The Annual School District Vote will be held Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 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 2025-2026 fiscal year, and any additional propositions listed below:

Proposition #1: Authorization of the 2025-2026 proposed budget.
Cassadaga Valley will be asking voters to approve the District's proposed general fund budget of $27,379,636. 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 Buses and Similar Vehicles.
Cassadaga Valley will be asking voters to approve the purchase school buses and similar vehicles (and related equipment) for use in the transportation program of the District, at an estimated cost not to exceed $975,076, using from monies already available in the District’s Transportation Reserve Fund, 2019, with the result being that the purchase of these vehicles shall not require borrowing by the District and shall have no effect on the District’s tax rate for the 2025-2026 school year.

Proposition #3: Establishment of a Transportation Reserve Fund.
Cassadaga Valley will be asking voters to establish a new capital reserve fund for the acquisition of various school buses, school bus-type vans/minivans, and similar vehicles (and related equipment) for use in the transportation program of the District.

BOARD MEMBER ELECTION

The election of one member for the Board of Education shall be held for one 5-year term of office, (7/1/25 - 6/30/30) to fill the vacancy created by the expiration of the term for Aaron Richner.  The candidate receiving the highest number of votes will fill the full-term vacancy. This is a voluntary position.

BOE Candidate:

Name: Aaron Richner

Occupation: Teacher

Education: Bachelor of Science in Education, Masters Degree in Special Education

Community Involvement: I am currently on the school board at Cassadaga Valley and currently serving as the Board President. I have lived in the district since 2002. I am also on the leadership board of my church, The Rock Church, in Lakewood NY.

Reason for Seeking a Board Seat: I am running for a second term on the school board because I feel there is still more work to be done. I want to continue to help develop budgets and projects that will help sustain and grow Cassadaga Valley into the future. 

What do you feel are the greatest strengths of the Cassadaga Valley Central School District? I feel the greatest strength of Cassadaga Valley are the people of both the district and the school. The taxpayers of this district have always supported this school district so faithfully. The employees of this district have always used the resources given to them in a responsible manner. That relationship works well for the valley and in turn it produces good outcomes for our students.

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? 

1. Population - The population of our district has declined as have most districts in the county.

2. Retention of teachers - There are not a lot of teachers out there and we want the best teachers here in our district. We need to do whatever we can to keep our teachers for the future of the valley

3. Students academic proficiency and mental health. Students are facing more and more and we as a district need to make sure we are supporting them and showing them we care for them as a person and a student.

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? Having been on the school board I have helped the district be fiscally responsible with the budgets. I have also been involved with some great capital projects (playground at SES, sports fields at MHS).

What are your hopes for our school district as we move forward? That we continue to be financially responsible while giving our students and community the best facilities we can. I also hope that we continue to push the bar higher academically so people will be drawn to our district because we are doing great things for our students and our communities.

PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING

The public hearing for the voters of the District will be held Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the M/HS Multipurpose Room for the purpose of presenting and explaining the proposed 2025-2026 budget of the District.

The 2025-2026 budget newsletter will be available in early May.

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., after April 22, 2025.

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., 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. on May 20, 2025.