Public Hearing — 136 Academy Drive, Schoharie, New York

SCHOHARIE COUNTY

LEGAL NOTICE





NOTICE OF ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETING

SCHOHARIE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

MAY 19, 2026




NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Board of Education of the Schoharie Central School District that the Annual District Meeting and Election shall be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at the Jr./Sr. High School, 136 Academy Drive in the Village of Schoharie, New York. The voting shall take place between the hours of 12:00 Noon until 8:00 p.m., local time, in the Jr./Sr. High School Gymnasium.




NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a qualified voter is a citizen of the United States of America, is eighteen (18) years of age or older on the date of the voting, and has been a legal resident of the school district for a period of not less than thirty (30) days preceding the voting on May 19, 2026. The school district may require all persons offering to vote to provide one form of proof of residency, pursuant to Education Law Section 2018-c. Such form may include a New York State driver’s license, a non-driver photo identification card, or a voter registration card. Upon offer of proof of residency, the school district will require all persons offering to vote to provide their written signature, printed name, and street address within the established geographic boundary of the school district.




NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that, pursuant to Section 1716 of the Education Law of the State of New York, a copy of the statement of the amount of budget appropriations that will be required for the 2026-27 school year may be obtained by any district resident on each day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding the Annual District Meeting and Election on the District’s website at http://www.schoharieschools.org, and at each of the following locations during business hours: Elementary School office and Jr./Sr. High School office, 136 Academy Drive, Schoharie, New York; and at the Schoharie Free Library, 103 Knower Avenue, Schoharie, New York.




NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that, pursuant to said Section 1716 of said Education Law, there will be a Public Hearing regarding the proposed 2026-27 Budget, in the Board of Education meeting room at the entrance to the Jr./Sr. High School, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.




NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that the voting on the following propositions shall take place at the Jr./Sr. High School Gymnasium, 136 Academy Drive, Schoharie, New York, between the hours of 12:00 Noon until 8:00 p.m., local time, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026:




PROPOSITION #1 - SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATING BUDGET FOR 2026-27




“Shall the Board of Education of the Schoharie Central School District be authorized to expend the sum of $(TBD) as the school district budget for the 2026-2027 school year during the period of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, and to levy the necessary tax therefor, net of revenues and state aid?”










PROPOSITION #2 - SCHOOL BUS PURCHASES




“Shall the Board of Education of the Schoharie Central School District be authorized to: (1) purchase two 66-passenger buses, one 29-passenger bus with wheel chair lift, and one 7-passenger transportation vehicle; in an amount not to exceed the total purchase price of $560,000, (2) expend such sum for such purpose, and (3) issue bonds and notes of the District at one time or from time to time in the principal amount not to exceed $560,000 and levy the necessary tax therefor, to be levied and collected in annual installments in such years and in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Education?”




PROPOSITION #3 - PUBLIC LIBRARY TAX LEVY




“Shall the Schoharie Central School District, Schoharie County, State of New York, be authorized to levy taxes in the amount of $183,000 for the annual support of the Schoharie Free Library Association Library, 103 Knower Avenue, Schoharie, New York, and pay over such monies to the trustees of the Library for library services for the benefit of residents of the school district during the 2026-2027 fiscal year and each year thereafter until changed?”




PROPOSITION #4 – CAPITAL PROJECT




“Shall the Board of Education be authorized to reconstruct, renovate and improve various School District buildings, facilities and sites, acquire original furnishings, equipment, machinery or apparatus required for the purpose for which such buildings, facilities and sites are to be used and pay incidental costs related thereto, at a maximum cost of $3,900,000; (2) expend such sum for such purpose, including the expenditure of $500,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund; (3) levy the necessary tax therefore, to be levied and collected in annual installments in such years and in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Education, taking into account state aid and the amount expended from the Capital Reserve Fund; and (4) in anticipation of the collection of such tax, issue bonds and notes of the School District at one time or from time to time in the principal amount not to exceed $3,400,000, and levy a tax to pay the interest on said obligations when due?”







NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that the voters of the School District will cast ballots for the election of two (2) members of the Board of Education, each for a term of three (3) years commencing on July 1, 2026 and expiring on June 30, 2029.




NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of the Board of Education shall be filed with the District Clerk of said School District at the District Office at 136 Academy Drive, Schoharie, New York, not later than Monday, April 20, 2026, by 5:00 p.m., local time. Vacancies on the Board of Education are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Each petition shall be directed to the District Clerk; must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District (representing the greater of 25 qualified voters or 2% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); must state the name and residence of each signer.







NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that military voters who are qualified voters of the Schoharie Central School District may request an application for a military ballot from the District Clerk in person, by mail to PO Box 430, 136 Academy Drive, Schoharie, NY 12157, by email to bmaland@schoharieschools.org, or fax sent to 518-295-8178. In such request, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application by mail, fax or email. A military voter must return the original military ballot application by mail or in person to the office of the District Clerk at PO Box 430, 136 Academy Drive, Schoharie, NY 12157. In order for a military voter to be issued a military ballot, a valid military ballot application must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 P.M., on April 23, 2026. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a non-military ballot application under Section 2018-b of the Education Law. The application for military ballot may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by mail, fax, or email.




NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a military voter’s original military ballot must be returned by mail or in person to the office of the District Clerk at PO Box 430, 136 Academy Drive, Schoharie, NY 12157. Military ballots shall be canvassed if they are received by the District Clerk before 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2026, showing a cancellation mark of the United States Postal Service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or received not later than 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2026 and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the election.




AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that applications for absentee and early mail ballots for voting on the above propositions and for members of the Board of Education on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, may be obtained by contacting the office of the District Clerk, or by telephoning (518) 295-6679, or on the District website: www.schoharieschools.org. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally. Absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk at the polling place, not later than 5:00 PM on May 19, 2026. A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots have been issued, and a list of all persons to whom early mail voter’s ballots shall have been issued, will be available in the office of the District Clerk on each of the five (5) business days preceding the voting on May 19, 2026. Such lists will also be available at the polling place on the day of the Annual District Meeting, May 19, 2026. Any q