Middleburgh CSD Votes Today on Budget, Six Candidates

MIDDLEBURGH - Tuesday, May 19th will see residents in the Middleburgh Central School District voting regarding a series of proposed changes to how their school district is run. Following significant discontent in the record of the current school board and Superintendent Michele Weaver, six candidates have thrown their hat in the ring. They include current members Pam Stanhardt and Becky Binder, as well as former Broome Highway Superintendent Mike Parker, Laura Arnwine, Thomas Wargo, and Doralee Mickle.

The proposed budget increases the bottom line by $340,964 to $20,763,915. There is also a proposed tax increase of 2.38%. The proposed increase is not as large as earlier projection due to an increase in state aid. The budget will include no faculty or staff cuts and the hiring of an English as a Second Language Teacher. The proposed tax hike falls within the cap and if passed would make residents eligible for a tax rebate check from the state.

Several of the candidates for school board have played key roles in building local policy, with Stanhardt and Binder pushing for balanced budgets, Parker's administrative experience, Mickle's husband working as a janitor for the district, and Wargo's support for former Mayor Gary Hayes' plan to dissolve the Village of Middleburgh.

Read this story and more in today's introductory issue of The Schoharie News: now on newsstands countywide.