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Summary of 2023 Budget Votes and Board of Education
Elections to be Held on May 16 in Each Lewis County School District
Published: May 11, 2023 at 04:45
p.m. Updated: May 12, 2023 at 03:00 p.m.
By: Nick Altmire
Lewis County, NY- Budget votes and
board of education elections will take place across the State on Tuesday,
May 16, 2023, including the five districts that are located within Lewis
County. A summary for each district is included below, along with links to each
district’s budget newsletter.
(Note- We have
made a number of requests to the Board of
Elections for the sample ballots which have been provided and posted on
their website in past years. As of publication we have not received
anything and sample ballots are not available on the Board of Election’s website, but we will update with the links if
they become available. Also note, enrollment data referenced below for each
district was provided by the New York State Department of Education website with the most
recent data available from the 2021-22 school year.)
UPDATED: May 12,
2023 at 3 p.m.- Sample ballot links have been provided and added.
BEAVER RIVER CENTRAL SCHOOL
Polls open 1 PM to 8 PM in the BRCS Auditorium
2023 Beaver River Central School Sample Ballot
2023 Beaver
River Budget Newsletter
Voters in the
Beaver River district will be voting on a $20.8 million budget, which
includes an 8.8 percent increase in appropriations from last year’s amount.
Based on the latest available enrollment data for the district from the
2021-22 school year, the proposed total budget of $20.8 million equates to
approximately $25,806 per each of the 806 enrolled students in the
district. If approved, district taxpayers would see a 2 percent increase in
the tax levy. There are no propositions on the ballot this year.
There are four
candidates vying for one vacant seat on the board of education. The
following profiles for the four candidates were included in the school newsletter:
Mrs. Holly M. Aucter, is a registered
dental hygienist and mother of two students who attend the district, Kelsey
(6th grade) and Jonah (5th grade). Holly has lived in the district nearly all of her life and actually met her husband on the
school bus headed to school several years ago. This district is her home and her family is blessed to be a part of this
incredible community. Holly graduated from Onondaga Community College with
an A.A.S. degree in Dental Hygiene. She is currently a youth group
co-leader at Salem Christian Fellowship Church and a past church board
member. Her sister is currently a school nurse at Beaver River as well. One
question posed asks what the most important issue facing our district is
currently. How does one begin to narrow it down to just one most important
issue? These days everything has become an issue. In fact, for the first
time in recent memory our district has formed a special committee to
address controversial issues. I am grateful to be a part of that
committee’s work. The concern becomes how we prepare these young minds for
the rapidly changing world they will be handed the keys to. I believe it is
paramount that we ensure accountability that our students continue to be
provided a fact based, age appropriate, non political education
focusing on the core curriculum requirements. Beyond that our graduates
should be “real world ready”, possessing the ability to think critically,
communicate efficiently and be resilient in character. It is essential that
our board works to foster transparency, support communication
and encourage cooperation among our educators, staff, parents, students and
community in this endeavor to graduate good citizens and productive members
of society. With common sense and the best interest of our students at the
core of our decision making, working to find common ground is perhaps not
as hard as it may seem.
Mrs. Julie Lyndaker
Robinson, is a hair dresser, real estate broker, serves on the Croghan
Village Board and also is the Mayor for the Village of Croghan. She is a
Class of 1985 has two daughters that have graduated from Beaver River, Taylor and Kirsten. Julie believes the largest issue
currently facing our district is the lack of camaraderie and the abundance
of division, and how it affects the children as well as employee retention.
She has never forgotten and will paraphrase the words of Peter Woolschlager while introducing a concert shortly after
9/11. “ We will never have peace in the world,
without first having peace in our homes, peace in our schools and peace in
our communities.” A stressful environment day after day is beneficial to no
one. It has been said that stress affects children’s behaviors and
performance. She does not doubt that it has the same effect on adults. She
believes the only way to produce a remedy for this negative environment is
the equal observation of everyone, equal confrontation of everyone, and
equal consequences for everyone. In a society that is pushing an equality
agenda, it should not matter your family name, your title, your
socioeconomic standing, your tenure, your athleticism, your class rank, or
your address. It should be about behavior, both good and bad. Both children
and adults. If a rule is in place, enforce it. With that, maybe we could
start to see positive change.
Mr. Keith Sixberry, has lived in the Beaver River
District for over 30 years. He is the proud parent of Beaver River
graduates and the proud grandparent of current Beaver River students. As he
closes on a 35 year career as an IBEW Electrician
in June, he is looking for ways to give back to the community. He brings
unique experiences to the table, as he has been a foreman in his field for
30 years. Those leadership responsibilities have also led him to serve his
local IBEW Union as president for the past 6 years, Vice President for 3
years, and the Executive Board for 3 years. He has served for 12 years on
both the Labor Management and Negotiation committees, as well as the Apprenticeship committee for 5 years. He is seeking to
bring his leadership knowledge and skills to the Board, and with his years
managing the electrical portion of multi-million dollar
construction projects would make an asset when it comes to planning
fiscally responsible building projects that impose the least amount of
burden to the taxpayers. In addition, he has a passion for exposing our
students to career building opportunities, especially in trade careers. He
endorses school activities like the Career Showcase, work-based learning
opportunities, and the expansion of Career and Technical Education courses.
As a board member, he would like to work with school staff to continue to
build upon career exploration opportunities. He supports Beaver River’s
initiative to help our students to be “real world ready.” He believes that
we have a strong community, a strong school, and he would welcome the
opportunity to serve on the school board.
Mrs. Tari
Thompson, has lived her entire life in this district and community. She is a
graduate of Beaver River and was involved in many programs, clubs and sports. She has her Associates
degree in Veterinary Science Technology from SUNY Canton. She worked
for Buckingham Hardware for about 9 years, where she got to know many
people in this great community. She currently is a secretary and accountant
for her husband’s veterinary practice and runs her little farm. She has 3
children, Adah and Avery who attend Beaver River and Ashton at home. Her
main goal running for the Board is to put the students needs first and do what is going to
allow them to grow into successful, kind and respectable
adults. As it seems to be becoming a growing issue everywhere, she would
like to see more done about the education of substance abuse. She wants to
ensure that students have a fair chance at different opportunities, whether
it be sports, music or clubs, no matter their last name or social status.
She wants the students to feel ready and confident for their next stage of
life after Beaver River. She is not afraid of leadership roles and is a
great communicator. She comes in with an open mind and respect for
everyone. She wants to be involved by helping grow and better the school.
She will plan to do that if elected with the other board members, the
Superintendent and also every single staff member.
COPENHAGEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Polls Open 12 PM to 8 PM in the Gym Foyer
2023 Copenhagen Central School District Sample Ballot
2023
Copenhagen Budget Newsletter
Voters in the
Copenhagen Central School District will be voting on a $12,026,424 budget,
which includes a $40,901 increase in appropriations compared to the current
year. Based on the latest available enrollment data for the district from
the 2021-22 school year, the proposed total budget of $12.0 million equates
to approximately $27,460 per each of the 437 enrolled students in the
district. If approved, taxpayers in the district will see a 2 percent
increase in the tax levy, which will require a supermajority (60 percent or
more) of voters in favor of the budget due to the district’s property tax
cap being calculated at -4.76 percent this year.
There is one seat
up for election on the school board, with incumbent Troy W. Buckley and
James Harter vying for the seat. The following profiles for each candidate
were included in the district newsletter:
Troy W. Buckley
I would like to thank the administration,
teachers, support staff, students, and the community, for all your support
during the last twelve years; it has been an honor and a privilege to serve
on the Board of Education. This privilege is something I take very
seriously and that is why I am seeking re-election for another term. Like
all schools in the state, ours is facing financial and educational
challenges that must be faced head on, and with an open mind. My
experiences have taught me how to make hard decisions without being
irrational, when difficult decisions need to be made.
Over the last twelve years I have served
on the Policy Committee and the Negotiations Committee. Together with
NYSSBA, we had all of our policies converted into
a web-based format located on our School Web Page for easier access, and
updates. I also had the pleasure of working with the teachers in the
negotiation of their current contract, which is again up for negotiation
next year. Both parties have been able to work together and come up with a
reasonable contract that satisfied everyone’s interest in the past, and we
hope to do so again.
For those community members who may not
know me, I am a 1994 3rd generation graduate of Copenhagen. I enlisted in
the United States Marine Corps after graduation and served for ten years. I
married my wife Jennifer, in 1997, and have three children who have
graduated from Copenhagen. Brandon lives in Utica and is working for Oneida
Research Services, Cody received his Associates from JCC in Criminal
Justice and currently works for Black River Heating and Plumbing while he
waits for his selection number from the NYST, and Olivia is pursuing a
degree in psychology at JCC. Small class size, dedicated teaching and
support staff, and a close-knit community were a few of the reasons why my
wife and I chose Copenhagen as the school for our children to attend. I
look forward to the challenges that will be coming in the next few years, and appreciate your support for re-election.
James Harter
I am a lifelong resident of the North
Country, born and raised in Calcium, NY. I graduated from Indian River High
School and attended Jefferson Community College taking courses focusing on
Criminal Justice. I have been a Corrections Officer with the New York State
Department Of Corrections And Community
Supervision for the past nineteen years. I have also served as the Zoning
Enforcement Officer for the Town of Rutland for the last five years.
Additionally, I have held ownership and have been involved with the
management of several businesses throughout the North Country area.
My wife Samantha and I have three
children, ages six, four, and two. We moved to the Copenhagen area over
eight years ago to start building our family here. We are proud to have our
children attend Copenhagen Central School. We have a deep appreciation for
the small town, conservative, community-minded education that CCS offers.
It is because of all these traits that CCS has developed a reputation for
providing an excellent education for its students.
If l am elected, I will fight to preserve
the values that have made CCS into all that it is today. I will be
approachable by all district residents to address any concerns they may
have. Our kids are the future. My goal is to see to it that they receive
the best education possible so that they can achieve their goals. Please
consider me for your vote.
HARRISVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Polls Open from 1 PM to 8 PM in the School Library
2023 Harrisville Central School District Sample Ballot
2023 Harrisville Budget Newsletter
Voters in the
Harrisville Central School District will be voting on a $11,564,651 budget,
which includes a $243,190 (2.15 percent) increase over the current year. Based
on the latest available enrollment data for the district from the 2021-22
school year, the proposed total budget of $11.56 million equates to
approximately $35,150 per each of the 329 enrolled students in the
district. If approved, taxpayers in the district will see a 3.99 percent
increase in the tax levy, which is still below the district’s calculated
tax cap allowance.
There are two
seats up for election on the school board, with incumbents Heidi
McIntosh and Denise Avallone both running
unopposed. Voters will also have a proposition to consider, proposing the
purchase of two new buses not to exceed a total cost of $311,980.
LOWVILLE ACADEMY & CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Polls Open 12 PM to 8 PM in the High School
Auditorium
2023 Lowville Academy & Central School District Sample Ballot
2023
Lowville Budget Newsletter
Voters in the
Lowville district will be voting on a $30,147,792 budget, which includes a 4.83
percent increase in appropriations from the current year. Based on the
latest available enrollment data for the district from the 2021-22 school
year, the proposed total budget of $30.1 million equates to approximately
$24,630 per each of the 1,224 enrolled students in the district. If
approved, taxpayers in the district would see a 1.99 percent increase to
the property tax levy. There are also propositions on the ballot for the
purchase of three new school buses, a proposal to increase funding to the
Lowville Free Library ($35,000 increase to a total of $135,000 annually)
and William H. Bush Memorial Library in Martinsburg ($5,000 increase to a
total of $45,000 annually), and a proposal for providing transportation to
Head Start students.
There are three
schools board seats up for election, with two candidates vying for each
seat. Seat 1 is filling the seat vacated when member Rebecca Kelly moved
outside of the district. Former Board member Stephanie Houser Fouse was appointed to fill the seat and
is now seeking election to the seat, along with Charlotte Sullivan. Seat 2
is to fill the seat of Thomas Schneeberger,
current BOE president, who is not seeking re-election. Steven Fuller and
Kerry Herbine are vying for the seat. Seat 3 is
currently held by Michael Young, with challenger Cheyenne Steria also vying
for the seat. The following profiles for each of the candidates were
included in the school newsletter and our video
from the district’s Meet the Candidates night can be viewed here:
SEAT 1:
Mrs. Stephanie Houser Fouse
served
on the Board of Education for six years before her term expired in June of
2022. After the 2022- 23 school year began, Mrs. Houser Fouse
was appointed by the Board to fill the seat vacated by Mrs. Rebecca Kelly
until the election in May of 2023. She is now seeking election for a three year term for the board seat of Rebecca Kelly.
Stephanie is a graduate of LACS with a Bachelor’s Degree
from Houghton College and is employed at Lewis County Public Health. An
avid reader and gardener, Stephanie and her husband Benjamin have two
children who attend LACS. They own a small farm and attend farmers markets.
When asked of her interest in serving on the school board, she states that “ My time as a student at LACS set me up for success and
taught me that community service is important. LACS is where my children
spend lots of their time. School is the center of community life. I want to
be a part of continuing our positive climate at school.”
Mrs. Charlotte Sullivan is running for
the board seat vacated by Mrs. Rebecca Kelly. Mrs. Sullivan and her husband
Jacob have two children who attend Lowville Elementary School. Charlotte is
a hostess at Jeb’s and communications director at ALCCL. She enjoys
spending time with family, being active in our community and enjoying the
Adirondacks. Mrs. Sullivan states, “My interest for
serving on the school board simply comes down to the fact that I would be a
fresh voice for our children, parents and
teachers. My interest is to see Lowville school be the best it can be!”
SEAT 2:
Mr. Kerry Herbine is running for
the board seat being vacated by Mr. Thomas Schneeberger.
Mr. Herbine is employed as the chief operating
officer at Lewis County Health System. Kerry and his wife Jenise are the
parents of four children ranging from 20 to 26 years of age. Mr. Herbine holds a Bachelor of Science degree from
Kutztown University of PA in Business Administration and a Master of
Science Degree from Oklahoma State University in Healthcare Administration.
He is active in church, an avid runner with a love of the outdoors and
believes that family is first. Kerry states, “Education is critical to the
success of each student. My experience with my education and in my career
will contribute to the positive trajectory of our school system.”
Mr. Steven Fuller is running for
the board seat being vacated by Mr. Thomas Schneeberger.
Mr. Fuller is a graduate of Lowville Academy and is employed as the food
service director at South Lewis CSD. He is the father of three children who
are currently enrolled at LACS and two other adult children. Previously,
Mr. Fuller was a member of the Lowville Lions Club and served on the board
of managers at Lewis County Health System for three years. He was actively
involved with the Lewis County Agricultural Sustainability Council. He and
his sons started the “Take What You Need” giving box where they supply
canned goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, along
with other items for community members to take. He enjoys hiking, kayaking and cooking. Steve states his interest in
serving on the board is “because I want to take an active role in the
academic culture of the district my three youngest children attend.”
SEAT 3:
Mr. Michael Young is completing
his 36th year as a board member and is seeking re-election. Mike is a
graduate of LACS and earned a BA in History from SUNY Albany and a JD from
Albany Law School. He is a partner at Young Law Office. Mr. Young states,
“My reason for continued service to Lowville Academy and Central School is
decades of institutional knowledge that provides seamless transitions
between students, staff, facility and community. I
bring a dedication to building educational opportunities that will empower
a new generation, and as a parent, community advocate and leader, I will
continue to be a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.” Mike and his
wife Kae are the parents of six children. In addition to the LACS Board of
Education, Mr. Young is a member of the Fair Board and of the Town/Village
Recreation Commission and is a St. Peter’s Church lector.
Mrs. Cheyenne Steria is running for
the board seat of Mr. Michael Young. Mrs. Steria is the Director of Finance
and Incentives for Naturally Lewis. She and her husband Jacob are the
parents of two Lowville elementary students and one pre-school child. After
graduating from LACS, she earned a BA in Mathematics and Business
Management from Hartwick College. She is a graduate of the Lewis County
Leadership Academy and was named a NNY Business Magazine 20 under 40 NNY
Emerging Leader in 2021. She serves on the board of the North Country
Alliance, Adirondack Economic Development Council and previously served as
chairwoman of the Village of Lowville Planning Board and of the Lewis
County Chamber of Commerce Board. Mrs. Steria states, “I think I can help
LACS get more creative and become the community centerpiece that we need to
be.” She enjoys hiking, biking, camping and
exploring with family and friends and is actively involved in her church.
SOUTH LEWIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Polls Open 12 PM to 8 PM in the High School Music
Suite
2023 South Lewis Central School District Sample Ballot
2023 South
Lewis Budget Newsletter
Voters in the
South Lewis District will be voting on $29,899,550 budget, which includes a
4.78 percent increase in appropriations. Based on the latest available
enrollment data for the district from the 2021-22 school year, the proposed
total budget of $29.9 million equates to approximately $32,324 per each of
the 925 enrolled students in the district. If approved, taxpayers in the
district will see a 1.98 percent increase to the property tax levy. There
will also be two additional propositions on the ballot, one to finance the purchase
of five new school buses and a one proposing to
increase the annual appropriation for the public libraries in the district
from $80,000 to $90,000.
There are two
candidates vying for one school board seat up for election, with incumbent
Thomas Burmingham being challenged by Stacey
McCall for the seat. Profiles for each candidate, published in a flier provided by the district, are included
below:
Tom Burmingham:
I am Tom Burmingham and I am running for a seat on the
South Lewis School Board of Education.
I am a proud graduate of South Lewis and
have lived and worked in our community my entire life. I care about
maintaining the trust of the taxpayers, and being fiscally responsible,
while providing the best education possible for our students.
One of my favorite events to attend is
our graduation ceremony, to celebrate the years of hard work and dedication
by our students, their parents and families, teachers and their support
staff, counselors, clerical staff, transportation, buildings and grounds,
food service, and the administration, to reach this goal.
I believe that it important
to have a diverse group of people who care about the education and future
of ALL of our students and the future of our
district. We can’t each be an expert in everything
so I strongly believe that it is important for board members to educate
themselves, attend board meetings, ask questions, and listen for a better
understanding of the issues presented to us. I also encourage community
members to attend board meetings and be part of the process.
I am proud of many of our district
accomplishments during my time on the BOE, such as becoming one campus with
a new elementary addition, free breakfast and
lunch for all of our students, and providing after school snacks for the
students who stay for academic help, athletics, or the arts. If any of you
know me, you know that meals and snacks are pretty
important.
As a South Lewis Board of Education
member for the past 10 years, I have learned so much and I have been
honored to serve our community. I approach this role as if ALL enrolled
students at South Lewis are my own. I would appreciate your vote on May
16th.
Please take the time to vote. Feel free
to contact me if you have questions.
Stacey McCall:
Hello, I am Stacey McCall, an alumnus of
South Lewis, currently residing in my hometown of Port Leyden. I am seeking
a seat on the Board of Education as I would like to contribute to the
school district's future success. And I think my life experiences and
philosophy of education can benefit our school and the students it serves.
I believe in giving back and civic engagement.
My education and career have allowed me
to work within academia and gain knowledge and contacts that will aid me as
a Board member. After graduating from SL, I received a bachelor’s degree
and two master’s degrees (one in history and another in education from the
University at Albany). In the late 90s, I worked as a director for a
private student exchange company. In the early 2000s, I taught at
Adirondack Central School prior to entering Albany’s Ph.D. program in
Curriculum and Instructional Design. Before completing the degree, I began
teaching history at MVCC in 2009. I am now an Associate Professor of
History and enjoy teaching and working with my colleagues. I currently
serve as a member of the College’s Senate and as Chair of the Academic
Policy and Standards Committee. I am also an active member of MVCC's
Professional Association, consisting of staff and faculty. All of these experiences have aided me in gaining
insight into different areas of the educational system.
Locally, I participate in my church and
serve as treasurer of Saint Martin’s Altar Rosary Society. I also serve on
the Town of Leyden Planning Board and am a Lewis County Election Inspector.
With your support, I will represent all the hardworking members of the
South Lewis community in building future opportunities for our schools.
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