Riverhead’s school budget and all ballot propositions were approved by district voters Tuesday by wide margins.
Incumbent Sue Koukounos won re-election and former board president Ann Cotten DeGrasse reclaimed a seat on the school board.
Voters approved the district’s operating budget 64 to 36 percent, with 1,863 votes in favor to 1,057 against.
The proposition authorizing the district to borrow $1.2 million to construct a new turf field on the main campus was approved 1,527 to 1,366.
The proposition authorizing the expenditure of capital reserve funds to buy and renovate an Edwards Avenue site for use as a new transportation facility passed 1,712 to 1,148.
The proposition authorizing the appropriation of $5 million from the district fund balance into a repair reserve fund was approved 1,796 to 1,058.
“These are excellent numbers, really good margins,” Schools Superintendent Nancy Carney said after the vote counts were projected onto a screen in the high school gymnasium, where administrators, board members, candidates and their supporters gathered Tuesday night to await results— which were announced about 90 minutes after the polls closed.
“It’s just very exciting for us to keep moving forward, and to me, that’s what this shows. The community wants to keep moving forward,” Carney said. “There are a lot of good things going on in the district. We’re very appreciative of the community’s support,” she said.
Board president Greg Meyer said he was “ecstatic” about the vote results. “We’re doing some great things in the district. Each year is getting better and better and I’m really looking forward to the future,” he said. The budget passing by more than 800 votes “says a lot,” Meyer said. “That means the most to me.”
Ann Cotten-DeGrasse, who served two three-year terms on the school board before stepping aside last year, said she was excited to be back on the board. “I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get back to work,” she said, adding that she has no desire to seek an officer’s position again.
Greg Fischer, who polled fourth out of the five candidates, predicted the results before they were in. “Until more sheep come out, the wolves will decide what’s for dinner,” Fischer said afterward.
Candidate | Total |
---|---|
Fischer | 886 |
Koukounas | 1,212 |
Harnig | 701 |
Cotten-DeGrasse | 1,196 |
Downs | 1,064 |
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