The Red Hook Central School District will move forward with plans to launch two innovative career preparation programs next school year after residents approved its 2026-27 budget proposal and several propositions Tuesday.
Voters also elected Paul Byrne and Robert Tynes to the Board of Education. Proposition 3, a proposed renovation and expansion of the district’s bus garage, failed to pass.
By a 1,108 to 619 count, residents supported the district’s $67.38 million budget, which includes funding to launch the Winners Circle Project, an innovative set of classes in which Red Hook High School students will take on the role of an auto racing team, with real-world technical, marketing and business applications.
And, the high school will also move forward with a new welding career and technical education pathway program after Proposition 2 was approved by roughly two-thirds of voters, 1,130 to 575. The proposition includes up to $1.16 million in upgrades the school’s technology classrooms necessary to proceed with classes already approved by the Board of Education.
“We want to thank the community for their support of our continued educational innovation through approving our budget and technology classroom upgrades proposition,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janet Warden said. “As we progress as a future focused district, our annual budget will allow students in each school building new and exciting opportunities.”
In addition, residents favored Proposition 4, up to $530,000 to purchase a utility truck with plow and salt spreader, two 16-passenger gasoline buses, and three hybrid SUV school buses. That passed by a 997 to 729 tally.
And, propositions to increase the budgets for Red Hook Library and Tivoli Free Library were also approved by votes of 1,222 to 519 and 1,215 to 524, respectively.
Four candidates were running to fill two Board of Education seats that will be vacated June 30 when terms occupied by Russ Crafton and Kate Kortbus expire June 30. Voters cast 1,092 ballots for Byrne, followed by 721 for Tynes, 677 for Troy Haley, and 601 for David Mergendahl. Byrne and Tynes will each serve three-year terms beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2029.
“Thank you to everyone who came out and voted today to support our schools,” Board of Education President Kelly Borrelle said. “While we, of course, are disappointed that the important work for our bus depot and drivers did not pass, we are grateful for the community’s engagement.”
Red Hook’s $67,376,076 budget remains at the state tax cap despite an inflation rate that exceeds the tax cap and rising fixed costs like health insurance and pensions. It represents an increase of 3.66% over this year’s budget, and an increase to the tax levy of 3.61%. It utilizes roughly $2.85 million in fund balance.
In addition to supporting the continued growth of existing programs and the launch of the Winners Circle Project, the budget will allow for:

• Implementing an outdoor learning space at Mill Road Elementary School.
• Ongoing upgrades of district facilities.
• Support for Linden Avenue Middle School Culturally Responsive Sustaining Education programming.
• Other training and curriculum to support diverse literacy needs.
• Preparation for the rollout of the New York State Blue Ribbon Commission’s Portrait of a Graduate.

Winners Circle encompasses three new classes dedicated to the mechanics of assembling and maintaining the car, public relations and marketing of the team, and the business aspects. The classes are each held at the same time so all students in the program can interact. Students also attend field trips and receive dedicated career coaching, and throughout the year compete against other high schools in the program.
Proposition 2 entails technology classroom upgrades that will allow the school to split metal/automatic and woodworking instruction into two dedicated spaces rather than sharing one classroom, and prepare the spaces with the necessary facilities upgrades to launch the welding program.
Tech classrooms 183 and 185 will receive expanded electrical capacity and outlets, and the necessary ventilation and ductwork to maintain safe conditions.
Technology teacher Steve Hutman spearheaded bringing both the Winners Circle and welding programs to the school.
“Students need hands-on learning,” said Hutman. “(Winners Circle), as a project-based learning tool, is the pinnacle of that. It’s not just a supped-up shop class. It encompasses other curriculum, as well.”
Proposition 3 was opposed by 1,058 voters, compared to 671 in favor. The project called for up to $14.73 million in improvements at the district’s Linden Avenue-based bus garage to bolster safety for staff and ensure the building’s long-term health. Elements included new vehicle lifts and other vehicle maintenance facilities, expanded spaces for offices and staff break and training rooms, removing safety hazards, and upgrades to bus storage facilities.
“Part of the reason why individual projects are presented to residents as separate propositions is to give the community more agency to determine how money is spent,” Dr. Warden said. “We respect the decision from the community exercising its right to do so here, and we’ll continue to seek ways to bring needed improvements to our Transportation facility.”