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School districts tally board votes

DUTCHESS COUNTY —  The three local school districts of Millbrook, North East/Webutuck and Pine Plains held their board of education elections on Tuesday, May 16, with votes for school board seats and resolutions on the ballot. According to the district clerks, Webutuck’s turnout was a bit below average while Millbrook and Pine Plains were about average.

There were two openings for school board positions in the Millbrook Central School District (MCSD). The only two candidates for the positions were incumbents Howard Shapiro with 218 votes, and Chris Rosenbergen with 219 votes.

The 2023-24 budget was the only proposition on the ballot for MCSD and it passed 212-58.

The North East/Webutuck Central School District (WCSD) had four openings for board of education seats, with incumbents Aimee Wesley garnering 150 votes, Judy Moran getting 137, and Richard Keller-Coffey with 135. Jerry Heiser, who received 143 votes, ran for the seat vacated by Chris Mayville, who chose not to run for reelection.

The propositions on the ballot for WCSD were the proposed budget and approval of the Tax Report Card. The vote was 136-58.

The vote on whether the WCSD board of education would be authorized to acquire two school buses at a cost not to exceed $293,164 came in at 128-52.

The third WCSD proposition was for the creation of a capital reserve fund to finance the construction, reconstruction, renovations and general improvements to the district’s buildings and grounds, which passed 127-52.

Pine Plains Central School District (PPCSD) had two seats open on its board, which were won the two incumbents, who ran with no opposition: Heidi Johnson received 455 votes and James Griffin had 463. There were 53 write-in votes for various others.

Pine Plains voters said yes to the budget Proposition One, with a vote of 422-137. Proposition Two was for authorization to purchase two 71-passenger school buses at a maximum estimated cost of $151,997 each, which passed 394-161.

All three school districts expressed thanks for those who took the time and initiative to come in and vote and make their preferences known.

Judith O’Hara Balfe

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