Voters say 'yes' to school budgets, propositions

On May 15, voters in the various school districts said "yes" to school budgets, propositions and to board of education members.

Bergen's $18.6 million budget passed by a vote of 475 for, 216 against. A proposal was also passed by a margin of 478 for and 220 against to purchase school buses.

Board of education members that were elected were Dana Keaton, 502 votes, Eugene Penepent, 486 votes and Lee O'Neill, 524.

Voters in Brockport approved the $66,640,190 budget by a margin of 800 for and 340 against. Voters also approved Proposition 2 for the purchase of school buses (not to exceed $895,000) with 786 votes for and 324 against.

Robert Iveson, Jr. ran unopposed for a board of education seat and received 951 votes. He will begin his second five-year term July 1.

In the Hilton district, the $64 million budget passed with 899 voters saying yes, 545 casting no votes. A proposition to purchase buses and a proposition to establish a capital reserve fund were also approved by voters.

In the contested school board election, Steve Beauvais, Barbara Cutrona and Michelle Frechette-Ames were successful in their bids. They received 950, 973 and 949 votes respectively. Sarisa Zoghlin was unsuccessful in her bid, receiving 783 votes.

Voters in Holley approved an $18.8 million budget in a close vote with 396 yes, 357 no. The proposition for library funding passed by a margin of 432 to 305; a proposition for bus purchases was approved by a margin of 396 to 338. The proposition to establish a capital reserve fund was not approved. It received 426 votes against, 292 in favor of.

In the contested board of education race, John Heise garnered 483 votes, Dorothy Morgan, 415, Robin Silvis, 336 and Brenda Swanger, 544. Patrice Beadle and William Grathouse were unsuccessful in their bids, they received 331 and 199 votes, respectively.

Kendall voters said yes by a margin of 271 to 175 for the $15.6 million budget. They also said yes to a proposition for school buses and a proposition for a capital project.

In the contested school board election race, Randall Spurr was successful, garnering 245 votes, Charles Pratt received 196.

In Spencerport, voters said yes to a $63.6 million budget by a margin of 701 for and 572 against. Incumbent school board members Rebecca Daniels and William Sweeney, who ran unopposed, won new three-year terms. Daniels received 992 votes, Sweeney, 978.

In a press release Superintendent Mary Anne Kermis thanked voters and the community volunteers who assisted the board of education in evaluating budget requests. "We created a good Spencerport budget, added to our programs that help struggling readers at the elementary and high schools, and maintained Spencerport standards and class sizes with one of the lowest projected tax levy increases in Monroe County."

May 20, 2007