Budget Vote and BOE Election

About the Annual School Budget Vote

In New York State, local school boards must annually develop a balanced school budget proposal and put it up for a public vote on the third Tuesday in May. This year's school budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Polls will be open from 1-8 p.m. in the Hermon-DeKalb Central School Cafeteria. You will be mailed the 2025-2026 Budget Newsletter in May. Please click here to access the digital copy.

Residents will vote on a proposal that maintains all current academic programs and is set to match the state’s tax levy cap. Our district aims to cultivate well-rounded students who are prepared to face global challenges as caring, conscientious, and creative citizens. The 2025-26 budget will fund after-school programs, sustain our athletic mergers to support student-athletes, and allow high school students to earn college credits before graduation.

District expenses may include salaries and benefits, curriculum, staff development, facilities maintenance and operation, transportation and debt service. Revenue includes state funding, federal funding, property taxes and appropriated fund balance.

2025-2026 Budget Proposal

The 2025-26 budget proposal includes a spending increase of $140,907, or 0.98%, over the current year's budget, driven by rising costs of goods and services. As a result, we are proposing a tax levy increase of 1.72%, or $48,202. The tax levy increase is at our tax cap and will require a simple majority (50% + 1) to pass.

The 2025-26 budget proposal supports the following goals developed by the HDCSD Board of Education:

• Equip students with skills to positively impact the community
• Foster academic excellence
• Maintain a safe, secure, and welcoming environment

Our district aims to cultivate well-rounded students who are prepared to face global challenges as caring, conscientious, and creative citizens. The proposed 2025-26 budget will fund afterschool programs, sustain our athletic program to support student-athletes, continue to fund our music and arts programs, provide students with opportunities to attain Career and Technical Education classes, and give high school students the opportunity to earn college credits before graduation.

Included in the proposal is a transfer of $100,000 to the Capital Fund to support our upcoming Capital Outlay project. This project will enable us to make critical upgrades to our heating systems, positioning the district for a more sustainable and energy-efficient future. By upgrading our boiler pump skid, the district will have the ability to switch between pumps if one breaks down. The current system does not allow for this, which means less reliable heat in the event of a malfunction of a pump. Many of our pipe fittings currently in use date back to the 1950s and are in need of replacement.

Budget Breakdown

Instructional
The program covers expenses related to educating students, including classroom instruction, services for students with special needs, library services, the nurse’s office, computer-assisted instruction, guidance and counseling services, athletics and extracurricular activities, and transportation.

Capital
This component includes all expenses necessary for the operation and maintenance of school facilities. It covers costs such as maintenance and custodial staff, utilities, and debt payments for building projects.

Administrative
This component includes expenses necessary to manage district affairs including building-level supervision, business office operations, school-to-home communications, the Board of Education, the Superintendent, the District Clerk, and legal/auditing fees.

Instructional: 73.8%
Capital: 18.3%
Administration: 7.9%

Budget Total: $14,561,880
Tax Levy Increase: 1.72%

Supporting 2025-26 budget documents

• Detailed Proposed Budget Information
• Property Tax Report Card
• Tax Cap Form

Voters Elect Three Members to the Board of Education

Each of the three new board of education terms will begin July 1, 2025. The first two seats carry five-year terms, and third carries a two-year term. The two candidates who receive the most votes will receive the five-year terms. The two five-year term seats are currently held by John Wright and Jaclyn teRiele. The two-year term seat is currently held by interim member Christopher Stransky, who was appointed after Board Member Jordan Deleel stepped down. Candidates are listed alphabetically:

• Andrew Brice
• Brandon MacDonald
• Christopher Stransky
• Jaclyn teRiele

Andrew Brice has lived in the district for a total of 24 years. Andrew and his wife, Alicia, have one student at HDCS. He was a member of the 2024 HDCS Principal Interview Committee.
Brice is the Co-owner of Applewood Orchards, where he is responsible for finance and operations of the apple orchard. He is involved with the Applewood Orchards sponsorship of a 2025 Little League team. 
Brice is a graduate of Hermon DeKalb. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from SUNY Potsdam and his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Syracuse University. He has also sat on the Farm Credit East Regional Advisory Committee since 2024.

Brandon MacDonald and his wife, Melanie MacDonald, have lived in the district for 6 years. They have three children that currently attend HDCS. 
He is currently a Route/Dairy Specialist at Rudds Spray Service, where he sells milkhouse and dairy supplies to farms in St. Lawrence County. MacDonald earned his high school degree from Gouverneur Central School, received a vet tech degree from SUNY Canton, and graduated from the building trades program at Southwest Tech BOCES.
He has been involved in HD modified and varsity baseball programs, the Hermon-DeKalb Booster Club, the DeKalb Junction Fire Department, Little League softball and baseball, and maintains the  landscape at both the Methodist and fellowship bible churches in DeKalb Junction.

Christopher Stransky has been serving on the Board of Education since February, after a member stepped down. He has lived in the district for 46 years. Stransky and his spouse, Becky Stransky, have two children attending HDCS.
Stransky is a graduate of Hermon DeKalb. He works as the Water and Sewer Superintendent for the Town of Hermon and the Maintenance Manager at Losurdo Foods. He is involved with the HD Fire Department and HD Pee Wee.

Jaclyn teRiele currently serves on our school board. She has two students at HDCS and has lived in the district for 15 years. She is involved with the Hermon-DeKalb booster club, a girl scout leader, and is on the Board of Directors for the St. Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservation District.
teRiele is the Lab Manager for the Biology Department at St. Lawrence University. She is a graduate of Indian River Central School. She earned her bachelor’s in biology and Master of Education from St. Lawrence University. She also earned a master’s in pharmacology from the University of Vermont.

Also on the Ballot...

Bus Purchase

The district is seeking approval to spend up to $340,000 to purchase one 65-passenger bus and one 26-passenger handicapped accessible bus. State transportation aid is a significant part of our transportation program, returning us 90% aid on each bus, part or service we purchase. A well-equipped bus fleet will provide students with access to hands-on experiences and opportunities they might not otherwise have, including transportation to career fairs, Career and Technical Education classes, athletic competition, and field trips.

Capital Reserve Fund

The district is seeking approval to create of a "2025 Capital Reserve Fund". This fund, not to exceed $2,000,000, will be set aside to pay for future capital improvements and ensure our buildings stay safe, efficient, and ready to support learning for years to come. Funds will come from the unassigned fund balance.

Questions and Answers

What will I see on the ballot?

• Proposition 1 - Consideration of the proposed 2025-26 district budget, totaling $14,561,880.00.
• Proposition 2 - School Bus Purchases: one diesel 65-passenger bus and one 26-passenger gas powered handicapped accessible bus at an estimated maximum cost of $340,000.
  • State transportation aid is a significant part of our transportation program, returning us 90% aid on each bus, part or service we purchase.
• Proposition 3 - Create the “2025 Capital Reserve Fund”. This reserve will be used to pay for future capital improvements to district facilities and sites. The fund, not to exceed $2,000,000, will come from unassigned fund balance.
• Board of Education Election.

What is the difference between the tax levy and tax rate?

The tax levy is the total amount of money a school district raises in taxes each year from all property owners in the district.

The tax rate is the amount paid for each $1,000 of taxable assessed value of property. The rate is used to calculate each individual property tax bill. The tax rate is figured by dividing the tax levy by the total taxable assessed value of the district, then multiplying by 1,000. This gives you the tax rate, which is expressed as the amount per $1,000 of assessed property value.

For districts like ours that encompass more than one municipality, equalization rates are factored in as well to assign a fair share of the tax levy among the municipalities and to the taxpayers within them.

What is the state’s School Tax Relief Program, or STAR?

New York State’s School Tax Relief Program, or STAR, provides partial school property tax savings to eligible homeowners. Most New Yorkers who own and live in their homes are eligible for STAR savings on their primary residences. Because the STAR program is not a district program, taxpayers STAR savings are not factored into a school budget. The 2025-26 STAR exemption amount will be the same as the current fiscal year.

More information about STAR can be found at: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/star/eligibility.htm