Tuesday, May 20 is school budget vote day. Guilderland Central School District residents are voting on the proposed $127,547,392 budget for the 2025-26 school year, two additional propositions and to elect four members to the board of education.
Future Ready capital project: if approved by voters, this $57,259,705 improvement plan will begin the multi-year process of transforming GCSD facilities into future-ready learning environments. The proposed capital project aligns with the district’s mission and vision which is for all students — each and every one — to be prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of their future. The capital project will target three main areas for improvement: future ready classrooms, specialized instructional spaces and safety and security. Learn more about the full scope of work, see photos of the areas that need upgrades and renderings of the proposed improvements, visit here.
A separate vehicle proposition: to purchase five zero-emission full-size electric school buses with air conditioning. This purchase includes Level-2 chargers and setup. The district is also proposing to replace a 2007 Chevy Utility Dump Truck.
The total cost of this proposal is $1,352,700. Only the dump truck, which costs approximately $110,000, would be a net cost to the community. Under the enacted state budget in 2024, the district will receive this full amount in transportation aid as it repays the bond. As the district did last year, GCSD will take advantage of a NYS incentive voucher program, so there is NO projected net cost to the district for this purchase.
Board of education election: to elect four members to serve on the Guilderland Central School District Board of Education.
One candidate will serve a term that will begin on May 21, 2025 and end on June 30, 2026, to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Judy Slack. This seat will be filled by the candidate who receives the fourth highest number of votes. The three remaining seats carry a three-year term beginning on July 1, 2025.
Candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot: Meredith Brière, Kelly Person, Peter Stapleton, Katie DiPierro. Learn more about the candidates here.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; please vote at your home elementary school.
Results will be posted on the district website once the polls close and all of the votes have been tabulated.