No, 122. Transfer $2 million out of capital reserve fund: Yes, 255; No, 117.
School board (2): Laura Rosenthal, 228; Bradford Bruno, 201; Steven Underwood, 126; Lynda Lewandowski, 124.
Budget (+4.4%): $11,285,624: Yes, 95; No, 5.
Proposition: Bus purchase: Yes, 88; No, 13.
School board (1): Helen Roberts was reelected for a five-year term.
Vicky Klukkert, staff writer, can be reached at vklukkert@thedailystar.com or 607-441-7221.