Signs for and against merging the Wynantskill Union Free School District with the Troy City School District sit at the intersection of Winter Street Extension and Farrington Avenue on Tuesday in Troy.
Jim Franco/Times Union
Heather Nadoraski, left, and Katrina Dinan hold signs urging residents to vote against merging the Wynantskill Union Free School District with the Troy City School District at the intersection of Main Avenue and West Sand Lake Road on Tuesday in North Greenbush.
Jim Franco/Times Union
Katrina Dinan holds a sign urging residents to vote against merging the Wynantskill Union Free School District with the Troy City School District at the intersection of Main Avenue and West Sand Lake Road on Tuesday in North Greenbush.
Jim Franco/Times Union
People wait outside the Gardner-Dickinson School library to vote on whether the Wynantskill Union Free School District should merge with the Troy City School District on Tuesday in North Greenbush.
Jim Franco/Times Union
A one-question ballot in front of Wynantskill Union Free School District residents on whether to merge with the Troy City School District on Tuesday in North Greenbush.
Jim Franco/Times Union
Kyle Barber, communications specialist and Wynantskill Union Free School District clerk, signs in a voter during an election to determine if the district will merge with the Troy City School District at the Gardner-Dickinson School library on Tuesday in North Greenbush.
Jim Franco/Times Union
A table set up at the Gardner-Dickinson School library where residents can sign in to vote on whether the Wynantskill Union Free School District should merge with the Troy City School District on Tuesday in North Greenbush.
Jim Franco/Times Union
Kyle Barber, standing, communications specialist and Wynantskill Union Free School District clerk, watches as voters are signed in during an election to determine if the district will merge with the Troy City School District at the Gardner-Dickinson School library on Tuesday in North Greenbush.
Jim Franco/Times Union
Nancy McKenna casts her ballot on whether the Wynantskill Union Free School District will merge with the Troy City School District on Tuesday at the Gardner-Dickinson School in North Greenbush.
Jim Franco/Times Union
All four voting booths were occupied during an election to determine if the Wynantskill Union Free School District will merge with the Troy City School District on Tuesday at the Gardner-Dickinson School in North Greenbush.
Jim Franco/Times Union
The Gardner-Dickinson School while voters determine if the Wynantskill Union Free School District will merge with the Troy City School District on Tuesday in North Greenbush.
Jim Franco/Times Union
Wynantskill Union Free School District Superintendent Mary Yodis during an election to determine if the district will merge with the Troy City School District at the Gardner-Dickinson School on Tuesday in North Greenbush.
Jim Franco/Times Union
Heather Nadoraski holds a sign urging residents to vote against merging the Wynantskill Union Free School District with the Troy City School District at the intersection of Main Avenue and West Sand Lake Road on Tuesday in North Greenbush.
Jim Franco/Times Union
A table set up at the Gardner-Dickinson School library where residents can sign in to vote on whether the Wynantskill Union Free School District should merge with the Troy City School District on Tuesday in North Greenbush.
Jim Franco/Times Union
NORTH GREENBUSH — The vote on whether to dissolve the Wynantskill school district turned into a referendum on the Troy schools Tuesday with voters backing Wynantskill’s merger with the city district.
Hundreds of voters lined up in the afternoon and evening to say whether Troy could annex their one-building district.
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While voters discussed taxes, their main concern was whether Troy would do a good job educating the Wynantskill students.
On one side: fears of violence at the high school that its students would eventually attend if annexation passed. Residents also worried that Troy students would be moved to Wynantskill’s building, which is partly empty.
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On the other side: reports of students who excel at Troy High School, its excellent special education department, a wide variety of school sports and the chance to earn dozens of college credits.
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Some residents suggested that there was a deeper divide on the issue.
“I think there are a lot of people who don’t want the diversity this brings, and I also think they need to grow up,” voter Ashley Wiley said.
In the end, the yes-to-annex voters had it: 709 in favor to 507 votes opposed.
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“Tonight’s passage of the annexation proposition by Wynantskill voters is a significant step toward an exciting new chapter that will bring immense educational benefits and financial stability to our students, staff and taxpayers, as we build a stronger, more sustainable school community,” Troy schools Superintendent John Carmello said after the voters were counted.
Turnout was significant. In the first two hours, 258 people voted, plus 50 absentee ballots filed in advance. That’s more than the entire vote for last year’s budget. There were 2,743 eligible voters, putting the turnout rate at 44%.
On voting day, some residents wondered how Troy would really spend the $241 million offered by the state to encourage districts to merge.
“I don’t really trust Troy so much,” said voter Sean Owens. “I don’t feel the money is going to necessarily go into the schools.”
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He worried it might be spent disproportionately on administrative salaries. Others worried that none of the money would be used on the Wynantskill school.
And when the school becomes part of Troy, what becomes of the hamlet of Wynantskill? It is a part of North Greenbush, but residents said they saw their neighborhood as a village, holding on partly through the existence of the school.
“I feel like we’ll lose our identity,” said voter Sherri Capparello. “It’s such a community-oriented school.”
Others said they reluctantly voted for the annexation, despite loving the small school.
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“It has to happen,” said voter Joe Spairana. “It’s only a matter of time before it closes … there’s less than 300 kids here.”
There was no way to keep the district going, voter Don Thrash added.
“The tax base here can’t support it,” he said.
Others said the change would be good for the students.
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“My kids went to Troy High. They had a totally positive experience,” said voter Jim Doring. “You read a lot of comments on Facebook about the negative. I think it’s blown (out of proportion). They do a great job.”
Voter Lucy Stufflebeam said the change would be good for all of the current students, because they would have access to more extracurricular activities, advanced classes and other activities that Wynantskill cannot afford.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for us and the kids,” she said. “It only gives them more and it gives the school some stability.”
But voter Patricia Gray said the school board should have taken longer to carefully weigh the issue. She felt school leaders exaggerated the school’s financial condition, predicting a more than 6% tax levy increase even though the board hasn’t yet set the 2026-2027 budget. She also noted the state comptroller’s office’s annual report did not describe the school as in imminent financial danger.
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“I feel people have been misled,” she said, adding that there’s no guarantee that Troy will operate the small school forever.
“Troy has made no promises,” she said.