The Newburgh Enlarged City School District [NECSD] budget vote and board of education election will be held remotely by absentee ballot. The absentee ballots will be due by June 9. The annual meeting to adopt the budget and finalize the results of the board’s election will be on June 9, and the public hearing on the budget will be on June 1.

The finalized budget is expected to have significant aid cuts from the state due to the novel coronavirus [COVID-19] crisis. The proposed general fund budget is in the total of $287,432,60.

“This has been a very interesting budget cycle,” said Superintendent Dr. Roberto Padilla during a workshop meeting on May 15. “While we’ve been involved in this particular budget cycle, we have faced a budget deficit.” The district faces a multi-million budget deficit.

“We’ve never had to go this far in a school year and still not have critical financial information at this stage of the year,” said Padilla.
The proposed budget was made official on May 19. There is potential for increased cuts mid-year to the budget.

Only qualified voters will receive absentee ballots by mail. To be a qualified voter you must be a U.S. Citizen, at least 18 years old by June 9, a school district resident for 30 days immediately preceding the vote, and registered to vote in any school district election/vote during the past four calendar years. There will be no personal voter registration held at the school district offices prior to the June 9 vote.

In addition to the budget, voters will be voting to fill four empty spots on the board of education. Shoy Colbourne, Zachary Costa, Dawn Fucheck, Mark Levinstein, Carole Mineo, Darren Stridiron, and William Walker are in the running.

Colbourne has been in the district for eight years now, and is working on getting his doctorate of education from Saint Peter’s University. He is an employee in the New York City Department of Education’s Central Office.

Colbourne aims to collaborate with key stakeholders to reduce chronic absenteeism rates in the district.

“I believe the Board of Education’s top priority should be remote instruction and all of the complexities that are associated with remote instruction,” said Colbourne. He believes the district should plan what the reopening of schools will look like.

Zachary Costa has been in the school district for 31 years now. He currently works as the manager of a business. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree. Costa hopes to increase student access to cutting edge technology inside of schools.

“The BOE’s top priority is creating a positive environment in which students can learn not only basic subjects like reading, writing, and math; but to expand as individuals and appreciate the arts, science, critical thinking, and healthy socializing; through the means of managing a harmonious relationship with the various elements that make up a school district,” said Costa.

Dawn Fucheck has been in the district for 30 years now. She is a former at-large member of the board of education. She works as an adjunct facilitator for the New York State School Board Association. She wants “to work collaboratively towards the common goal of achieving student achievement and ensuring equity for all.”

She believes the board’s top priorities are, “the adoption of policies and budgets that support student achievement.” She also believes the district must provide a safe learning environment where teachers can teach and students can learn.

Mark Levinstein has been in the district for 27 years. He is a former member of the board of education. He works for North Point Carpet Supplies. He has an associate’s degree from Orange County Community College.

He hopes “to partner with parents and educators to create better outcomes and opportunities for the children of the Newburgh School District.” He wants to ensure a safe environment for students. He also strives to make sure students graduate, and are prepared to enter higher graduation while being civic-minded young adults.

Carole Mineo has been in the district for 47 years and has been president of the board of education since 2015. She has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, and spanish. She has a master’s degree in elementary education, a CAS in School District Administration, an ABD in School District Administration.

“I would like to see a unified Reading Program for the Primary Grades that would help all students to read and enjoy reading by the end of second grade,” said Mineo. Her current top priorities for the district are safety, fiscal responsibility, and the unification of the language arts and math programs in the primary grades.

Darren Stridiron currently works for Heritage Land Surveying PC & CV Associates NY. He is also a current member of the board. He has an AAS in Forest Technology from SUNY Environmental Science & Technology.

He hopes to return the school system to a “respected all encompassing, educational program that seeks to enrich the lives of our children and have them grow up as well rounded respectful adults.”

His priorities include fiscal stability, safety and security, and support for programs that provide a full education experience and promote learning over just passing.

William Walker has been in the school district for 33 years. He is a retired teacher of English Language Arts and active member of the school board. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baldwin-Wallace College, and a Master of Science from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

He hopes “to continue to raise the reading, writing, analytical skills of all students by making our schools relevant hubs within our community.”

He believes the district’s top priorities are curriculum and teacher development, budget alignment, diversity recruitment, and collaboration between the district, union, schools, and community.