Pearl River Schools: Vote At Pirate Cove Only

Voters in the Pearl River School District must go to only one location Tuesday -- Pirate Cove at the high school, where the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

 In past years, voters could also go to Franklin Avenue Elementary and Lincoln Avenue Elementary, but now everyone must cast their ballot at the high school. The district has been sending out reminders through various outlets to ensure that voters will know where to go.

The change was prompted by the mandatory change to new electronic voting machines. According to district clerk Mary Flanagan, the new machines cost significantly more to rent and staff than lever machines previously used. 

The change to one location could lead to longer lines, so Flanagan re-organized the polling place into stations broken down alphabetically. There will be 18 private spaces for voters to complete their ballots and three scanning machines.

"The actual scanning of the ballot is the fastest part," Flanagan said through a release from the district. "We observed the process with the new machines during the general elections and have reviewed our expectations with the Rockland County Board of Elections. We anticipate that we’ll have the right amount of support available. This being our first year, we may have some adjustments to make after we go through the process for the first time."

Only one position on the board of education became vacant this year, but incumbent Thomas DePrisco is running unopposed.

There are two propositions on the ballot for this year.

• Proposition 1: PRSD 2011-12 Budget. $58.99 million, including projected tax increase of 2.43 percent for homeowners. This includes the loss of 8.8 full-time positions, either through retirements or the elimination of programs with low enrollment.
• Proposition 2: Would change the transportation eligibility limits for the high school. It would go from 1.5 miles to three miles for students in grades 9-12 and from 1.5 miles to two miles for students in the eighth grade. This would save approximately $190,000.

The administration and school board were not able to plan as if the transportation change would be in place, so the savings were not figured into the budget for 2011-12. According to district director of operations Quinton Van Wynen, the savings would be passed along to the taxpayers.

"If it passes, it goes directly into decreasing the tax levy," Van Wynen said. "That would decrease the tax increase from 2.4 percent to 2.0 percent."

The last proposition on the Pearl River School District ballot to fail was a bond in 2004. Van Wynen said the budget last failed to pass in the 1970s.

"There has been very little conversation this year, which then gets you worried," Van Wynen said. "I tell the PTAs when I give reports that this time of year, it is usually dangerous for me to go to ShopRite. This year, I was able to go in and even wear my school ID. I choose to take that as a good sign."

Van Wynen said the main concern is making sure voters in the district turn out. He quoted Pearl River Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Auriemma to make his point.

"Frank likes to say, "How you vote is between you and maker. I just want to get you to vote."

More details of the items on the ballot and the process of reaching the proposed 2011-12 budget can be found on the Pearl River School District's website.

Check back with Patch during the day Tuesday for updates and Tuesday night for results of the vote.