SCHENEVUS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Minutes for Regular Meeting of the Board of Education Meeting
March 21, 2023
4:00 p.m.
Board President, Tom Snyder called the Regular Board of Education meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.
Members present: Thomas Snyder, Timothy Walke, Serenity Beardslee, Cory Spooner, Liz Reed
Also Present: Cheryl and Tom Jory, community members; Matt Gregory, Teacher/SUT co-president; Stephanie Lincoln, Treasurer; Mr. and Mrs. Gaston, community members
PRESENTATIONS
2023-2024 Budget (Expenses)
. NEW BUSINESS
Business Items:
Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board of Education approve the following:
- Approve the Notice of Hearing of Annual Budget Vote and Election
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, ANNUAL BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION
SCHENEVUS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing of the qualified voters of the Schenevus Central School District of the Towns of Maryland, Westford, Roseboom, Decatur and Milford, will be held at the Schenevus CSD, located at 159 Main Street, on May 9, 2023 at 6:30 P.M., prevailing time, for the presentation of the 2023-2024 Budget and such other business as provided by the Education Law. Copies of the budget and the text of any proposition will be available for review by any qualified voter beginning on May 2, 2023, upon request, either at the main office of the Schenevus CSD, by email to the District Clerk at jcarney@schenevuscsd.org, or by visiting the District’s website at:https://www.schenevuscsd.org.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting/Election to vote upon the appropriation of the necessary funds to meet the estimated expenditures, or any propositions involving the expenditure of money, or authorizing a levy of taxes, or any proposition duly presented in accordance with Election Law, as well as the election of a member of the Board of Education, shall be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, between the hours of 12:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M., prevailing time, in the Schenevus CSD, located at 159 Main St., at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting machine and absentee ballot on the following items:
- 2023-2024 BUDGET
To adopt the annual budget of the Schenevus Central School District for the fiscal year 2023-2024 and to authorize the requisite portion therefore to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.
- ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBER SEATS
To elect one (1) member of the Board of Education for a five (5) year term, commencing on July 1, 2023, and expiring on June 30, 2028, to succeed Ms. Elizabeth Reed.
- BUS PROPOSITION
Shall the following resolution be adopted to wit:
Resolved that the Board of Education of the Schenevus Central School District is hereby authorized to undertake the acquisition of two (2) 64-passenger school buses, at an estimated maximum aggregate cost of $300,000, less trade-in value, if any, and that such costs, or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be raised by the levy of a tax to be collected in annual installments; and, in anticipation of such tax, debt obligations of the school district as may be necessary not to exceed $300,000 shall be issued, or the School District may enter into an installment purchase contract if the Board of Education determines that it is in the best interest of the School District to finance the purchase in that method.
At such meeting taxes to be levied by installments will be proposed for authorized indebtedness providing for payment of the acquisition of school buses at an estimated aggregate maximum cost of not to exceed $300,000. Such taxes shall be levied upon all the taxable property of the District, shall be levied in annual installments and shall be of such amounts and levied in such years as may be determined by the Board of Education.
The District Clerk or the Clerk’s designee is hereby directed to add the above to the notice of the annual meeting of the School District.
This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
- To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to the Education Law of the State of New York.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for school purposes and the tax exemption report may be obtained by any resident of the District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding the vote, beginning May 2, 2023, except Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, located at the District Office, between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. A report of tax exemptions, showing how much of the total assessed value on the final assessment roll or rolls used in that budgetary process is exempt from taxation, shall be annexed to the budget document.
The election and budget vote shall be by machine or absentee ballot. The hours during which the polls shall be kept open shall be from 12:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M., prevailing time or for as long thereafter as necessary to enable qualified voters who are in the polling place at 8:00 P.M. to cast their ballots.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of the Board of Education must be filed with the District Clerk, Jody Carney or Deputy Clerk, Jeffrey Bennett, at 159 Main St, not later than Monday, April 17, 2023, at 4:00 P.M., prevailing time. Petitions may be obtained at the District Office during regular business hours, except Saturday, Sundays and holidays, or on the District website. Each petition must be directed to the District Clerk, must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District or two percent (2%) of the voters in the previous annual election, whichever is greater. The petition shall describe at least the length of the term of office and contain the name of the last incumbent, must state the name and residence of each signer, and must state the name and residence of the candidate.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with §2035 and 2008 of the Education Law, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be filed with the District Clerk of the Board of Education at the Schenevus Central School District on or before April 17, 2023 at 5:00 P.M. prevailing time; must be typed or printed in English, must be directed to the Clerk of the School District and signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District; and must state the name and residence of each signer. However, the School board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, or any proposition which fails to include a specific appropriation where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that applications for absentee ballots will be obtainable beginning April 14, 2023, between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday, except holidays, from the District Clerk. Completed applications for absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days prior to the election, May 9, 2023, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, May 15, 2023, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 P.M. on May 16, 2023.
The Education Law makes special provisions for absentee voting by “permanently disabled” voters of the District and any questions regarding these rights should be directed to the Clerk of the Board. A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available in the 159 Main St. during business hours, from 8:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M., prevailing time on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the election, except weekends, up to the day set for the election, May 16, 2023. Any qualified voter may challenge the acceptance of the ballot of any voter whose name appears on such list, by filing a written challenge stating the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls.
The Education Law also makes special provisions for absentee voting for “military” voters of the District. Specifically, the law provides a unique procedure for “military ballots” in school district votes. Whereas absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots must be received by the voter by mail, a military voter may elect to receive his/her absentee ballot application and absentee ballot by mail, email or facsimile. An application to register as a military voter may be requested from the District Clerk at 607-638-5530 or jcarney@schenevuscsd.org. The military voter must, however, return his/her original military ballot application and military ballot by mail or in person. The Clerk of the Board shall transmit the military voter’s military ballot in accord with the military voter’s preferred method of transmission not later than twenty-five (25) days before the vote, April 21, 2023. The Clerk of the Board must then receive the military voter’s military ballot by mail or in person not later than 5:00 P.M. on the day of the vote.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the qualified voters of the School District shall be entitled to vote in said annual vote and election. A qualified voter is one who is (1) a citizen of the United States of America, (2) eighteen (18) years of age or older, and (3) a resident within the School District for a period of thirty (30) days preceding the annual vote and election. The School District may require all persons offering to vote at the budget vote and election to provide one form of proof of residency pursuant to Education Law section 2018-c. Such form may include a driver’s license, a non-driver identification card, a redacted tax return or any identification containing the person’s physical address. Upon offer of proof of residency, the School District may also require all persons offering to vote to provide their signature, printed name and address.
Dated: March 21, 2023
Jody Carney, District Clerk Schenevus Central School District
Otsego County, New York
To Be Published:
March 31, 2023
April 14, 2023
April 21, 2023
May 12, 2023
Motion: Tim Walke; 2nd: Liz Reed; Vote: 5-0
Approve the Resolution of the Bus Proposition
Shall the following resolution be adopted to wit:
Resolved that the Board of Education of the Schenevus Central School District is hereby authorized to undertake the acquisition of two (2) 64-passenger school buses, at an estimated maximum aggregate cost of $300,000, less trade-in value, if any, and that such costs, or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be raised by the levy of a tax to be collected in annual installments; and, in anticipation of such tax, debt obligations of the school district as may be necessary not to exceed $300,000 shall be issued, or the School District may enter into an installment purchase contract if the Board of Education determines that it is in the best interest of the School District to finance the purchase in that method.
At such meeting taxes to be levied by installments will be proposed for authorized indebtedness providing for payment of the acquisition of school buses at an estimated aggregate maximum cost of not to exceed $300,000. Such taxes shall be levied upon all the taxable property of the District, shall be levied in annual installments and shall be of such amounts and levied in such years as may be determined by the Board of Education.
The District Clerk or the Clerk’s designee is hereby directed to add the above to the notice of the annual meeting of the School District.
This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
Motion: Liz Reed; 2nd: Cory Spooner; vote 5-0
Having no further business before the Board, Cory Spooner made a motion to adjourn at 4:31 p.m. 2nd by Serenity Beardslee; Vote 5-0