It was a slow day at the polls and a quiet night at the Board of Education when election results came in. By a two-to-one margin, the budget passed, two new buses were approved, and three uncontested incumbents regained their seats.
Once the results were tallied around District Clerk Nelly Valentin's desk, with no fanfare it was immediately back to those leather seats, as the Board proceeded into executive session with the doors closed.
Here's what was on the ballot and how it went down:
Proposition 1:
The budget calls for an expenditure of $66,827,609 for the 2012-2013 school year.
Proposition 2:
The bus proposition would authorize the Board to spend up to $240,000 (39% reimbursable through State aid) to purchase two 66-passenger buses for student transportation. This uses the 2011-2012 fund balance with no impact on 2012-2013 budget or tax levy.
Board Members up for reelection:
Craig Laub
Mimi Godwin
B. Joseph Lillis
Sleepy Hollow
Budget:
Yes: 240 No: 142
Buses:
Yes: 238 No: 121
Laub: 312
Godwin: 310
Lillis: 279
Tarrytown
Budget
Yes: 388 No: 158
Buses:
Yes: 387 No: 136
Laub: 440
Godwin: 466
Lillis: 443
Totals
Budget:
Yes: 628 No: 300
Buses:
Yes: 625 No: 257
Laub: 752
Godwin: 776
Lillis: 722
Superintendent Howard Smith said the races have gone uncontested “in recent history,” but this was indeed a low turnout at under 1,000 total voters. He also said that budget votes are always close, so there was some relief here to see such a significant margin in its favor.
Earlier in the day at Morse School where Sleepy Hollow citizens vote, poll worker Emma Serena said “for the weather, it's been good.” There had been about 290 voters by 6 p.m.
Another worker chimed in, “yes the weather, but that's no excuse.”
Despite the rain, Sleepy Hollow resident Rebecca Schroedel arrived to vote with her husband, the parents of two kids in college who went through the public school system here.
“I support the budget,” Schroedel said. She wished more people would run for the Board as it's “always good to have new blood,” but she had no complaints with the current administration and said simply, “it's our kids.”
