Toni Amorosi and Craig Macherone Elected to Board of Education
On Tuesday, May 19, the Duanesburg Central School District community approved the district’s $22,998,000 budget proposal for the 2026-27 school year by a vote of 428-270, a margin of 61%. The plan maintains all staff, programs, extracurriculars, athletics and field trips.
The plan represents a spending increase of 11.18% ($2,312,000), primarily due to the renewal of a bond supporting ongoing work within the Centennial capital projects, largely offset by a significant increase in state building aid the district will receive next year from earlier phases of the Centennial project. Other factors include rising mandated costs like health insurance, property and liability insurance, special education, contractual salary obligations, and higher utility and fuel expenses.
The spending plan calls for a 2.90% ($268,758) tax levy increase, which is just below the district’s tax levy limit, or “cap.” The district will use $1,396,365 from fund balance and $150,000 from reserves to balance the budget.
The spending plan includes funding for three new positions: a teacher’s aide to supervise in-school suspension and assist with hall monitoring at the Jr.-Sr. High School; a special education teacher to manage a new 8:1:2 classroom at DES, reducing costly out-of-district placements; and an additional transportation staff member to serve as a full-time mechanic’s helper and bus driver.
“The district is grateful to the Duanesburg community for its continued support of our mission to provide students with a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where they can pursue academic excellence and prepare for their futures,” Superintendent Kimberly Ross said.
“While developing this year’s budget presented more challenges than in past years, we remained committed to prioritizing programs and opportunities for our students. I am proud that we were able to preserve the strengths of our small, close-knit school community while continuing to provide meaningful experiences that encourage students to explore the world around them,” she added.
Board of Education
The community also voted between five candidates to fill two open seats on the Board of Education. Candidates included Joshua Obercon, incumbent Toni Amorosi, Craig Macherone, Brandon Bailey, and Dana Mesick.
Incumbent Toni Amorosi received 392 votes. Craig Macherone received 382 votes. Joshua Obercon received 203 votes, Brandon Bailey received 178 votes, and Dana Mesick received 170 votes. There were 2 write-ins.
Amorosi and Macherone were elected and will start a three-year board term at the start of the 2026-2027 school year, on July 1, 2026.
Bus Purchases – Approved
The community also approved a proposition allowing the district to purchase two school buses at a cost not to exceed $325,000 by a vote of 425-271, a 61% margin. One vehicle will be a 65-passenger bus and the other will be a 30-passenger bus, both of which will be powered by gasoline or propane. The new vehicles will replace aging buses that are beginning to show signs of wear, as part of the district’s long-term bus replacement plan.
Upcoming Special Board of Education Meeting
Tuesday, May 26: The Duanesburg Central School District invites all community members to a special evening of recognition for the district’s teachers and other staff members who have been granted tenure at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26 in Joe Bena Hall.