Pelham voters approved the school district’s $98.3 million budget and re-elected Annemarie Garcia and Sid Burke to the Board of Education, according to results counted at the Middle School gym this evening. Lisa Martino Alves, principal of Hendrick Hudson High School, came in third in her bid to unseat one of the two incumbents.
In contrast to last year’s election, in which voters approved two propositions to raise $98.8 million in bonds for the improvement of Pelham schools, but rejected two other propositions that would have permitted an additional $45 million in bond issues, this year’s budget vote contained little drama. It passed by a vote of 830 to 277 out of a total of 1107 ballots cast. Last year, more than 2,300 votes were cast.
The district’s $98.3 million budget represents an increase of 2.05 percent over last year’s budget, and an increase of 3.72 percent in the tax levy, the maximum allowed by the state’s tax cap. If the tax rate had exceeded the cap, it would have required approval from 60 percent of the voters.
While the budget vote was lopsided, the contest for the two openings on the Board of Education was closer. In last year’s vote on the bond issue, none of the three incumbents up for re-election faced opposition. This year brought competition when Martino Alves decided to throw her hat into the ring. A relative newcomer to Pelham compared to her better-known opponents, Martino Alves focused her campaign on her experience as a teacher and administrator.
Garcia collected the most votes, with 708, followed by Burke at 674 and Martino Alves with 591.
| votes | |
|---|---|
| Annemarie Garcia | 708 |
| Sid Burke | 674 |
| Lisa Martino Alves | 591 |
“This process has been really nice–to meet new neighbors and hear different perspectives from different families and residents in Pelham and especially to share my story and ideas,” said Martino Alves after the results were announced. “I’m hoping some of these ideas help to change the way we can support teaching and learning in our schools. Thank you to all who encouraged me and my family for support.”
When it was over, Sid Burke sounded relieved. “I don’t love campaigning, but I really love doing this work and I am excited to keep doing it,” he said.
“I absolutely love this school district,” said Garcia. “I just came from the chorus concert and it showed me why I love the Pelham schools. I want to say thank you to all of the Pelham community for coming out to vote and supporting me in continuing this meaningful work for the next three years.”
