Election night was a good night for the Ballston Spa, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Saratoga Springs and Shenendehowa school districts, with voters passing all four 2010-11 budgets.
Ballston Spa voters approved a $72.4 million budget with a final vote of 1,571 to 1,066. budget represents a 1.9 percent tax levy increase and 2.7 percent increase from this year. Both Board of Education incumbents Dan Cramer and Kathy Jarvis were reelected and will serve for another three-year term, starting July 1.
Both board members thanked their running mates for participating in the race and the community for supporting them. They said they look forward to serving the district.
Hopefully the community saw I bring a lot of experience with regard to my background in education, I was a former high school teacher, but the business world too. I have the ability to balance the budget and make decisions that will impact 4,000 students in our schools on a daily basis, said Cramer.
Jarvis said moving forward, it’s all about the kids.
`I’m very excited about the future of the district and certainly want to carry on our plans, so I’m very appreciative to voters for understanding the importance of supporting the budget for our students. The vision we try to encompass in our thinking is everything we do is important for the kids,` said Jarvis.
Saratoga Springs residents overwhelmingly approved a $108,500,005 budget by a vote of 2,6060 to 1,125. A school bus purchase proposition was also approved by a vote of 2,473 to 1,214. School board incumbents Regina Gapczynski and Ernest Gailor were re-elected to three-year terms. Incumbent Charles Phillips was re-elected for a two-year term and Russell Danforth, who served on the board from 1998 to 2007, was elected to a three-year term. All candidates were running unopposed for the four seats.
BH-BL residents approved a proposed budget of $53.4 million, 1,904 to 1,141, a margin of 63 percent. A proposition to borrow up to $350,000 to purchase seven school buses was also approved. School board incumbent Robert Speck was defeated in an extremely close race for two Board of Education seats, and newcomers William Farmer and Lee-Ann Mertzlufft were elected. The district reported voter turnout was higher than usual, with a total of 3,045 residents voting, including 49 by absentee ballot. That’s nearly 1,000 more voters than have typically turned out over the past five years.
`I think people are looking for a little bit of a change, looking for someone that has children in the school system who will be looking out for their interests as their kids go through school in the next few years,` said Farmer. `It’s been a really rough year because of state aid cutbacks so I want to look at ways to better spend the money we have rather than having to cut programs or go to the state constantly for more money. I look forward to working closer with the community and be someone very involved and accessible to everyone.`
A $147.8 million budget was passed by nearly 6,000 Shenendehowa district voters who turned out by 3,683 to 2,182. The spending increase was kept to $323, 732. A bus proposition was also passed, 3,394 to 2,115. Gary DiLallo and Rick Mincher were re-elected to school board and Andrew McCarty was elected to his first term on the board.
Despite state aid cutbacks that required several staffing and service cuts throughout the four districts, many voters turned out to support what they felt was best for their district’s kids.
`It’s really important to vote, regardless s of opinion. More importantly I’m concerned with the preservation of our buildings,` said Jean Relyea, a Ballston Spa voter.
`They’re talking about closing Malta Avenue school and I’m against that. Kids can walk there and there are more kids in the neighborhood, but they want to bus them.`
Helen Kivlen started teaching in the Ballston Spa district in 1970 and said her continuing love for the district keeps her voting year after year.
`I love these schools and they’re doing so good. The kids get served great and so do the teachers. I filled out a questionnaire saying I didn’t want cuts to arts, music or sport,` said Kivlen.
Another former Ballston Spa educator, who described herself as also a mother and grandmother, said voting for the budget secures the future of kid and residents alike.
`If we don’t take control of our kids’ future, we don’t have a good future ourselves,` said Beverly Valenti. `This budget presented is what they feel has the best chance of supporting our kids so I’m making a choice based on what’s best for them.`
Ballston Spa did more than post signs to encourage residents to vote. A chicken barbecue was held outside the high school library, an ice cream social was held and school bands performed.
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