P’ville School Budget Passes Easily; Boes, Persons Elected
Pleasantville School District residents liked what they saw Tuesday night in the 2012-13 budget.
Voters overwhelmingly approved the $45.3M spending plan by a 1018-465 margin in the first year districts were faced with the 2 percent tax cap.
Larry Boes and Emily Persons were elected to the board of education, defeating Tara Klein. Boes received 1085 votes while Persons collected 769 votes. Klein finished 13 votes behind Persons.
Superintendent Mary Fox-Alter said the community understood the sacrifices the district and teachers made to present a budget with minimal tax and spending increases.
“I am delighted,” Fox-Alter said. “I want to thank the Pleasantville community. We have a wonderful board that worked hard.”
Board of Education President Lois Winkler said she was thrilled by the outcome.
“I am grateful the community supported the process that we went through,” Winkler said.
She credited the extra work done this year, including forming special citizen committees and having several budget work sessions.
In the board race featuring three first-time candidates, Boes said he was more pleased that the budget passed rather than being elected.
“I have a lot of hard work ahead of me,” Boes said. “The community should be proud of us, we put ourselves out there.”
Persons said she was honored to be elected.
“The votes speak for itself,” Persons said. “I look forward to learning all the rules and regulations and what I will be able to influence the most.”
Klein said she had a lot of fun running for school board.
“I’m glad I did it,” Klein said. “It was a great process, I want to thank Larry and Emily.”
Chappaqua, Byram Hills Budgets Easily Approved
Voters in the Chappaqua and Byram Hills school districts passed budgets as well on Tuesday night.
In Chappaqua, the $112.2 million budget was approved 938-264. Meanwhile, Byram Hills voters okayed next year’s $80.2 million spending plan 805-267.
Both districts had uncontested board of education elections. Current Chappaqua Board of Education President Alyson Gardner Kiesel had no opposition to retain her seat. Ann Tedesco and Leslie Blum were re-elected in Byram Hills.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
