Public Hearing — 300 Columbus Avenue, Valhalla, New York

Notice of Public Hearing on the Budget, Annual Meeting, School District Election, Budget Vote, and Availability of Early Mail, Absentee, and Military Ballots Una copia de este aviso está disponible en español en la oficina del distrito y en nuestro sitio web en www.vahallaschools.org NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Board of Education of Valhalla Union Free School District, Westchester County, New York, that it will hold the Public Hearing on the Budget of the qualified voters of the Valhalla Union Free School District at the Valhalla Middle School/High School Auditorium, 300 Columbus Avenue, Valhalla, New York, Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM., prevailing time, for the purpose of presenting the budget document for the 2026-2027 School Year. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that the School District Election and Vote on the Budget of the qualified voters of said School District will be held at the place in each school election district hereinafter set forth, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 8:00 A.M. and between the hours of 2:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M., prevailing time, when the polls will be open for the purpose of voting by voting machine: 1) To vote on the adoption of 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 School District; 2) To elect two (2) members of the Board of Education as follows: To fill the vacancies created by the expiration of the terms of: Susan Martinez, said term to commence July 1, 2026 and terminate June 30, 2029 Duane Smith, said term to commence July 1, 2026 and terminate June 30, 2029 3) To vote on the following proposition: Shall the Board of Education of the Valhalla Union Free School District, Westchester County, New York, be authorized to construct certain Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) improvements to the Virginia Road Elementary School, including, but not limited to, unit ventilator upgrades, electrical service upgrades, and incidental ceiling, roofing and casework modifications, and associated work in connection therewith, at a maximum estimated cost of $1,050,000; with the amount of $725,000 from the District-wide Renovations, Reconstruction and Construction Reserve Fund approved by the voters on May 21, 2024, hereby authorized to be expended from such reserve fund to pay for a portion of the cost of the Project, and such expenditure is hereby approved; and further that $325,000 of District funds currently on-hand and available therefor is hereby authorized to be expended to pay a further portion of said cost, and such expenditures are hereby approved. Such Proposition shall appear on the ballots used for voting at said Annual District Meeting and Election in substantially the following condensed form: Shall the Board of Education of the Valhalla Union Free School District be authorized to construct certain HVAC improvements to the Virginia Road Elementary School, including unit ventilator and electrical service upgrades, incidental ceiling, roofing and casework modifications, and associated work, at a maximum estimated cost of $1,050,000; with the amount of $725,000 from the District-wide Renovations, Reconstruction and Construction Reserve Fund hereby authorized to be expended from such reserve fund to pay a portion of the cost of the Project, and such expenditure is hereby approved; and further that $725,000 of District funds currently on-hand and available therefor is authorized to be expended to pay a further portion of said cost, and such expenditures are approved. In the event any proposition must be presented in abbreviated form on the voting machine, there shall be prominently posted at the polling place in each election district the full text of the proposition and copies shall be available at such place for use by a qualified voter. NOTICE IS 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 District during business hours, beginning Monday, May 4, 2026, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays, at the Administration Offices, at any public or free association library in the District, and at each of the following schoolhouses: Kensico School 320 Columbus Avenue, Valhalla, NY Valhalla Middle School/High School 300 Columbus Avenue, Valhalla, NY Virginia Road Elementary School 86 Virginia Road, No. White Plains, NY The budget will also be available on the District Website. The real property tax exemption report in accordance with §495 of the Real Property Tax Law will be annexed to any tentative/preliminary budget as well as the final adopted budget of which it will form a part; and shall be posted on District bulletin board(s) maintained for public notices, as well as the District’s website. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education shall be filed with the District Clerk at the Administration Office/District Office, no later than 5:00 PM, Monday, April 20, 2026 in the form and manner prescribed by Section 2018 of the Education Law. Vacancies on the Board of Education are considered separate, specific offices; candidates do not run at large. Nominating petitions shall describe the specific vacancy upon the Board for which the candidate is nominated; must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District, must state the name and residence address of each signer and the name and residence address of the candidate. Petition forms may be obtained at the Office of the District Clerk during regular business hours on weekdays when school is in session. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that, pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law, personal registration of voters is required, and no person shall be entitled to vote at said meeting whose name does not appear on the register of said School District, or who does not register as hereinafter provided, except a person who is otherwise qualified to vote and is registered with the Westchester County Board of Elections. Any qualified voter may register to vote for the Annual Meeting, Election and Vote at the District Clerk’s office, District Office, 316 Columbus Avenue, Valhalla, NY from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, on days when school is in session, through Thursday, May 14, 2026 or from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on business days during the summer months. The register for said Annual Meeting shall include all persons who are registered and have voted at any annual or special school district election or vote held or conducted during the last four calendar years. The register of voters, including the names of military voters who submitted valid military voter registrations, will be filed in the District Clerk’s office and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the school district on each of the five days prior to the day set for the Annual Meeting, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM weekdays and Saturday, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, prevailing time, except Sunday, May 17, 2026. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for Early Mail Ballots and Absentee Ballots may be obtained at the Office of the School District Clerk. Applications for Early Mail Ballots and Absentee Ballots must be received by the School District Clerk no more than 30 days and at least seven days prior to the election (by 5 P.M., May 12, 2026) if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or on or prior to 5:00 P.M., Prevailing Time, on Monday, May 18, 2026, if the ballot is to be picked up personally by the voter or their agent designated in the application at the District Office. Early Mail Ballots and Absentee Ballots must be received by the School District Clerk not later than 5:00 P.M., Prevailing Time, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Lists of all persons to whom Early Mail Ballots and Absentee Ballots shall have been issued, as well as a list of military voters to whom Military Ballots have been issued, will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District at the Office of the District Clerk during regular office hours, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, prevailing time, 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. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that Military Voters who are not currently registered to vote may register as a qualified voter of the District and Military Voters who are registered voters of the District may obtain an application for a military ballot by contacting the District Clerk at 316 Columbus Avenue, Valhalla, NY 10595, Telephone (914) 683-5040, or email: RAbbondola@valhallaschools.org, to receive an application to register as a qualified voter of the District and/or an application to obtain a military ballot for the Annu