Red Hook Central School District

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a Public Hearing on the proposed 2026-2027 Budget for the Red Hook Central School District shall be held in the Mill Road Elementary Cafeteria in the Town of Red Hook, Dutchess County, New York, on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 7:00 p.m., prevailing time. Copies of the budget will be available for review beginning on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at all School District building offices.

AND NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the election of candidates to the Red Hook Central School Board of Education and the budget vote will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 between the hours of 12:00 noon and 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, in the 3-5 Cafeteria at the Mill Road Elementary School, 9 Mill Road in the Town of Red Hook, Dutchess County, New York, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting machine and/or paper ballot on the following items:

1. PROPOSITION #1 To adopt the annual budget of the Red Hook Central School District for the fiscal year 2026-2027 and to authorize the requisite portion therefore to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District. 

2. To elect two (2) members of the Board of Education to terms of three (3) years each to begin on July 1, 2026 and to expire on June 30, 2029.

3. To adopt the following propositions: 

PROPOSITION #2

Shall the Board of Education be authorized to reconstruct, renovate and improve the High School building, acquire original furnishings, equipment, machinery or apparatus required for the purpose for which such building is to be used and pay incidental costs related thereto, at a maximum cost of $1,160,000; (2) expend such sum for such purpose; (3) levy the necessary tax therefore, to be levied and collected in annual installments in such years and in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Education, taking into account state aid; and (4) in anticipation of the collection of such tax, issue bonds and notes of the School District at one time or from time to time in the principal amount not to exceed $1,160,000, and levy a tax to pay the interest on said obligations when due?

PROPOSITION #3

Shall the Board of Education be authorized to construct an addition to, reconstruct, renovate and improve the Linden Avenue bus garage and site, acquire original furnishings, equipment, machinery or apparatus required for the purpose for which such bus garage is to be used and pay incidental costs related thereto, at a maximum cost of $14,725,000; (2) expend such sum for such purpose, including the expenditure of $1,000,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund; (3) levy the necessary tax therefore, to be levied and collected in annual installments in such years and in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Education, taking into account state aid and the amount expended from the Capital Reserve Fund; and (4) in anticipation of the collection of such tax, issue bonds and notes of the School District at one time or from time to time in the principal amount not to exceed $13,725,000, and levy a tax to pay the interest on said obligations when due?

PROPOSITION #4

SHALL the Board of Education of the Red Hook Central School District be hereby authorized to (1) acquire transportation vehicles and a utility truck with plow and salt spreader for an amount not to exceed $530,000 which is estimated to be the maximum cost thereof, (2) expend such sum for such purpose, (3) levy the tax necessary therefor, to be levied and collected in annual installments in such years and in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Education, taking into account state aid received, and (4) in anticipation of the collection of such tax, to issue bonds and notes of the District at one time or from time to time in the principal amount not to exceed $530,000 and to levy a tax to pay the interest on such obligations when due?

PROPOSITION #5 – Red Hook Library

SHALL the annual appropriation to support and maintain the Red Hook Library be increased by $35,000, to the total amount of $269,400, which sum shall be separate and apart from the Red Hook Central School District annual school district budget, and be raised annually by a tax upon the taxable property of the school district, and which appropriation shall be the annual appropriation for the library until changed by further vote of the electors of the school district, and such tax shall be levied and collected yearly as are other general taxes and to pay such monies to the trustees of the Red Hook Library? 

PROPOSITION #6 – Tivoli Free Library

SHALL the annual appropriation to support and maintain the Tivoli Free Library be increased by $7,944, to the total amount of $115,364 which sum shall be separate and apart from the Red Hook Central School District annual school district budget, and be raised annually by a tax upon the taxable property of the school district, and which appropriation shall be the annual appropriation for the library until changed by further vote of the electors of the school district, and such tax shall be levied and collected yearly as are other general taxes and to pay such monies to the trustees of the Tivoli Free Library?

4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to the Education Law of the State of New York. 

The election and budget vote shall be by machine, paper ballot or absentee ballot. The hours during which the polls shall be kept open shall be from 12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m. prevailing time on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 or for as long thereafter as necessary to enable qualified voters who are in the polling place at 9:00 p.m. to cast their ballots. 

AND FUTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required by the ensuing year for school purposes, exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any taxpayer in the District during the fourteen days immediately preceding the Annual District Election except Saturdays, Sundays or Holidays, at the Central Administration Office, Senior High School, the Linden Avenue School, and the Mill Road School between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., prevailing time and also at said District Election. 

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to the Education Law or pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law. If a voter has already registered pursuant to the Education Law and has voted at an annual or special district meeting within the last four (4) calendar years, he or she is eligible to vote at this election; if a voter is registered and eligible to vote under Article 5 of the Election Law, he or she is also eligible to vote at this election. All other persons who wish to vote must register. 

The Board of Registration will meet for the purpose of registering all qualified voters of the District pursuant to the Education Law at the Mill Road Elementary Cafeteria, Performing Arts Center Foyer area on Thursday, May 7, 2026 between the hours 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such Register, provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration, he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of said Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such election for which the register is prepared. 

Please take further notice that the register prepared pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law shall be filed in the Office of the District Clerk; that such register shall be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District, on each of the five days prior to the day of the election, except Sunday, May 17, 2026 and that the hours during which such register shall be open for inspection shall be from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., prevailing time and by appointment only on Saturday, May 16, 2026. 

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for absentee ballots for the election of Board Members and voting on the budget and propositions may be applied for at the Office of the District Clerk, and completed applications will be accepted by the District Clerk beginning April 20, 2026. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available in said office of the District Clerk at 9 Mill Road, Red Hook, New York on each of the five days prior to the day of the election, except Sunday, May 17, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, and by appointment only on Saturday, May 16, 2026. 

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for early mail ballots will be obtainable during school business hours from the District Clerk, and completed applications will be accepted by the District Clerk beginning April 20, 2026; completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on May 19, 2026. A list of persons to whom early mail ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the office of the District Clerk through May 18, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays prior to the day set for the annual election and on May 19, 2026.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that petitions nominating candidates for the office of Member of the Board of Education to fill two (2) expired terms of three years, must be filed with the District Clerk no later than the thirtieth day preceding the Annual Election of May 19, 2026. (Petitions to be filed no later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time on Monday, April 20, 2026). Each petition must be directed to the District Clerk, must be signed by at least forty-one (41) qualified voters of the District stating the residence of each signer, and must state the name and residence of the candidate. A copy of such petition may be obtained at the Office of the District Clerk at 9 Mill Road, Red Hook, New York during regular school hours. 

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with Sections 2035 and 2008 of the Education law, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said vote and election, must be filed with the Board of Education on or before April 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., prevailing time; must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least one hundred one (101) of the qualified voters of the District; and must state the name and residence of each signer. However, the School Board will not entertain or place before the voters any proposition if its purpose is beyond the power of the voters or is illegal, or any proposition requiring the expenditure of moneys which fails to include specific appropriations for all such expenditures required by the proposition. 

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the Red Hook Central School District may request an application for a military ballot from the District Clerk by mail to 9 Mill Road, Red Hook, NY 12571, by email to hpaschal@rhcsd.org, or fax sent to 845-758-3366. In such request, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application by mail, fax or email. A military voter must return the original military ballot application by mail to the office of the District Clerk at 9 Mill Road, Red Hook, NY 12571. In order for a military voter to be issued a military ballot, a valid military ballot application must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2026. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a non-military ballot application under Section 2018-b of the Education Law. The application for military ballot may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by mail, fax, or email. 

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, a military voter’s original military ballot must be returned by mail to the office of the District Clerk at 9 Mill Road, Red Hook, NY 12571. Military ballots shall be canvassed if they are received by the District Clerk before 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2026 and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the election. 

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, a military voter who is not currently registered to vote may apply to register as a qualified voter of the School District by requesting and returning a registration application by April 24, 2026 in order to receive a military ballot application and ballot, or by May 12, 2026 to vote by absentee ballot or in-person. The request for a registration application may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the registration application by mail, fax, or email.

To run for a seat on the Board of Education you must:

• Be a permanent resident of the district for at least 30 days immediately prior to the vote
• Be 18 years of age or older
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be able to read and write
• Not live in the same house as an existing member of the same Board of Education.

Interested candidates must submit a nominating petition that contains a total of at least 40 valid signatures to the District Clerk's Office at least 30 days prior to an election.

Interested candidates can pick up an informational packet on running for the Board of Education at the District Clerk's Office. The packet includes, among other things, nominating petitions and expenditure and contribution statements that must be submitted to the District Clerk through the campaign process.

The District Clerk's Office, which is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., is located at Mill Road Elementary School, 9 Mill Road, Red Hook, NY, 12571.

To learn more about the process, visit the New York State School Boards Association at NYSSBA.

You can also reach out to the District Clerk's Office at 845-758-2241 ext. 55010 or email hpaschal@rhcsd.org with questions. 

There are two open Board of Education seats on the May 19, 2026 ballot. 

Each board member elected would serve a term of three years to begin on July 1, 2026 and expire on June 30, 2029.