Mohonasen CSD
Proposed Budget: $44,082,355
- Yes: 1082
- No: 589
Board of Education (vote for three)
This race is uncontested — all candidates elected
- Stacy MacTurk — 1226
- Gary M. Spadaro — 1346
- Thomas R. Andriola — 1240
Referendums
Bus Purchase Proposition: $290,000
- Yes: 1056
- No: 609
Niskayuna CSD
Proposed Budget: $75,341,397
- Yes: 2,261
- No: 999
Board of Education (vote for two)
- Robert Winchester — 1,451
- Barbara Mauro — 1,606
- Diane Geurin — 1,336
- Kevin Laurilliard — 1,397
Referendums
Bus Purchase Proposition: $599,500
- Yes: 2,074
- No: 1178
Schalmont CSD
Proposed Budget: $41,925,000
- Yes: 760
- No: 320
Board of Education (vote for two)
- Gerard Parisi — 442
- Gregory Campoli — 592
- Albert Falcone — 583
- Teri Gallucci — 384
Referendums
Bus Purchase Proposition: $456,900
- Yes: 676
- No: 407
Scotia-Glenville CSD
Proposed Budget: $47,829,155
- Yes: 1,371
- No: 521
Board of Education (vote for two)
This race is uncontested — all candidates elected
- Thomas Beauchamp — 1,561
- Gary Normington — 1,570
Communities showed strong support for school district budgets throughout Schenectady County as budgets passed by comfortable margins Tuesday, May 15.
School districts presented proposed 2012-13 budgets for the first time since the state tax cap was in effect. All four school districts in The Spotlight’s coverage area (Niskayuna, Scotia-Glenville, Mohonasen and Schalmont) kept budgets below the tax cap, a number that varied for each district. Bus purchase propositions were also approved by voters in the three districts they were offered in.
In contested Board of Education races, incumbents were re-elected and kept their seats on school boards for another term. There were two uncontested races.
Niskayuna
Niskayuna Central School District voters approved the 2012-13 budget with 2,261 casting votes in favor of the $75.3 million spending plan and 999 opposed. The budget holds a tax levy increase at the district’s maximum allowable limit of 3.29 percent.
Board of Education President Jeanne Sosnow thanked voters for approving the budget.
“We worked hard to get budget information out to the public, and the vote shows that they understood the financial situation, and approved of our measures to close the gap through increased efficiencies and staffing to enrollment,” Sosnow said in a statement. “Through this approach, we were able to minimize the impact on classroom instruction and educational opportunities, though not without some reduction in personnel, unfortunately. Teacher and staff concessions were a big help, and we appreciate their contribution to a successful budget.”
Voters also approved the bus purchase proposition for an amount not to exceed $599,500 by a vote of 2,074 to 1,178.
Superintendent Susan Salvaggio also thanked voters for their support.
“Niskayuna is a great place to live, work and go to school, and that is the direct result of the support of our community,” Salvaggio said in a statement. “We appreciate the community’s participation and support. It is not something the district takes for granted, and it will continue to be essential as we navigate these difficult economic times for our schools.”
Incumbent Board of Education members Barbara Mauro (1,606 votes) and Robert Winchester(1,451 votes) were elected to a new three-year terms. Diane Geurin (1,336 votes) and Kevin Laurilliard (1,397 votes) had challenged the incumbents.
Mohonasen
Mohonasen residents voted to approve the district’s 2012-13 budget with 1,082 votes cast in favor and 589 votes cast against it. The $44.1 million budget carries a 2.75 percent spending increase over the current year and a 2.3 percent increase in the tax levy.
“First of all, I want to thank everyone who came out and voted on this rainy day. In this challenging environment, every vote truly mattered,” Superintendent Kathleen Spring said in a statement. “This budget represents a real effort to preserve our core, so we have something to build from and can continue to provide a sound education to our students. As I’ve said before, we are very fortunate to live in a community where people recognize the value of their schools.”
Voters also approved a $290,000 proposition to purchase two full size 66-passenger buses and one 24-passenger wheelchair bus, with 1,056 voting in favor and 609 voting against it.
Three unopposed candidates were also elected to the Mohonasen Board of Education, which include Stacy MacTurk with 1226 votes, Gary Spadaro with 1346 votes and Tom Andriola with 1240 votes.
Schalmont
Schalmont residents voted in favor of the 2012-13 budget by 760 to 320 to pass the $41.9 million spending plan. The budget increases spending by 0.37 percent over the current year’s budget and carries a tax levy increase of 1.94 percent.
“I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to everyone who came out to vote today,” Board of Education President Sandra Beloncik said in a statement. “Thanks to the community’s input throughout the budget development process, we were able to present a budget our community could support.”
Residents also approved a bus purchase proposition with 676 voting in support and 407 against it. The proposition asked voters permission to purchase three new 65-passenger buses and two new 35-passenger buses. The initial cost of the five buses is $456,900 spread across five years, but the district is eligible for state aid on a portion of that cost, reducing the local taxpayer share of the proposition to $205,605. The cost is already included in the debt service calculation for 2012-13, so it does not increase next year’s budget.
Four candidates ran for two Board of Education seats: Gerard Parisi, Gregory Campoli, Albert Falcone and Teri Gallucci. Both seats are for three-year terms. Incumbents Campoli (592 votes) and Falcone (583 votes) were reelected, with Parisi (442 votes) and Gallucci (384 votes) losing their bids.
Scotia-Glenville
Scotia-Glenville voters approved the proposed $47.8 million 2012-13 budget by a margin of 1,371 to 521. The spending plan will raise the property tax levy by 2.9 percent.
Voters also elected Thomas Beauchamp (1,561 votes) and Gary Normington (1,570 votes) to the school board in an uncontested race.