Carthage $50m budget OK'd; two incumbents off board

CARTHAGE — Voters in the Carthage Central School District approved its $50 million budget and also voted two incumbents, with a combined 21 years' experience, off the Board of Education.

The budget was passed 680-393. A proposition to purchase 13 buses at a cost not to exceed $1,312,500 also was passed, with a vote of 627-439. A proposition to increase annual support to the Carthage and Black River libraries by $5,000 each also was passed, by a vote of 670-396.

"I'm very pleased that all of our propositions and our budget passed by a 2-to-1 margin," said Superintendent Joseph M. Catanzaro. "I'm also very pleased at the outcome of the board races. I think some of the individuals that are staying on the board will have the experience and skills to help the newcomers."

Vote totals for the school board:

■ Position 2 — Incumbent Lori D. Miller, 467; Daniel R. Gibeau, 393; Timothy W. Thornton, 210.

■ Position 3 — Incumbent Terry E. Freeman, 629; Charles A. Florence, 253; Dennis T. Turpin, 178.

■ Position 6 — Anne M. Rohr, 511; Incumbent Barbara A. Lofink, 458; Ronald H. Spencer 163.

■ Position 7 — Joseph A. Colangelo, 513; Incumbent John E. Peck 428; Charles E. Tallman 146.

Mr. Peck, who was board president, served for 18 years on the board and Mrs. Lofink, who was the vice president, served for three.

Mrs. Miller and Mr. Freeman both have served on the board for only nine months. Both were appointed to the board in August after two people resigned.

Ms. Rohr, who will retire from the district as the assistant middle school principal in June, and Mr. Colangelo, who is a pharmacist in Watertown, both are newcomers to the board.

The member with the most experience on the board is Christopher Kamide, who has served for five years. Mr. Kamide, however, is stationed in Washington, D.C., for his job, and listens to the meetings over the phone. He does not vote.

The other two board members, Michael P. Chevier and Mary Louise Hunt, were both elected in 2008.

"I think experience is always a concern," Mr. Catanzaro said. "There will definitely be a learning curve, but we will provide them with all of the information they need to do their job."

Mr. Catanzaro said he is also pleased that the voters approved the budget. After an overwhelming defeat last year, the budget committee worked tirelessly to present a budget to voters with a zero percent tax levy increase, he said.

"The voters let us know last year that they were not happy," Mr. Catanzaro said. "This year, they told us that we did our job and I'm pleased about that. We hard very hard on this and I'm very pleased with the outcome."