Looking at school budget votes across Western New York

School districts across New York state are holding votes for school budgets, propositions and board of education seats this week. Here’s a look at what some districts in Western New York are proposing.

Western New York’s largest school district, the Buffalo City School District, has a proposed budget of $1,419,132,409, the first budget from Superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga. He has said that this budget includes many difficult decisions, such as job cuts and school closures. The proposed budget includes the closure of the Pathways Academy, elimination of 51 positions at the Central Office and consolidation of 35 classrooms. Additionally, the budget includes approximately $8 million to create 21 additional Special Education classrooms and the addition of 58 SPED staff and the first steps for the Alternative School.

A vote on the proposed budget will take place on May 20.

The Williamsville Central School District proposed budget is $248,168,844, an increase of 2.24%. The tax levy of 3.14% is within the state tax cap limit. The proposal includes $195,954,578 for the instructional program and educational support services for the district’s students, $29,124,928 for school and property maintenance, utilities and debt service and $23,089,338 for the administration and supervision of District schools plus central office operations.

For the WCSD School Board, Lauren Schellinger, Michael Buscaglia, Philip G. Danielson and Kerry Spicer are on the ballot.

The vote takes place May 19, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., at the Williamsville North High School Gymnasium.

The proposed budget in the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District is $203,967,000, an annual increase of 3.06% with a projected tax levy of 2.31%, and includes authorization to purchase new school buses and similar vehicles in an amount not to exceed $1.4 million and renaming the Kenmore East Baseball Field as the Robert A. Marafino Baseball Field.

Karen Whitelaw and Lee Ann Vogt are up for the school board election.

A vote will take place on May 19 at Hoover Middle School inside the Hoover main entrance along Thorncliff Road.

The West Seneca Central School District budget is $170,699,988 and features a tax levy increase of 2.23%. The proposal includes $80 million to boilers, HVAC and fire alarm systems at schools across the district, playground replacement at Clinton, Northwood and Winchester-Potters Schools, driveway and parking lot work at clinton, Winchester-Potters, Allendale and West Elementary Schools, expansion of dining and restroom areas at West Elementary, coversion of middle school pools into STEAM education instructional spaces and bathroom renovations at high schools across the district.

A vote will take place on May 19 in the East Senior High School Gym.