Public hearing for school budget and election vote scheduled for May 12, 2026.

GREENE COUNTY

LEGAL NOTICE





NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND NOTICE OF ANNUAL BUDGET AND ELECTION VOTE

WINDHAM-ASHLAND-JEWETT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

TOWN OF WINDHAM

COUNTY OF GREENE, NEW YORK




NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Budget Hearing of the qualified voters of the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District, Greene County, Windham, New York, is scheduled to be held in the School Library in said District, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. prevailing time, for the purpose of presenting the school budget as adopted by the Board of Education for the fiscal year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, and for the transaction of such other business as is authorized by law.




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting and School District Vote will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 , from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria at the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School, 5411 State Rte. 23, Windham, New York, at which time the polls will be opened to vote to adopt the school budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, for the purpose of approving any propositions, and to authorize the required portion to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District; for the election of one member of the Board of Education, and for the transaction of such other business as is authorized by law.




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 1716 of the New York State Education Law, a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for school purposes, exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any resident of the District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding the vote, during the business hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except Saturday, Sunday, or holidays, at the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District Office.




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education, shall be filed with the District Clerk of said School in the District office starting Monday, April 6, 2026 at 9:00 a.m., and not later than 5:00 p.m. Monday, April 20, 2026 , between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., by appointment. Each petition must be signed by at least twenty five (25) qualified voters or 2% of the number of voters who voted in the previous election, whichever is greater, must state name and residence of the candidate; and must describe the length of the term of office and the name of the last incumbent.




One (1) seat for the Board of Education, for a five (5) year term, beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2031 will be filled; this seat is currently occupied by Jean Jaeger.




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that personal voter registration is required of voters and for persons not previously registered in the District, registration will take place between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 to Friday, May 8, 2026 , and Monday, May 11, 2026 to Thursday, May 14, 2026 in the District Office at Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School. Any person shall be entitled to have his/her name placed upon such register provided at such time he/she is known or proven to the satisfaction of the Board of Registration to be entitled to vote at the district election to be held on May 19, 2026 . The register containing the names of qualified voters will be available for inspection in the District Office between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on each of the five (5) days prior to the election, except Saturday, May 16, 2026 by appointment only, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., and at no time on Sunday, May 17, 2026 . A qualified voter is one who is (1) a citizen of the United States of America, (2) eighteen years of age or older, and (3) resident within the School District for a period of thirty (30) days next preceding the annual vote and election. The School District may require all persons offering to vote at the budget vote and election to provide one form of proof of residency pursuant to Education Law 2018-c. Such form may include a driver’s license a non-driver identification card, a utility bill, or a voter registration card. Upon offer of proof of residency, the District may also require all persons offering to vote to provide their signature, printed name and address.




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that military voters who are qualified voters of the School District may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application from the District Clerk at 518-734-3400, ext. 1129 or kvanvalkenburgh@wajcs.org . For a military voter to be issued a military ballot, the District Clerk must have received a valid ballot application no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 23, 2026 . In a request for a military ballot application or ballot, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application or ballot by mail,

facsimile transmission or electronic mail.




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that applications for absentee ballots will be obtainable during school business hours from the District Clerk beginning April 23, 2026 ; 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 to the voter. Qualified voters are eligible for an absentee ballot when absent from the district while polls are open due to business, occupation, military service or studies; confined in a hospital or jail; has physical disability or illness; or are absent due to vacation. All absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on the date of budget/election May 19, 2026 .




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that applications for early mail ballots will be obtainable during school business hours from the District Clerk beginning April 23, 2026 ; 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 to the voter. All qualified voters are eligible for an early mail ballot. All early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on the date of budget/election vote May 19, 2026.




A list of persons to whom absentee ballots and early mail ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the District Office at Windham-Ashland-Jewett School on and after April 24, 2026 , between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on weekdays prior to the day set for the annual election and on May 19 , 2026 , the day set for the election, and said list will be posted at the polling place at the election. Any qualified voter present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds for making his/her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls.




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that voters at the annual meeting, shall vote upon the following proposition, which shall appear on the ballot in the following form:




PROPOSITION #1 – ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET




Shall the following resolution be adopted, to wit:




RESOLVED , that the Board of Education of the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District #1, Towns of Ashland, Durham, Jewett, Lexington, Prattville and Windham, County of Greene, State of New York be and hereby is authorized to expend the sum set forth in the annual operating budget for the operation of the schools in said school district for the school year 2026-2027 and that said sum be raised by tax upon the taxable property of said school district after first deducting the estimated money available from state aid and other sources.




ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBER SEAT




To elect one (1) member to the Board of Education to a five (5) year term, commencing July 1, 2026 and expiring June 30, 2031, to succeed Jean Jaeger, whose term expires on June 30, 2026.




KAREN VAN VALKENBURGH, DISTRICT CLERK




DATED: April 3, 2026




WINDHAM-ASHLAND-JEWETT CENTRAL SCHOOL




TOWN OF WINDHAM




COUNTY OF GREENE, NEW YORK