ODESSA-MONTOUR CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
ODESSA-MONTOUR CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING AND ELECTION
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that there will be a meeting of the residents of the Odessa-Montour Central School District, Odessa, New York, qualified to vote at school meetings in said district, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. (E.D.S.T.) for the transaction of such business as is authorized by the Education Law of the State of New York; and
NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that there will be a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in the District Conference Room, Room 305.
The following vacancies are to be filled on the Board of Education
TERM
NAME OF LAST INCUMBANT
Three (3) years (2026-2029)
Jennifer Mosher
Three (3) years (2026-2029)
Kyle VanGalder
Petitions nominating candidates for the office of the Board of Education must be filed with the District Clerk not later than 3:00p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026.
NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a copy of a detailed statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for school purposes, inclusive of public monies specifying the several purposes and amounts for each, and including a copy of the latest tax exemption impact report, may be obtained, upon request, by any taxpayer within the district during the fourteen days immediately preceding the annual meeting except Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays, (1) on the District’s website at www.omschools.org , (2) at Odessa-Montour District Office, located at H.A. Hanlon Elementary School, Odessa, New York, (3) at B.C. Cate Elementary School Main Office, Montour Falls, New York, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and (4) at each public library within the district during normal operating hours (Dutton S. Peterson Memorial Library and Montour Falls Memorial Library)
NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that there will be three (3) additional propositions:
1. Shall the Board of Education be authorized to purchase two 64-passenger school buses and a 24-passenger handicap accessible school bus for the purpose of providing student transportation, including original equipment and incidental expenses for the foregoing purpose, at a total estimated cost not to exceed $526,000; and to expend funds from the bus purchase capital reserve fund to the extent that it is funded?
2. Shall the Board of Education of the Odessa-Montour Central School District be authorized to levy and collect an annual tax, year after year, separate and apart from the annual school district budget in the amount of $104,919 for the Dutton S. Peterson Memorial Library (which is an increase of $9,538 from the Dutton S. Peterson Memorial Library tax levy in effect for the year 2025-2026), and $214,872 for the Montour Falls Memorial Library, (which is an increase of $19,534 from the Montour Falls Memorial Library tax levy in effect for the year 2025-2026), which shall be paid to the Dutton S. Peterson Memorial Library and the Montour Falls Memorial Library for the support and maintenance of the library; with this appropriated amount to be the annual appropriation until thereafter modified by a future vote of the electors of the Odessa-Montour Central School District?
3. Shall the Board of Education of the Odessa-Montour Central School District be authorized to establish a capital reserve fund pursuant to Section 3651 of the Education Law to be designated, “2026 Capital Reserve Fund for Information and Audiovisual Technology Equipment” created to defray the cost of information and audiovisual technology equipment, apparatus, and other incidental improvements and expenses in connection therewith, and in order to accomplish the same, with the ultimate amount of such reserve fund to be Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000) inclusive of accrued interest and other investment earnings, with a probable term of ten (10) years, funded from available fund balance, state aid reimbursement to the School District on account of capital projects, such other monies as the voters may direct and/or other legally available funds of the School District to such reserve fund in an amount determined by the Board of Education up to the maximum authorized amount?.
HOURS OF VOTING
12:00 NOON E.D.S.T. to 8:00 p.m. E.D.S.T.
May 19, 2026
Place of Voting
All voting shall be held in the District Conference Room, of Odessa-Montour Central School District in Odessa, New York, at the times specified above.
Early Mail Ballots and Absentee Ballots
Applications for early mail and absentee ballots will be obtainable and are returnable no earlier than April 19, 2026, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays, from the District Office. Completed applications for early mail and absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days prior to the vote if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, May 12, 2026; or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter, May 18, 2026. Early mail and absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2026.
Military Absentee Ballots
The Education Law also makes special provisions for absentee voting for “military” voters of the District. Specifically, the law provides a unique procedure for “military ballots” in school district votes. Whereas absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots must be received by the voter by mail, a military voter may elect to receive his/her absentee ballot application and absentee ballot by mail, email, or facsimile. The military voter must, however, return his/her original military ballot application and military ballot by mail or in person. The Clerk of the Board shall transmit the military vote’s military ballot in accord with the military voter’s preferred method of transmission. The Clerk of the Board must then receive the military voter’s military ballot by mail or in person not later than 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2026 .
Jennifer Stevenson, District Clerk
