New York State annually reserves the third Tuesday of May for voters to cast their ballots on local school district budgets and board of education seats. It’s an important opportunity for the community to participate in
shaping local education policy, and we urge all eligible voters to take a few minutes and do so on May 17.
We urge readers to visit the website of their local school district — each has a good description and analysis of the budgets up for the May 17 vote along with the details of when and where the vote will take place.
In addition, we urge voters to support school budgets as proposed in each of the county’s local school districts. These aren’t spendthrift plans — in each case, district leaders navigate the rough seas of local demands and state mandates with an eye toward minimizing the school taxes property owners must pay. The programs these budgets support are essential to every student’s education — academic, athletic, artistic, vocational — each is a vital part of the comprehensive tool boxes that today’s world demands. The teachers and staff whom these budgets support are essential, too, of course — called out correctly as among the heroes of the pandemic and beyond, and deserving of our unified support.
The League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area held a candidates’ debate for the two open seats on the Cooperstown Central School District Board of Education last week. There are three candidates running, Alicia Chase, Peter Iorizzo, and Cody Moore. Maureen Murray, Co-president of the LWV of the Cooperstown Area, moderated the event. The school board elections are non-partisan; candidates do not run as members of a party.
On Election Day, May 17, voters will also vote on the 2022-2023 district budget.
The election will be held at the Cooperstown High School, 39 Linden Ave., Cooperstown from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Any citizen, 18 years of age or older who has been a resident of the district for 30 days preceding the election is qualified to vote. Absentee ballots are available at the district office. Contact Wendy Lansing at 607-547-5364.
Cooperstown High School senior Amelia Williams rose without hesitation when Board of Education President Tim Hayes opened the public comment portion of the panel’s December 16 meeting in the school’s media center.
In the few minutes of time allotted to any such speaker, Ms. Williams delivered a personal message describing her experiences on the receiving end of racist and discriminatory behavior in the school’s hallways and on her school bus.
“I’ve had racial slurs spoken right in front of me,” she said. “I hear one white student greet another in the hallway using the ‘n’ word. It is not okay for the use of the ‘n’ word on the school bus.”
After community members voted down the Schenevus-Worcester schools merger on December 2, disappointment and a feeling of missed opportunity permeated in those who supported the union of their respective districts.
The final tally showed 70 percent of Schenevus community members voting against the merger. Worcester voters, on the other hand, voted to approve by a 64 percent – 36 percent margin.
State Senator Peter Oberacker (R-Schenevus) told The Freeman’s Journal/Hometown Oneonta that he would work in Albany to find more funding in next year’s state budget.
A forum is being held on Tuesday, November 16, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Worcester school gymnasium to discuss and comment on the potential merger of the Schenevus and Worcester school districts.
Budget and board of education elections for schools in Otsego County will take place from noon to 9 p.m., Tuesday, May 18. In addition, schools are preparing for a second year of coronavirus-proof graduations.
Here are the details for each of Otsego’s public school districts:
WRITERS GROUP – 3:30 p.m. Discuss current writing projects, get inspired, have fun. Arkell Museum, 2 Erie Blvd., Canajoharie. 518-673-2314 or visit www.arkellmuseum.org/events-calendar
FILM SOCIETY – 7 p.m. Film Society of Cooperstown presents “The Last Picture Show” (1971). Free, refreshments included. Village Ball Room, 22 Main St., Cooperstown. 607-437-6903 or visit www.facebook.com/FilmSocCoop/
FOOD FOR THOUGHT – 12:30 p.m. Lecture “Seen and Unseen: Photographs by Imogen Cunningham” with Kevin Gray, Manager of Arts Education & photographer. Cost, $30/non-member. Study Center, Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1400 or visit www.fenimoreartmuseum.org
45TH BIRTHDAY – 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Celebrate The DoubleDay Square Dance Club of Cooperstown with 2 days of square dancing. Exercise, meet people, see your friends. No costume/age requirements. Refreshments provided. Cooperstown Elementary School. 607-264-8128 or visit doubledaydancers.com
CHESS MEETING – 6 – 11 p.m. Weekly meeting welcomes players of all levels. No fees. Cafeteria, College Union, SUNY Oneonta. Call Dom at 607-484-7240.
PUBLIC SAFETY – 7 p.m. Presentation “#Bomb Trucks 101: Understand the Risks” with Craig L. Stevens, co-written w/ William Huston. Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. 607-431-2080 or visit stopthebombtrucks.blogspot.com
FOOD FOR THOUGHT – 12:30 p.m. “Behind the Scenes at Fenimore Art Museum” with Chris Rossi, Director of Exhibitions. Cost, $30/non-member. South Terrace, Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547–1510 or visit www.fenimoreartmuseum.org/calendar-a
Unatego Central school board member Dick Downey was one of two board members to vote tonight against AgZeit’s proposal to redevelop the Otego Elementary School building into an indoor produce-growing enterprise. The board narrowed the building’s fate from four to two proposals: one from AgZeit, which intend to create an indoor farming facility; and The Kildonan School, which hoped to open a secondary school for students with Dyslexia. The board opted for AgZeit’s proposal, voting 4-2 in favor of the Endicott-based company. (Parker Fish/AllOTSEGO.com)
Unatego Central school board Chair James Salisbury addresses a packed house at last night’s meeting of the school board, where the pending sale of Otego Elementary was discussed. To his left is Dave Richards, superintendent of schools. (Parker Fish/AllOTSEGO.com)
By PARKER FISH – Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
Kimberly More, representing Kildonan School, describes how its plan might save taxpayers money in the long run.
OTEGO – At its first public meeting since the June 30 deadline for RFPs, the Unatego Central school board last night agreed in front of a packed crowd to hold a public hearing on three perspective buyers for the former Otego Elementary School building at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 30.
The school board may choose a buyer that evening.
Each applicant will be given 15 minutes to discuss their plans for the building. Each presentation will be followed by 15 minutes of questions from the public before voting.
After initially sending out a request for proposals, the board received three proposals for the building from:
SPRING CONCERT – 7 – 9 p.m. Band & Chorus classes present their performances. Auditorium, Cooperstown High School. Call 607-547-8181 or visit www.cooperstowncs.org
The League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area held a candidates’ debate for the two open seats on the Cooperstown Central School District Board of Education last week. There are three candidates running, Alicia Chase, Peter Iorizzo, and Cody Moore. Maureen Murray, Co-president of the LWV of the Cooperstown Area, moderated the event. The school board elections are non-partisan; candidates do not run as members of a party.
