Guide To Nyack School Budget And Board Vote

NYACK, NY — With the Nyack school board and budget vote coming up Tuesday, Nyack is in the thick of the culture wars.

The Nyack school district has an Office of Equity, Inclusion and Innovation; read its strategic plan here.

Candidate Antonia Sambevski, a member of the Rockland chapter of Save Our Schools, is opposed to instruction connected to critical race theory or sexual practices and identities. "DEI is a wolf in sheep’s clothing- don’t be fooled!" she said on the group's Facebook page.

Also on the ballot is Matthew Watson, who supports the district's initiatives. "As parents, we are engaged in the process of raising human beings. There is no greater partner in this endeavor than an informed and involved teacher and by extension, our school system," he said on his campaign webpage. "This is why I support the district’s Diversity, Inclusion and Equity work to provide all of our learners with the tools, resources, and opportunities necessary to succeed in a 21st century workforce and global community."

Incumbent Michael Mark is seeking another term while Trustee Terence Rock is not running for re-election.

On May 17, voters will choose two of those three and weigh in on the proposed $100 million budget for 2022-23.

The $100,159,000 spending plan is 9.6 percent higher than the current budget. The estimated increase in the tax levy is 2.45 percent, under the state-mandated tax cap.

Three-fourths of the district's spending is on the instructional program, with about 14 percent on capital and improvement projects. Among the proposals in the budget for next year: $4.5 million for district-wide ventilation upgrades, such as installation of air conditioning systems in the cafeterias and Global Learning Commons at all three Elementary Schools and in the Nyack Middle School cafeteria; and improvements to the middle school/district office — including upgrading fields, replacing Hilltop's portable building, widening the access drive and installing sidewalks for students.

In addition to the school board and the budget, two other propositions on the ballot will ask voters to authorize spending $4 million from the 2015 Capital Reserve for the Middle School/District Office Site Improvement Project and to increase the ultimate amount of that 2015 Capital Reserve by $5 million for future improvement projects.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 17. There are four polling sites: Depew Manor, Hilltop Administration Building, Valley Cottage Elementary School and Upper Nyack Elementary School. Here's how you can find your polling site.