Voters approved a $138 million budget for the Shenendehowa Central School District on Tuesday, May 15. Thirty minutes after polls closed at Gowana Middle School, the tally revealed that the district’s 2007-08 budget passed by 529 votes.
The feedback for the budget was in their votes, said district Director of Finance Susan Martin.
According to Martin, the spending plan provides $2 million to open Shatekon Elementary School in September and add 11 middle school classrooms. She also said that $1 million will be used to provide programs for at-risk students.
`This was an important budget for the community to support,` Martin said. `It helps with overcrowding, and we built in some additional programs to assist students who are at risk. This includes a night academy.`
Many voters said that they were on board with the budget since it will help overcome crowding.
However, Mary Ellen Egan-Boyajian, who is a parent and community member, said that the district needs to focus on providing programs for disadvantaged children in the community.
`I’m fine with the budget, but my concern is in not having extended kindergarten for the neediest part of the community,` she said.
Three candidates were also elected to fill three seats on the Shenendehowa board of education. They were William Casey and Gary DiLallo of Clifton Park and Rick Mincher of Rexford. Casey and DiLallo will be serving third terms while Mincher has been elected for a first term. “