Last Chance: Pearl River School District Voting Today

Pearl River Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Morgano sent a reminder about today's vote to district staff Monday.

"Tomorrow is a very important day for education in New York State and in Pearl River," Morgan said. "Residents will be asked to approve our school budget, which is within the guidelines of the 2% tax cap. Our budget is also within our committment not to raise property taxes over 3% in any given year. It is anticipated that the tax rate increase will be 2.97% for homeowners.

"If you are a district resident, please remember to vote and remind everyone in your household who is a registered voter to vote."

The proposed 2012-13 Pearl River School District budget is one of three items residents of the district will be able to vote on today from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Pearl River High School's Pirate Cove. More information on the budget can be found in this report on Patch and or on the school district website, www.pearlriver.org. 

"The budget being presented to taxpayers maintains our rpograms and class sizes," Morgano said in the statement to district staff. "In the current fiscal reality of our times, this is a major accomplishment. We have built a great program here in Pearl River for the children of our community. Your hard work and caring have made Pearl River what it is today. Your continued efforts on behalf of our most valuable resource, our children, are very much appreciated."

All voting will take place at Pirate Cove. The district changed from three locations to one last year. 

Proposal 2 calls for a return of bus limits for all Pearl River High School students to 1.5 miles. For more on that proposal, read this report from earlier today on Patch. 

Today's vote also includes the Pearl River Board of Education Election. There are three candidates running for two seats -- incumbents Bruce Bond and Jackie Curtiss and challenger Patrice Carrieri. For more on the school board election, read this report on Patch. 

During last week's candidates' night, they stressed the importance of people getting out to vote today.

"I would like to ask you all something," Curtiss said. "When you go out to the polls to vote, there are two seats open, please vote for two people."

"Please don't forget to come out and support the budget May 15," Bond said. "The kids depend on that. If you'd also like to vote for me, that would be ok, too."

The Pearl River Patch polls on all three items are attached to this report. 

The Pearl River Board of Education will meet after the polls close, starting at approximately 9:15 p.m. at the new administration building on Crooked Hill Road. The school board will then ratify the results of the 2012 district vote.

The full agenda for the meeting is attached to this report. It includes approval to set up a trust fund in the name of former Franklin Avenue Elementary School teacher Diane Meyerer, who passed away in April.