Irvington Voters Oust School Trustees

The significant vote in the Rivertowns came in the contentious race for Irvington Board of Education.

Of the five candidates running for two Irvington school board seats—incumbents Robyne Camp and John Dawson, and challengers Maria Kashkin, Robyn Kerner and Della Lenz—the voters chose Kashkin and Kerner. Kerner, a former school trustee, was the top vote-getter with 797. Kashkin had 732; Camp 704, Dawson 391 and Lenz 320.

"The budget passed, which is great," said Dawson. "The community got the people it wanted on the board. We'll have to wait to see what happens—hopefully everything will be good for the district going forward."

"I'm very excited," Kerner said. "We get to work with the new superintendent and formulate the district's plan moving forward." Kashkin said she was relieved the campaign was over. "We have a very strong board," she said of the Board of Education for 2012-13.

First-time Irvington voter Marley Giddins, 18, said she had been concerned as the school budget was being built about the number of teachers being cut—including some of her favorite teachers, whose jobs were eliminated or truncated.

"Being a student I was very involved with the issue of the teacher cuts," Giddins said after voting at the Main Street School. "I wanted to vote for the candidates who I considered most pro-education, Kerner and Kashkin."

Irvington voters favored the 2012-13 budget proposal by 904 to 425.

Dobbs Ferry

Dobbs Ferry voters passed a $38.6 million spending plan for 2012-13, a 1.44 percent increase over the current budget, by 363 'yes' to 150 'no' votes in a low turnout. They also approved a ballot proposition to spend up to $1.5 million to create a multi-purpose room at the high school.

Incumbent Lynne Black and newcomer Jonathan Greengrass ran unopposed for two seats on the Dobbs Ferry board and were given 393 and 404 votes respectively.

Hastings on Hudson

In Hastings-on-Hudson, voters approved a $42.7 million budget by 643-205. They also passed by a vote of 632-159 a ballot proposition to increase the district's capital reserve fund, putting in $700,000 from the district's fund balance. The money will be used for facility renovations and improvements.

Hastings incumbents Eileen Baecher, Donna Laing and Lindsey Hicks ran unopposed for re-election to the Hastings Board of Education. 

Editor's Note: In the Irvington election, there were 425 'no' votes for the budget. The number was incorrect in the original version of this report. Patch regrets the error.