The Wallkill Central School District’s 2024-2025 Budget of $89.5 million passed on Tuesday, May 21 following the polling period. District Assistant Superintendent for Support Services Brian Devincenzi shared the unofficial results of the election with 435 votes yes and 127 votes no for the budget. 

The 24-25 school budget marks a $4.0 million (4.68%) increase from the previous year’s district budget. The district would see a tax levy increase of 2.47% in the 24-25 budget and this levy is to remain below the tax cap. The district anticipates being $262,655 below the tax levy limit with the reported 2.47%, staying below the cap again for the fourth year since the 2021-2022 school year. 

In this year’s board of education election, four seats were made available. Incumbents Thomas Nafey, Thomas Frisbie and Donna Crowley would be seeking another full three year term on the board which would begin on July 1, 2024 and expire on June 30, 2027. The unofficial vote results of the incumbents were as followed: Nafey with 400 votes, Frisbie with 397 votes and Crowley with 423 votes. 

The final open seat was to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Vincent Petroccelli for a remainder term commencing upon the declaration of the results of the annual meeting and election and expire on June 30, 2026. The board vacancy was filled by former district superintendent and high school principal William Hecht. Hecht received 445 votes in the election this year.  

The new budget calls for the addition of another full-time school psychologist, bring the total number to five.

With the budget, Wallkill will be maintaining all programs and extracurricular activities with new elective classes such as Spanish 6, a dual enrollment class and American Sign Language 3. Students will be able to receive high school and college credit towards a dual enrollment class. Financial Literacy will also be offered to students. All instructional/non-instructional staff will be maintained, meaning no cuts according to White. 

The current structure of the Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program comprising 84 slots will continue and the district will continue to maintain low class sizes, with an average projected class size of 20 students from kindergarten to sixth grade. Wallkill also intends to pursue professional development opportunities, retain student support services and continue to station police officers in the five district buildings.

Wallkill Superintendent Kevin Castle spoke on budget before concluding the hearing on Thursday night. 

“We are maintaining all our programs along with our extracurricular activities and our staffing. That's only done due to budget forecasting. It's an approach where we have to be looking at our budget over a five year period, along with identifying the needs of our students,” said Castle. “We can't be complacent in this game that we call education.” 

“I want to point out the importance of all this, is that it's because of the community support so without the support, it's very difficult to do all the things that we're doing,” continued Castle. “Many times I speak of Wallkill family. We are Wallkill family and this is what we do to ensure our kids are getting everything that they deserve, so that when they leave our walls, that they are going to be successful, regardless of whatever pathway they take.” 

Highland School District

Voters in Highland said yes to a $54.4 million budget and yes to two new school buses. The budget was passed by a margin of 497-212.

Voter approved to purchase two propane school buses to replace aging vehicles with high mileage. The estimated cost of the two buses is $357,360, with 57.7% of the cost reimbursed through NYS Transportation Aid. The remaining $193,500 would be financed through local taxes over five years, resulting in an average annual impact of $2.97 per $100,000 of assessed value for Town of Lloyd residents.

Voters also approved the creation of a capital reserve fund, by a margin of  b516-194.

Board members running unopposed for re-election were: Mike Bakatsias (491( Ed Meisel (514) and Jenn Becker (535)

Marlboro School District

Voters in the Marlboro School District approved a  $65,6 million budget by a margin of 337-118.

A proposition to have 2 student repson the school board passed by a margin of  374 - 78.

Board members Faith Naninni (365) and Patricia Benninger (360) ran unopposed