Public hearing on the school budget for the 2026-2027 school year.

HIGHLAND FALLS-FORT MONTGOMERY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Highland Falls, New York 10928

LEGAL NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

NOTICE TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF HIGHLAND FALLS-FORT MONTGOMERY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, TOWN OF HIGHLANDS, COUNTY OF ORANGE, STATE OF NEW YORK.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN AS FOLLOWS:

That the Board of Education of the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District, Orange County, New York, will hold a Public Hearing on the Budget of the qualified voters of the School District at the James I. O’Neill High School, 21 Morgan Road, Highland Falls, NY on Thursday May 7, 2026, at 6:00 pm for the purpose of presenting the budget document for the 2026-2027 school year.

That a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for school district purposes during the 2026-2027 school year (the budget), exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any resident of the district during business hours, between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm at each of the public schools in the district, in the Office of the Superintendent between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, as well as at each public and free association library in the district, beginning May 5, 2026 except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The budget will also be posted on the district website. A Real Property Tax Exemption Report prepared in accordance with Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law will be annexed to any budget of which it will form a part, and shall be posted on district bulletin board(s) maintained for public notices, as well as on the district’s website.

That the Annual Meeting, Election and Budget Vote of the qualified voters of the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at the Highland Falls Intermediate School, 52 Mountain Avenue, Highland Falls, NY, between the hours of 6:00 am and 9:00 pm when the polls will be open for the purpose of voting by voting machine:

A. To elect three (3) members to the Board of Education, as follows:

1. One member for a term of three (3) years to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of Mrs. Faith Aprilante whose term will expire on June 30, 2026; and

2. One member for a term of three (3) years to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of Mr. Gabe O’Connell, whose term will expire on June 30, 2026; and

3. One member for a term of three (3) years to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of Mrs. Trish Kinney, whose term will expire on June 30, 2026

B. To vote upon the adoption of the Budget of the School District for the 2026-2027 school year and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the school district.

That petitions for nominating candidates for the office of Member of the Board of Education must be filed with the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, April 17, 2026, in the form and manner prescribed by Section 2018 of the Education Law. Nominating petitions must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District, shall state the name and residence address of each signer, as well as the name and residence address of the candidate. Petition forms may be obtained at the Office of the District Clerk at James I. O’Neill High School, 21 Morgan Road, Highland Falls, NY during regular business hours, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

That personal registration of voters is required pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law. If a qualified voter is currently registered with the School District and has voted in an annual or special district meeting during the last four calendar years they are eligible to vote in this election and vote . If a qualified voter is currently registered to vote with the Orange County Board of Elections, they are also eligible to vote in this election and vote. All other persons who wish to vote must register with the County or the district’s Board of Registration.

That the Board of Registration will meet on Saturday, May 9, 2026 between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm at the Highland Falls Library, 298 Main Street, Highland Falls, NY for the purpose of preparing the register of the school district for the election and vote to be held on May 19, 2026, at which time any person shall be entitled to have their name placed upon such register if they are known or proven to the satisfaction of the Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote.

That the Register of Voters so prepared, including the names of Military Voters who submit a valid military voter registration, shall be filed in the Office of the District Clerk and shall be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the district between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, on each of the five days prior to the election and vote, except Saturday and Sunday. Said register will be open for inspection at the polling place on the date of the election and vote.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Early Mail Ballots and Absentee Ballots will be available for this election and vote. Applications for Early Mail Ballots and Absentee Ballots may be obtained at the office of the District Clerk, James I. O’Neill High School, 21 Morgan Road, Highland Falls, NY. The application for Early Mail Ballot or Absentee Ballot must be received by the District Clerk no more than thirty (30) days and at least seven (7) days prior to the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot will be picked up personally by the voter or the voter’s designated agent set forth in the application at the District Clerk’s office. Early Mail Ballots and Absentee Ballots must be received at the office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 pm on the day of the election and vote, May 19, 2026. Separate lists of all persons to whom Early Mail Ballots, Absentee Ballots, and Military Ballots shall have been issued, will be available for inspection by qualified voters of the district at the District Clerk’s office during regular business hours, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, until the day of the election and vote. Any qualified voter may file a written challenge of the qualifications of a voter whose name appears on any such list, stating the reasons for the challenge.

That Military Voters who are not currently registered to vote may apply to register as a qualified voter of the District by contacting the District Clerk at 21 Morgan Road, Highland Falls, NY 10928, Telephone (845) 446-9575, Ext. 1600 or email: lori.sheldon@hffmcsd.org, to receive an application to register as a qualified voter of the District for the Annual Meeting on May 19, 2026. The Military Voter may indicate their preference for receiving the registration application by mail, facsimile or email. The application to register must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 P.M. on May 8, 2026.

That Military Voters who are qualified voters of the District may obtain an application for a Military Ballot from the District Clerk at 21 Morgan Road, Highland Falls, NY 10928, Telephone (845) 446-9575, Ext. 1600 or email: lori.sheldon@hffmcsd.org, by no later than 5:00 P.M. on April 23, 2026 and submit the completed application to the District Clerk by 5:00 P.M. on April 23, 2026. The Military Voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application for a military ballot by mail, by facsimile or email. Military Ballots will be mailed or otherwise distributed no later than 25 days before the election. Military Ballots must be returned by mail or in person and received by the District Clerk by 5:00 P.M. on election day.

Lori Sheldon

District Clerk