Voters approve school budgets

FINGER LAKES--Area voters approved school 2014-15 budgets for Watkins Glen, Odessa-Montour, Penn Yan, Dundee and Hammondsport Central School Districts during the election held Tuesday, May 20.
In Watkins Glen, the 2014-15 budget was approved with 369 votes in support and 157 votes against. The school board election saw incumbent Gloria Brubaker retain her seat with 408 votes, while Keith Caslin and Kris Clarkson were elected to the other two remaining seats with 294 votes and 281 votes respectively. Candidates Jim Somerville (214 votes), Jannica Moskal (186 votes), Kristina Hansen (179 votes) and Annette Bascom (133 votes) all failed to pick up a seat on the board.
In Odessa-Montour, the district budget passed 170 votes to 31. The library votes were also approved with 147 votes in favor to 53 votes against. Jennifer Mosher and Christian Maphis were both elected to school board seats unopposed with 169 and 150 votes respectively for three-year terms.
In Penn Yan, the school budget passed with 726 votes in favor to 206 opposed. Voters approved purchasing new buses with 700 votes for to 229 against, while the proposition to spend funds from the technology reserve was also approved 720 votes to 214.
In the school board election, challengers David Willson (557 votes), and Robin Johnson (451 votes) along with incumbent Nancy Scher (545 votes) secured the three available three-year terms on the board. Incumbents Anita Maroscher and Renee Bloom failed to reclaim their seats with 436 and 424 votes respectively. There were four write-in votes.
In Dundee, the budget passed 187 votes in favor to 80 against. The Dundee Library proposition was also approved 186 yes votes to 81 no, while the vehicle purchase was approved 220 votes to 48. In an unopposed election, all incumbent school board members retained their positions. John Frederick received 235 votes, James Hill received 221 votes and Jared Webster received 219 votes.
Hammondsport's 2014-15 budget was also approved 211 votes in support to 49 against. The proposition to create and fund a capital reserve was approved 168 to 70, along with authorization to purchase buses passing 168votes in favor to 65 votes against. Kevin W. Bennett defeated Benjamin Hartman 145 votes to 89 in the school board election.