District residents approve budget and transportation proposition, elect 3 to Board of Education

Fort Plain Central School District residents voted to approve a proposed $23,320,000 budget for the 2023-24 school year by a vote of 88 to 21 on May 16, 2023.

They also approved a referendum by a vote of 90 to 17 authorizing the district to acquire three school vehicles at a maximum cost of $450,000 with the funds to be drawn from the Bus Purchase/Capital Reserve Fund. The purchase will have no impact on the tax levy and will allow the district to replace aging buses and minimize maintenance costs.

Voters elected three members of the Board of Education to fill vacancies for three-year terms running from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026. The elected candidates are Brenna Kirkpatrick (96 votes), Anthony Crouse (86 votes) and David Przestrzelski (84 votes). Write-in candidate Justin Smith received one vote.

The 2023-24 budget preserves the district’s academic programming and services designed to meet student needs. It shows an increase of $800,000, or 3.55%, over the current-year budget, with a 1.20% tax levy increase.

“The district’s goal is to prepare a responsible budget that supports all learners to have a positive, productive school experience,” Superintendent Lauren Crisman said. “The budget will achieve the goal by securing the staffing required to offer quality, relevant educational programs to all students; supporting student development by maintaining a robust social emotional support system at all developmental levels; and ensuring athletic and extracurricular programming continue.”