The Annual School District Vote will be held Tuesday, May 21, 2024, from 1:00 - 8:00 PM in the Gymnasium at the Middle/High School, 5935 Route 60, Sinclairville, NY, for the purpose of electing a member of the board of Education, voting on the District's budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, and any additional propositions listed below:

Proposition #1: Authorization of the 2024-2025 proposed budget.
With your support, our schools provide all of our students with a challenging curriculum, solid foundation in reading and math, a wide variety of courses and educational opportunities to meet the varied interests of our students, and an environment of high expectations for all.

Proposition #2: Purchase of school buses and similar vehicles for the transportation program of the District. (Using monies already on hand in the District’s Transportation Reserve Fund, 2019)
This will allow us to use our transportation reserve to purchase transportation vehicles up to a maximum of $500,000 and keep our bus replacement plan on schedule. New York State has mandated that all new bus purchases be electric vehicles starting in 2027. The district is currently evaluating our existing infrastructure in the bus garage to determine what changes will be necessary when we begin purchasing electric vehicles. We are applying for multiple grants to aid in the purchase of electric vehicles and working with the NYS Energy Research and Development Agency to determine the availability of the power required to recharge these vehicles. Our long-term goal is for the entire transportation fleet to be fully electric by 2035.

Proposition #3: Authorization of the local library funding request.
The Stockton Libraries (Stockton and Cassadaga) and the Sinclairville Library have approached Cassadaga Valley Central School District to request that a proposition be placed on the ballot for the school district voting day. This proposition will allow voters to decide whether or not to tax themselves to support the three libraries. The school district is only responsible for placing the proposition on the ballot and, if approved by voters, to collect the tax money and pass it along to the libraries. These funds are separate from the school tax levy funds.

BOARD MEMBER ELECTION

The election of one member for the Board of Education shall be held for one 5-year term of office, (7/1/24 - 6/30/29) to fill the vacancy created by the expiration of the term for Jeanne Oag.  The candidate receiving the highest number of votes will fill the full-term vacancy. This is a voluntary position. Candidates for this upcoming election are listed below:

Jeanne Oag

Jeanne is the co-owner at Interprep Performance Tuner as well as a NYS Election Inspector. She received her BS in Education from SUNY Fredonia. Community Involvement: NYS Election Inspector, 2012 - present; member, Chautauqua Lake Antique Automobile Association, 2002 - present; volunteer at Sinclairville Free Library 2000- present; Gerry VFD annual Rodeo volunteer, 2013 - present. Reason for Seeking a Board Seat: It has been incredibly rewarding to be a school board member for 15 years - we’ve had 2 successful, multi million dollar Capital Improvement Projects (with no tax increase for residents), hired many teachers & employees to join our dedicated staff and I have seen students grow from PreK to successful graduation! I appreciate that our community has always been supportive of the school board’s work -passing budgets ensuring our students have the programs and curriculum needed for their future goals, as well as keeping our facilities updated. We have a new Superintendent starting in the 2024/25 school year and I want to help ease that transition and continue the stability that our district has enjoyed for many years. What do you feel are the greatest strengths of the Cassadaga Valley Central School District? Our community is undoubtedly our greatest strength! Their support of our school and students -attending or volunteering at athletic events, musicals or art shows, and in the schools is invaluable. Our budgets are consistently approved because we have earned our community’s trust that we will continue to provide a good education and opportunities for our children. Our public libraries, churches and businesses all work diligently with the District to enhance our student’s lives. It is our students that continue to provide me with the motivation to continue the work of the District. I never get tired of the many compliments I hear about how well our students represent Cassadaga Valley when they travel outside the District. Our students, past and present, continue to prove that we can be hopeful and optimistic about our world in the future. In your opinion, what are three of the most important challenges facing the Cassadaga Valley Central School District and why do you feel those are important for our school community at this time? Financially, the unfunded mandates and inefficiencies at the state and federal levels plus overall rising costs continue to put a strain on local taxpayers. The District has successfully balanced the need for improved programming, staffing and facilities with prudent fiscal planning. It is a never ending process to ensure that we are efficiently budgeting for not only the immediate school year, but future costs such as new electric buses or building maintenance and upgrades. The safety of our students and staff continues to be an important focus of the District. We have made many safety upgrades to our buildings and have ensured that we have trained staff and implemented safety protocols, as well as meeting the mental health needs within our district. Now, more than ever, it is easier to communicate with each other and the challenge to our District is making sure that the information is timely, accurate and getting to those impacted. Good communication at all levels is the best way to ensure we keep the District moving in a positive direction. What positions have you held or experiences do you have that will help you serve as part of the team that provides fiscal oversight for our school district? For the past 29 years my husband, Alistair, and I have owned and operated our automotive business, Interprep Performance Tuning. Managing a business over many years has given me a ‘business’ perspective towards the school’s finances. In business, weaknesses or threats not found early can have costly and negative outcomes later on - and I apply that belief when advocating that a strong start to a child’s early education will result in greater success at graduation. I have been President of our school board for the past 5 yrs and was awarded Chautauqua County School Board Association’s (CCSBA) “School Board Member of the Year” in 2023. It has been an honor to be a VP of CCSBA for the past 12 years and a 10+ year member of the Legislative Liaison Committee which advocates for NY school districts with our elected officials on issues impacting school funding. What are your hopes for our school district as we move forward? We must continue to provide our students with the education and opportunities necessary to pursue their future ambitions, whether it be ongoing education or entering the workforce and preparation to be responsible citizens; to ensure that financially we can continue to not only maintain, but grow our programs and opportunities while holding the line on taxes; and continue to improve effective communication with our families in the Valley.

Dylan Runge

Dylan is a Correction Officer with some college education. Community Involvement: I've regularly helped my grandmother and her friends over the years with tasks around their house and property. Some examples would be replacing mailboxes, fixing dog fences and cleaning gutters. I also plan to help coach youth soccer this summer. Reason for Seeking a Board Seat: I'm disheartened with the current teaching standards and disciplinary repercussions. I'd like to be able to make a difference for my children and others. Overall improvement in the sports programs. What do you feel are the greatest strengths of the Cassadaga Valley Central School District? The district has a very warm and loving community. Growing up I attended Fredonia until 8th grade. When I moved to Cassadaga I felt welcomed and at home. In your opinion, what are three of the most important challenges facing the Cassadaga Valley Central School District and why do you feel those are important for our school community at this time? I think the three biggest challenges our school faces are our educational standards, disciplinary repercussions and athletic programs. There is a disconnect between teachers and the students. The sports program has also been on the decline; bettering that would help increase the morale in the students and community. What positions have you held or experiences do you have that will help you serve as part of the team that provides fiscal oversight for our school district? I've previously owned and ran my own small business. This entailed budgeting expenses, managing work flow and optimizing profits. What are your hopes for our school district as we move forward? My hopes for the future of our school district is to have our education levels as strong as our sense of community and the sense of pride in our sports teams.

PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING

The public hearing for the voters of the District will be held Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the M/HS Multipurpose Room for the purpose of presenting and explaining the proposed 2024-2025 budget of the District.

A 2024-2025 budget newsletter will be released at a later time.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS & EARLY MAIL VOTING

Applications for absentee and early mail ballots may be obtained at the office of the District Clerk at the Middle/High School building at 5935 Route 60, Sinclairville, New York 14782 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. prevailing time, after April 23, 2024 or by printing here:
Absentee Ballot Application
Early Mail Ballot Application
Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the Annual Meeting and Vote if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or on the day before the Annual Meeting and Vote if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. A list of all persons to whom absentee and early mail ballots have been issued will be available for inspection by qualified voters of the District in the office of the District Clerk between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the District Vote (except for Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays), and such list will be posted at the polling place at the election. No absentee or early mail ballot will be canvassed and counted unless it is received in the office of the District Clerk prior to 5:00 p.m. prevailing time on May 21, 2024.