ESM 2020 NOTICE OF ANNUAL VOTE AND ELECTION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: That on June 1, 2020, commencing at 6:00 p.m., the Board of Education (the “Board”) of the East Syracuse Minoa Central School District (the “District”) will conduct a public hearing for the purpose of discussing the expenditure of District funds and the budget therefore for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2020, and ending June 30, 2021.  The meeting will be held virtually through a videoconferencing format. Information regarding the budget hearing may be accessed on the District’s website at www.esmschools.org.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN: The copies of the detailed statement prepared by the Board regarding the amount of money which will be required for school purposes for such fiscal year, specifying the several purposes and the amount for each (the “Budget”), and the tax exempt report may be obtained by any taxpayer of the District on the District website and at the office of the District Clerk located at the District Office, 407 Fremont Road, East Syracuse, New York 13057 between the hours of 8:00 a. m. and 4:00 p.m. on each day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding the public hearing on the Budget and thereafter until the date of the vote on the Budget.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN:  In accordance with Executive Order 202.26, the annual meeting and election of members of the Board of Education of the East Syracuse Minoa Central School District, vote upon the appropriation of necessary funds to meet the estimated expenditures for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2020 and authorizing  the levy of taxes, and vote upon any other propositions properly submitted will take place on  June 9, 2020, by absentee ballot only, due to the East Syracuse Minoa District Office, 407 Fremont Road, East Syracuse, NY 13057 by 5:00 PM on June 9, 2020.  The vote upon the adoption of the District budget for such fiscal year, which will appear as Proposition No. 1 on the ballot; and to elect two (2) members to the Board of Education for a term of four years commencing July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2024.

Candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education shall be nominated by petition. A separate petition is required to nominate each candidate. Every petition must (i) be directed to the District Clerk; (ii) state the residence of each signer and the name and residence of the candidate; and (iii) be filed with the office of the District Clerk, at the Administrative Office Building, located at the District Office, 407 Fremont Road, East Syracuse, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. local time, no later than May 11, 2020 by 5:00 p.m. local time.  In accordance with New York State Executive Order No. 202.26, there is no minimum threshold of signatures required on nominating petitions for this election, provided, however, an individual must meet any other requirements necessary to be placed on the ballot, including any applicable residency and age requirements. Petition forms for candidates may be obtained from the District Clerk at the district office.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN:  That military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the School District by requesting to be registered by the District Clerk at 315-434-3004 or kskahen@esmschools.org.  Registered, qualified voters of the School District may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application from the District Clerk at the phone number or email address listed above.   For a military voter to be issued a military ballot, the District Clerk must have received a valid ballot application no later than 5:00 pm on May 14, 2020.  In a request for a military ballot application or ballot, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application or ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail.
 
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the following additional propositions shall be voted on at such annual vote and election:

 

PURCHASE OF SCHOOL BUSES

“Shall the Board of Education purchase and finance eight (8) student transportation vehicles at an estimated cost not to exceed $994,989, including necessary furnishings, fixtures and equipment and all other costs incidental thereto and to expend a total sum not to exceed $994,989, which is estimated to be the total maximum cost thereof, and levy a tax for the foregoing in the amount of $994,989, which shall be levied and collected in annual installments in such years and in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Education and in anticipation of the collection of such tax, bonds and notes of the District are hereby authorized to be issued at one time or from time to time in the principal amount not to exceed $994,989, and a tax is hereby voted to pay the interest on said obligations when due.”
 

DEBT SERVICE RESERVE FUND PROPOSITION

“RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the East Syracuse Minoa Central School District shall be authorized to transfer an amount not to exceed $2,500,000 in excess funds currently in the Debt Service Reserve Fund to the 2017 Capital Reserve Fund for use in accordance with the purpose of the Capital Reserve Fund.” 
 
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN: That the only persons entitled to vote at the aforesaid vote on the aforesaid budget, propositions, and Board member elections at the June 9, 2020 vote are:
1) Citizens of the United States; 2) Who have been residing in the District for at least thirty (30) days prior to the vote; 3) Are eighteen (18) years of age or older; 4) Who are not otherwise ineligible to vote by virtue of Section 5-106 of the Election Law; and (5) Who are a registered voter.
 
NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN: That qualified voters will be mailed absentee ballots from the office of the Clerk of the School District.  Qualified voters that would like to request to receive an absentee ballot may do so by contacting the East Syracuse Minoa Central School District at 315-434-3004 or kskahen@esmschools.org.  Absentee ballots must be received at the District Office by 5:00 PM on June 9, 2020.  A list of all persons to whom absentee voters’ ballots shall have been issued shall be available for public inspection in the office of the School District clerk during regular office hours during each of the five (5) days prior to the election, except Sundays, and shall also be posted at the door of the polling place(s) on June 9, 2020.
 
NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that because of health and safety concerns associated with the novel coronavirus pandemic and the Governor’s resulting order of school building closure, the School District will not conduct personal registration of voters for the June 9, 2020 annual meeting and general election.  Unregistered voters may register to vote with the Board of Elections by filing an application online with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”).  Information is available at:  https://dmv.ny.gov/more-info/electronic-voter-registration-application.