The Watervliet City School District Board of Education is expected to adopt a proposed budget for the 2020-21 school year during its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 19. The adopted budget proposal will be decided by voters via absentee ballot on Tuesday, June 9.

Voting by absentee ballot

All school district budget votes and board elections in New York will be conducted entirely by mail this year due to ongoing concerns related to COVID-19. Absentee ballots will be mailed to all eligible voters the last week in May. Completed ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9 to be counted. No in-person voting is allowed under an executive order issued by Governor Cuomo on May 1.

Two candidates are seeking election to two available seats on the five-member board. Incumbent Mary Beth Whited is running for her second term on the board. Tim DeLisle is seeking his first term.

Budget workshop

Board of Education members and district leaders met during a budget workshop on May 15 to review and to discuss the budget proposal. The workshop was presented by videoconference and livestreamed for the public. View a recording of the budget workshop

Mark your calendar for these important dates in the budget timeline:

• May 19, 6 p.m. – Board of Education Meeting and Budget Adoption
  • View Public Livestream
  • Public Comments can be submitted in advance to BOEPublicComment@vlietschools.org
• June 2, 6 p.m. – Public Budget Hearing & Board of Education Meeting 
  • Join Zoom Meeting 
    Meeting ID: 936 4908 7582
    Password: 972856
    (For safety and security, guests with full first and last names will be allowed into the meeting from waiting room and muted upon entry.)
• June 9, 8 p.m. – Special Board Meeting to Receive Results of Budget and Election
  o View Public Livestream

All meetings will be held remotely and will be livestreamed for the public.