Annual District Election and Budget Vote scheduled for May 19, 2026.

VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

PUBLIC NOTICE



NOTICE OF ANNUAL DISTRICT ELECTION AND BUDGET VOTE 

Central School District No. 1 of the Towns of Crawford, Hamptonburgh, Montgomery, Newburgh, New Windsor and Wallkill, Orange County and Town of Shawangunk, Ulster County, New York hereinafter referred to as Valley Central School District (VCSD).

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Annual District Election and Budget Vote will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, in the Valley Central High School at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting machine upon the following items:

 1. To adopt the annual budget of the School District for the fiscal year 2026-2027 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.
 2. To elect two (2) members of the Board of Education as follows: two (2) for three (3) year terms commencing July 1, 2026 and expiring June 30, 2029.
 3. Questions or propositions that may be submitted to appear on the ballot in accordance with the rules and regulations heretofore adopted by the Board of Education pursuant to Education Law, §2035 provided a petition in proper form is filed with the School District Clerk in and not later than April 20, 2026.
 4. To vote upon the adoption of certain propositions as set forth below.

Proposition No. 2 – Renovation and Improvement of School District Facilities

Shall the Board of Education of Central School District No. 1 of the Towns of Crawford, Hamptonburgh, Montgomery, Newburgh, New Windsor and Wallkill, Orange County and the Town of Shawangunk, Ulster County, referred to as Valley Central School District (the “School District”) be authorized to (1) reconstruct, renovate and improve Berea Elementary School, East Coldenham Elementary School, Montgomery Elementary School, Valley Central Middle School, Valley Central High School and the Concession Stand and Toilet Building, and the sites thereof, including water treatment and well improvements, cafeteria and auditorium stage improvements, roofing replacements, flooring abatement and replacements, athletic facilities reconstruction, dehumidification system replacements, hydronic and electric heating system improvements, boiler modifications and furnishings, equipment, machinery and apparatus, at a total estimated maximum cost not to exceed $10,370,000, (2) expend $2,250,000 from the existing Valley Central School District Capital Reserve Fund 2023 to pay a portion of said costs, (3) expend $1,490,000 from the School District’s unappropriated General Fund balance to pay a portion of said costs, and (4) raise the sum of $6,630,000 by the levy of a tax upon the taxable property of the School District, to be collected in annual installments as provided in Section 416 of the Education Law; and, in anticipation of such tax, shall the School District be authorized to issue obligations of the School District up to a maximum principal amount of $6,630,000?

Proposition No. 3 – Establishment of Capital Reserve Fund 2026

Shall the Board of Education of the Valley Central School District be authorized to establish a capital reserve fund to be named the “Valley Central School District Capital Reserve Fund 2026” for the purpose of appropriating sufficient funds necessary to acquire sites, including improvements erected on such property, and/or construct additions to and/or reconstruction of their facilities as identified from time-to-time, including but not limited to those recommended in its five-year capital facilities plan, and including original furnishings, equipment, machinery, apparatus, appurtenances and incidental improvements and expenses in connection therewith, the ultimate amount not to exceed $20,000,000 over a probable term of fifteen (15) years; and that such amount shall be raised from the unexpended and unencumbered funds previously levied upon the taxable property within, and other such available funds of, the Valley Central School District?

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN, that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with §2035 and §2008 of the Education Law, any propositions to be submitted for voting at said Annual District Election and Budget Vote, must be filed with the School District Clerk on or before April 20, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. prevailing time; must be typed or printed in the English language; must be signed by at least fifty one (51) qualified voters of the School District which equals five percent (5%) of the voters who voted in the prior Annual District Election and Budget Vote; and must state the name and residence of each signer. However, the School Board will not entertain any petition to place a proposition on the ballot which does not fall within the power of the voters to determine or which fails to include a specific appropriation where the expenditures of monies is required by the proposition.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN, that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law or pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law and has voted at an annual or special district meeting within the last four (4) calendar years, he/she is eligible to vote at this Annual District Election and Budget Vote; if a voter is registered and eligible to vote under Article 5 of the Election Law, he/she is also eligible to vote at this Annual District Election and Budget Vote. All other persons who wish to vote must register.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN, that the Board of Registration will meet for the purpose of registering all qualified voters of the School District pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law at the Valley Central Administration Building on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to add any additional names to the Register to be used at the aforesaid Annual District Election and Budget Vote, at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such Register, provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration he/she is known or proven to the satisfaction of said Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such Annual District Election and Budget Vote for which the Register is prepared. The Register so prepared pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the School District Clerk’s Office in the Administration Building, 944 State Route 17K, Montgomery, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the School District beginning on Thursday, May 14, 2026, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., prevailing time, on weekdays, and each successive day prior to the day set for the Annual District Election and Budget Vote, except Sunday, Saturday by appointment, and at the polling places on the day of the vote.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN, that the place where said Annual District Election and Budget Vote will be held is the Valley Central High School.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN, that petitions nominating candidates for the Office of Member of the Board of Education shall be filed with the District Clerk not later than Monday, April 20, 2026, before 5:00 p.m. Vacancies on the Board of Education are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy upon the Board for which the candidate is nominated; shall be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters (a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years old and a resident of the school district for at least 30 days immediately prior to the election), of the District, shall state the residence of each signer and shall state the name and residence of the candidate.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN, that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required to fund the School District's budget for 2026-2027 exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any resident of the School District during business hours beginning Tuesday, May 5, 2026 except Saturday, Sunday or Holidays, at the Administration Office, 944 State Route 17K, Montgomery, New York, and at each of the following schools: Berea Elementary, East Coldenham Elementary, Alternative Learning Center at Maybrook, Montgomery Elementary, Walden Elementary, Valley Central Middle School, Valley Central High School and at the public hearing to solicit public comment on the 2026-2027 annual budget together with the text of any Proposition(s) which will be presented to the voters.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN, that Applications for Absentee and Early Voting Ballots will be obtainable during school business hours from the District Clerk beginning Monday, April 20, 2026; completed Applications must be received by the School District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the Annual District Election and Budget Vote if t