Lewis County voters approve all school budgets, propositions

LOWVILLE — Lewis County voters approved budgets for all five school districts — Harrisville, Beaver River, Lowville, Copenhagen and South Lewis — by substantial margins Tuesday. Contested board of education seats, most notably in Beaver River, where 13 candidates vied for four openings, also were decided.

Only Copenhagen Central School District offered voters a budget spending decrease, a 2.3 percent drop, in 2009-10 compared with the current year. However, the highest tax levy increase among the five districts was at Harrisville, at 2.74 percent, while Beaver River and Lowville will maintain their levies at this year's level.

Beaver River Central School: The budget passed 394-197.

A proposition authorizing the district to buy three buses through borrowing to be repaid over five years passed 377-189.

Vote totals for the school boards:

■ Five-year term 1 — Christine Lashbrooks, 318; Jennifer Jones, 226; Kimberly Perrigo, 58; and Becky Worden, 32.

■ Five-year term 2 — David Meyer, 505, and Theresa Jacobs, 111.

■ Two-year term 1 — Todd Lighthall, 350; Michele Moore, 155; and Jacquelyn Prashaw, 103.

■ Two-year term 2 — Gary Herzig, 391; Scott Proulx, 144; Anita Lyndaker, 62; and Amy Moore, 43.

Lowville Academy and Central School: The budget passed 429-104.

Voters passed a proposition, 425-106, to authorize the purchase of three school buses for up to $350,000. A second proposition, authorizing the continued busing of Head Start pupils at no additional cost to the district, was approved 447-91. A third proposition, authorizing an increase in funding for Lowville Free Library from $30,000 to $50,000, passed 422-115.

Incumbents Dawn Lawman and William Burke, running unopposed for new three-year terms on the Board of Education, received 387 and 401 votes, respectively. Another three-year board seat was won by Dr. Steven Lyndaker with 356 votes. Also running for that seat were Gary Turck, who drew 136 votes, and Nicholas Astafan, who received 47 votes.

Copenhagen Central School: Voters approved the budget 185-40.

Voters authorized, 194-26, the continued busing of children to Lowville Head Start on existing routes. The purchase of a 72-seat bus for up to $103,471 was approved 168-50.

Two five-year seats on the Board of Education were filled by incumbents Koreen G. Freeman, who received 173 votes, and Lawrence G. Woodruff Jr., who garnered 170. Challenger Kenneth H. Parks received 122 votes.

Harrisville Central School:Voters approved the budget 159-62.

A proposition authorizing the purchase of a school bus for up to $97,737.45 was approved 158-65.

Tennille Schmitt, with 193 votes, and Jan Mosher, with 146, won the two five-year Board of Education seats open in the coming term. The third candidate, Ann M. Hall received 70 votes.

South Lewis Central School: The budget passed 243-2.

A proposition authorizing the purchase of two 66-passenger buses, a van and a car for up to $234,777 was approved 247-88.

Incumbents Paul Campbell and Barry Worczak, running unopposed for new five-year terms on the Board of Education, received 260 and 281 votes, respectively.