NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION APRIL 4, 2025 - PUBLISH DATE ELDRED CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT ELDRED, SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing of the qualified voters of the Eldred Central School District, Eldred, Sullivan County, New York, will be held at the Junior/Senior High School, 600 Route 55, Eldred, New York in said District on May 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., prevailing time, for the transaction of such business as is authorized by the New York State Education Law, including the following items.

1. Presentation of the budget document.

2. To discuss all of the items herein set forth, to be voted upon by a voting machine, at the election to be held on May 20, 2025, as hereinafter set forth.

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that said vote and election will be held on May 20, 2025, at 11: 00 a.m., prevailing time, in the Eldred Junior/Senior High School, 600 State Route 55, Eldred, NY at which time the polls will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., prevailing time, to vote by voting machines upon the following items:

1. To adopt the annual budget of the School District for the fiscal year 2025-2026.

2. To adopt the annual budget of the Sunshine Hall Free Library for the fiscal year 2025-26 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the School District.

3. To elect one (1) member of the Board of Education seat for a four-year term effective July 1, 2025, and expiring on June 30, 2029.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of Member of the Board of Education of the Eldred Central School District shall be filed with the District Clerk of said School District at the District Clerk’s office, 600 State Route 55, Eldred, NY not later than April 21, 2025, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time. All nominating petitions must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District (representing the greater of 25 or 2% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); must state the name and residence of each signer, and must state the name and residence of the candidate. Vacancies on the Board of Education shall not be considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to New York Education Law §2014 or pursuant to Article 5 of the New York State Election Law.  If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to New York Education Law §2014 and has voted at any annual or special district meeting within the past four (4) calendar years, such voter is eligible to vote at this election; if a voter is registered and eligible to vote pursuant to Article 5 of the New York State Election Law, such voter is also eligible to vote at this election.  All other persons who wish to vote must register.  Voters may register on any school day prior to May 15, 2025, at the Eldred Central School District Office, 600 State Route 55, Eldred, NY, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., prevailing time, to add any additional names to the registers to be used at the aforesaid election, at which time any person will be entitled to have her or his name placed on such registers provided that at the meeting of the Board of Registration he or she is known, or proven to the satisfaction of the Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such public hearing or election for which such registers are prepared, and that the registers so prepared pursuant to New York Education Law §2014 and the registration list prepared by the Board of Elections of Sullivan County will be filed in the Office of the District Clerk of the School District, 600 State Route 55, Eldred, NY, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District on weekdays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., prevailing time, on and after May 15, 2025, and Saturday by pre-arranged appointment, except Sunday;

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to New York Education Law §2014, the Board of Registration shall meet on May 20, 2025, at 600 Route 55, Eldred, N.Y. 12732 between the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. prevailing time, to prepare the Register of the School District to be used at the annual meeting and election that is to be held in 2026, and any special meeting that may be held after the preparation of said Register, at which time any person will be entitled to have her or his name placed on such Register, provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of such Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the school meeting or election for which such Register is prepared.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that qualified voters with disabilities who seek information about access to polling places may, in advance of the day of the vote, contact the District Clerk at (845) 456-1009 for information about accessibility.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that beginning seven (7) days immediately preceding the May 8, 2025, public budget hearing, any resident in the District may request to review a copy of the proposed budget by appearing at the Office of the District Clerk, 600 Route 55, Eldred, New York.  Additionally, a statement of the estimated expenses for the ensuing year may be obtained by any resident in the District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding said election on the school district website https://www.eldred.k12.ny.us/, at Sunshine Hall Free Library during its normal hours of operation, at the School District Administrative Center, 600 State Route 55, Eldred, NY, and at each of the following school buildings in which school is maintained between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., prevailing time, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays:

Eldred Junior/Senior High School

The George Ross Mackenzie Elementary School

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 495, the School District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report.  Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how much of the total assessed value on the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted, identified by statutory authority, and show: (a) the cumulative impact of each type of exemption expressed either as a dollar amount of assessed value or as a percentage of the total assessed value on the roll; (b) the cumulative amount expected to be received from recipients of each type of exemption as payments in lieu of taxes or other payments for municipal services; and (c) the  cumulative impact of all exemptions granted.  The exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District. 

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for absentee and early mail ballots will be obtainable during school business hours at the office of the District Clerk beginning April 21, 2025. In accordance with Education Law §§ 2018-a and 2018-e, completed absentee and early mail ballot applications may not be received by the District Clerk earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the election, and must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or to the agent named in the absentee or early mail ballot application. Absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

 A list of persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued, and a list of all persons to whom early mail voter’s ballots shall have been issued, will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the office of the District Clerk on and after May 15, 2025, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on weekdays prior to the day set for the annual election and on May 17, 2025, by advanced appointment by contacting the District Clerk at (845) 456-1009 and on May 20, 2025, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter may, upon examination of such lists, file a written challenge of the qualifications as a voter of any person whose name appears on such lists, stating the reasons for such challenge. Any such written challenge shall be transmitted by the District Clerk or a designee of the Board of Education to the inspectors of election on election day. 

 AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the Eldred Central School District by requesting and returning a registration application to the District Clerk in person, or by email to sibirtzeffl@eldred.k12.ny.us or fax sent to 845-456-1113. The request for the registration application may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the registration application by either mail, fax or email. Military voter registration application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2025.

 AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the Eldred Central School District may request an application for a military ballot from the District Clerk and return such military ballot application to the District Clerk in person, or by email to sibirtzeffl@eldred.k12.ny.us or fax sent to 845-456-1113. In order for a military voter to be issued a military ballot, a valid military ballot application must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., on April 24, 2025. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a non-military ballot application under Section 2018-a of the Education Law.  The application for military ballot may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by mail, fax, or email.  A military voter’s original military ballot application and military ballot must be returned by mail or in person to the office of the District Clerk at 600 State Route 55, Eldred, NY, along with the required signed affidavit by the voter.

 AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military ballots shall be canvassed if they are received by the District Clerk before the close of polls on May 20, 2025, showing a cancellation mark of the United States Postal Service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or received not later than 5:00 p.m. on May 20, 2025, and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the election.

 AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with New York Education Law §2035, any referenda or propositions to change the number of Board of Education members, or a bond issue for capital improvements, or any other petition required by law to be stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Election must be filed with the District Clerk at 600 State Route 55, Eldred, NY, not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on March 21, 2025.  Any other petition, except those petitions required by law to be stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Election, must be filed with the District Clerk at 600 State Route 55, Eldred, NY, no later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time on April 21, 2025. All such petitions must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District (representing the greater of 25 or 5% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); and must legibly state the name of each signer. However, the Board of Education will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, nor any proposition or amendment which is contrary to law.

Lisa Sibirtzeff, District Clerk of the Board of Education

Eldred Central School District, 600 State Route 55, Eldred, New York 12732

• Candidate Packet Letter

• School Board Member Qualifications

• School Board Member's Role

• Prospective Board Members Workshop Flyer

• Running for School Board

• School Board Member Frequently Asked Questions

• Board Member Seat Petition - Nomination Form

• Policy 2120 School Board Election Policy

• Policy 2120.1 School Board Election Policy

• Statement Campaign Finances

If I am interested in running for School Board, what information do I need to know?
In addition to voting on the proposed budget, district residents vote to elect Board of Education members each year.

There is one Board of Education seat that will expire on June 30th, the seat currently held by Nancie Davis. If you are interested in running for the School Board, nomination petitions are now available online, please see above links. Candidates must hand submit required information by 5:00 p.m. on April 21 to the District Clerk.

If you have any questions regarding the election or budget, please feel free to email the District Clerk at District Clerk email address

Board of Education Election (Board seat) Criteria: All candidates must file a petition and meet the following:

• Must be able to read and write

• Must be a qualified voter of the district, that is, he/she must be a citizen of the United States

• At least 18 years or older

• Not be a convicted felon or have been adjudged incompetent

• Must be and has been a resident of the district for at least one year prior to the election but need not be a taxpayer

• Maybe the only member of his/her family on the school board (defined as those within the same household)

• May not simultaneously hold another incompatible public office

• Must not have been removed from a school district office within one year of the election

• May not be a current employee of the district