Bus Proposition Passes; Board Term Length Proposition Defeated
Niskayuna Central School District voters on Tuesday, May 18, approved the 2021-222 school budget, with 1,423 casting votes in favor of the $93.1 million spending plan and 1,276 opposed. In the Board of Education election, Howard Schlossberg was elected to a third term on the Board and Aliya Saeed was elected to a first term.
Voters also approved the bus purchase proposition by a vote of 1,787 to 915. Voters defeated a proposal to extend the length of future school board terms from three years to four years by a vote of 1,476 opposed and 1,204 in favor.
The results, announced at Niskayuna High School shortly after polls closed, showed that 53% of 2,699 voters supported the budget.
The budget calls for a tax levy increase of 1.17 percent, which is at the district’s limit based on the state tax-cap formula. The budget continues all current student programs and support, as well as some new investments in areas of need.
“I would like to thank everyone who took the time to vote today,” said Superintendent Cosimo Tangorra, Jr. “While this has been a challenging year, we look to the future with much optimism. As we seek to regain a sense of normalcy next year, this budget provides for the learning, growth and support opportunities our students need and deserve. We appreciate the support of the community and will keep working to earn and maintain it.”
Board of Education Results
There were four candidates for two seats on the Board of Education up for election this year, with the seats going to Saeed and Schlossberg as the two top vote getters. Here are the vote totals:
- Aliya Saeed – 1,648
- Howard Schlossberg – 1,429
- Benjamin O’Shea – 1,323
- Noney Grier – 547
The three-year terms that they were elected to on Tuesday will begin on July 1 this year and go through June 30, 2024.