Three Vie For School Board Seat at SKCS

Staff Report

SOUTH KORTRIGHT – Three candidates seek election to a five-year term on the South Kortright Central School Board of Education and will be decided by district residents on May 20. Voting will be held from noon to 8 p.m. in the gymnasium lobby. A meet the candidates night was held Thursday and a budget hearing is set for May 13 at 7 p.m. in Harbaugh Hall.

Copies of the budget and the budget newsletter are available on the school's website.

The proposed budget totals $11,645,610, an increase of 1.5 percent over the current budget which exceeds the allowable state tax cap limit of -.03 percent for SKCS. It projects a 2 percent increase in the tax levy and passage of the budget will require a 60 percent majority of the qualified voters.

In his message to district voters, Superintendent Dr. Tarkan Ceng stated they used reserve funds to help balance the budget to minimize the impact on taxpayers.

Like the other districts, SKCS is facing increased costs, along with increases to the contributions into the state retirement system and health insurance increases of 10.5 percent

District residents are also asked to decide the purchase of one 21- passenger, handicap accessible school bus and two minivans. The amount is not to exceed $205,00 and will be paid from the district's bus reserve for the school year commencing July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

The three candidates seeking election to the expiring five-year term of Randy Hungerford are Kevin Hitt, Stephen Tucker and Janet Beken Smith. All provided brief biographies for the budget newsletter.

Kevin Hitt is a 1996 graduate of SKCS and has two children who attend SCKS. He coaches the SKCS trap team.

"I am currently serving as chairman of the fire commissioners for the Hobart Fire Department, a position I have held for the past five years.

"I would like to join the South Kortright Board of Education because I, like all parents, have a vested interest in seeing the students in our school succeed.

Janet Beken Smith lives in Bloomville with her husband and three children. The general manager of the Stamford Farmers' Co-op, she is a 1997 graduate of SK and comes from a long line of Rams. The mother of Anna, a fifth grader and twins Evan and Emma, now sophomores, she can be seen at virtually any and all SK events.

Having served on the board of education for two terms in the early 2000s, she states she has a clear idea of the type of service it entails. She now brings a fresh perspective of parent, graduate, daughter and granddaughter of retired SK employees. She states that her goal is simple, to continue to support the amazing faculty and staff at SK, always do right by students and be ever-mindful of our taxpayers.

"SK is a special and wonderful place that she hopes to help ensure the bright and successful future of."

Stephen Tucker, also a candidate for the school board, states that after spending 15 years as an HVAC and Automotive Technician, he entered the world of education as an Instructor of Automotive Mechanics at SUNY Delhi. He is now Professor Emeritus after 37 years of teaching in a classroom and as a program director. Along the way, he completed his bachelor's and master's in education.

His biography also states that he is the proud parent of three very successful SKCS graduations and a grandparent of two current SKCS students. He has volunteered for and has been fully involved and invested in several community organizations, including previous member and co-chair of the SKCS Shared Decision Making Team; a previous 15-year member/president of the SKCS Board of Education; A fire commissioner for the Kortright Rural Fire District and Town of Kortright Planning Board for more than 25 years and a member of the board for The North American Council of Automotive Teachers.

His biography states his goal is to bring proactive solutions to the table and reach consensus with all board board members to help SKCS meet the mission, vision and core values of its current strategic plan.

Qualified voters must live in the district for at least 30 days, be 18 -years of age or older and be a United States citizen.