2026-27 Overview

Proposition 1: 2026-2027 Budget

 

1541  YES    
369  NO

 

Proposition 2: Funding the Repair Reserve

 

1525  YES   
276  NO

 

Proposition No. 3 Authorization To Expend Funds From Facilities Improvement Program - 1 Port Washington UFSD for

Districtwide Repair, Renovations and Upgrading of Electrical Services and HVAC Equipment

 

1548  YES   
240  NO

 

Members of the Board of Education

 

Julie Epstein        No. of votes 1550

 

Rachel Gilliar       No. of votes 1478

 

Write-in                No. of votes 33

On the Ballot:

 

PROPOSITION NO. 1 2026-2027 BUDGET

RESOLVED, that the proposed budget of the Port Washington Union Free School District for the school year 2026-2027, in the amount of $205,824,844 as shown in the statement of estimated expenditures adopted by the Board of Education, be and hereby is approved, and that the amount thereof, shall be raised by a tax levy of $172,440,274 upon the taxable property within said School District.

 

PROPOSICIÓN No. 1 PRESUPUESTO 2026-2027

SE RESUELVE que el presupuesto propuesto del Distrito Escolar Union Free de Port Washington para el año escolar 2026-2027, por la cantidad de $205,824,844 según se muestra en la declaración de gastos estimados adoptada por la Junta de Educación, queda por la presente aprobado, y que dicha cantidad será recaudada mediante un impuesto de $172,440,274 sobre las propiedades gravables dentro de dicho Distrito Escolar.

 

PROPOSITION NO. 2 Funding of Repair Reserve Fund:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Port Washington Union Free School District authorizes funding for the Repair Reserve Fund, as follows:

(i) pursuant to such budgetary appropriations as are: (a) included in the District’s annual budget, and (b) approved through adoption of the budget by the District’s voters; and (ii) in accordance with resolutions of the Board of Education adopted on or before June 30th in any fiscal year, authorizing the appropriation of surplus funds from the District’s unassigned fund balance at the end of the fiscal year, to the Repair Reserve Fund, in such amounts as shall be determined by the Board;

 

PROPOSICIÓN No. 2 FINANCIACIÓN DEL FONDO DE RESERVA PARA REPARACIONES:

SE RESUELVE que la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar Union Free de Port Washington autoriza el financiamiento del Fondo de Reserva para Reparaciones, de la siguiente manera: (i) conforme a las asignaciones presupuestarias que: (a) estén incluidas en el presupuesto anual del

Distrito, y (b) sean aprobadas mediante la adopción del presupuesto por los votantes del Distrito; y (ii) de acuerdo con las resoluciones de la Junta de Educación adoptadas en o antes del 30 de junio de cualquier año fiscal, que autoricen la asignación de fondos excedentes del balance no asignado del

Distrito al final del año fiscal, al Fondo de Reserva para Reparaciones, en las cantidades que determine la Junta.

 

 

PROPOSITION NO. 3 AUTHORIZATION TO EXPEND FUNDS FROM FACILITIESIMPROVEMENT PROGRAM-1 PORT WASHINGTON UFSD FOR DISTRICTWIDE REPAIR, RENOVATIONS AND UPGRADING OF ELECTRICAL SERVICES AND HVAC EQUIPMENT.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Port Washington Union Free SchoolDistrict Board of Education is hereby authorized and directed pursuant to Section 3651 of the New York Education Law to appropriate funds from the District’s existing capital reserve fund entitled “Facilities Improvement Program 1 – Port Washington UFSD,” which was established by the voters on May 17, 2022, in an amount not to exceed $3,500,000 dollars and zero cents, and to expend such funds for the purpose of replacement,reconstruction, and installation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment and related systems, controls and infrastructure at the District’s schools, including all incidental and related costs; and to take any and all action necessary to effectuate the appropriation and expenditure, as described herein.

 

PROPOSICIÓN No. 3 AUTORIZACIÓN PARA GASTAR FONDOS DEL PROGRAMA DE MEJORAS DE INSTALACIONES-1 DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR UNION FREE DE PORTWASHINGTON PARA REPARACIONES, RENOVACIONES Y ACTUALIZACIÓN DE SERVICIOS ELÉCTRICOS Y EQUIPOS DE HVAC

SE RESUELVE que la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar Union Free de Port Washington queda por la presente autorizada y dirigida, conforme a la Sección 3651 de la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York, a apropiar fondos del fondo de reserva de capital existente del Distrito, titulado “Programa de Mejoras de Instalaciones 1 – Port Washington UFSD”, establecido por los votantes el 17 de mayo de 2022, por un monto que no exceda de 3,500,000 dólares con cero centavos, y a gastar dichos fondos con el propósito de reemplazo, reconstrucción e instalación de equipos de calefacción, ventilación y aire acondicionado (HVAC) y sistemas, controles e infraestructura relacionados en las escuelas del Distrito, incluyendo todos los costos incidentales y relacionados; y a tomar cualquier acción necesaria para llevar a cabo la apropiación y el gasto, según lo descrito en el presente.

 

 

Members of the Board of Education

Vote for Any Two (2)

Three Year Term

Term Starts July 1, 2026 and ends June 30, 2029

Miembros de la Junta de Educación

Votar por cualquiera Two (2)

Término de Tres Años

El mandato inicia el 1 de julio de 2026 y finaliza el 30 de junio de 2029

Candidates/Candidatos:

Julie Epstein

Rachel Gilliar

Nominating Petitions for Board of Education Candidates

On May 19, 2026, voters in the Port Washington Union Free School District will have the opportunity to elect two (2) individuals to serve a three-year term each on the district’s Board of Education.  Candidates for the Board of Education run at large (the candidates receiving the most votes win).  The term of office will begin July 1, 2026, and end June 30, 2029.

 

How to get your Name on the Ballot

In order to appear on the ballot in a school board election, a qualified resident must file a nominating petition with the school District Clerk.  For the May 19, 2026 election, the nominating petition must be signed by at least 49 qualified school district voters (a qualified voter is a resident of the district qualified to vote, not necessarily registered). Each nominating petition must include the full name and residence of the candidate on each page before a qualified voter signs the petition.

Effective now, nominating petition packets are available as follows:  the packet may be 1) picked up at the District Administration Building, 100 Campus Drive, Port Washington, between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., on weekdays that school is in session; 2) requested by contacting the school District Clerk by telephone (516-767-5012), or the school’s Deputy District Clerk by telephone (516-767-5002); or 3) requested by emailing the school District Clerk at [email protected].

 

Nominating Petition Filing Deadline

The deadline for filing the nominating petition for the school board election is 30 days before the election. Nominating petitions for the May 19, 2026 school board election must be filed in the school District Clerk’s office, 100 Campus Drive, Port Washington, no later than 5:00 p.m., April 20, 2026.  (Please be advised that the Administration Building is closed from April 2nd to April 10th for spring recess.)

 

Reporting Campaign Expenses and Contributions

Candidates must keep a close eye on their campaign finances.  By state law, a candidate is required to file sworn statements disclosing both their campaign expenditures and contributions received.  Candidates whose campaign expenditures and/or contributions are between $0 to $500 are required to file a sworn statement with the school District Clerk.  Candidates are required by law to file an itemized sworn statement with the school District Clerk *and* with the New York State Commissioner of Education if 1) their total campaign expenditures exceed $500, or 2) their expenditures plus the expenditures of others on the candidate’s behalf made with the candidate’s approval exceed $500 (note: donors may make expenditures of up to $25 without the candidate’s permission if the donor files a sworn statement with the school District Clerk and the Commissioner of Education stating that the candidate did not approve the expenditure), or 3) their total campaign contributions received exceed $500.

Campaign expense/contribution statement forms are included in the nominating petition packet provided to candidates.  A candidate must file the appropriate sworn statement as follows: 1) 30 days before the date of the school board election, *and* 2) within five days before the school board election, *and* 3) within 20 days after the school board election.

 

Each statement shall cover the period up to and including the day before the required reporting date.  Should any contribution or loan in excess of $1,000 be received from the fifth day before the election until the election date, such contribution must be reported with the District Clerk and with the New York State Commissioner of Education within 24 hours after receipt.

 

School Board Member Qualifications

A Board of Education member:

• Must be and have been a resident of the school district continuously for at least one year prior to the election;
• Must be a qualified voter in the district (a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years of age, not adjudged to be incompetent);
• May not be a current employee of the school district;
• Must be able to read and write;
• May not reside with another member of the same school board as a member of the same family;
• May not simultaneously hold another incompatible public office according to state law;
• Can not have been removed from any school district office in the preceding year;
• Once elected, must complete 12 hours of state mandated training (six hours of fiscal accountability training and six hours of governance skills training) during their first year of service. This training is paid for by the school district.

 

New York State law does not allow school districts to impose any other eligibility requirements for school board members.

 

School Board of Education Responsibilities

State statutes define the powers and duties of school boards. Some of the basic responsibilities of the Board of Education include:

• Hiring and annually evaluating the Superintendent.
• Reviewing and adopting policies to be implemented by the Superintendent for the operation of the school.
• Adopting an annual budget for presentation to voters.
• Reviewing and approving financial reports of the school system.
• Approving the hiring of personnel recommended by the Superintendent.
• Ratifying collective bargaining agreements; responsible with the Superintendent for negotiating terms and conditions of employment as outlined in the Taylor Law.
• Considering recommendations for building improvements and expansion, as well as determining the means for financing.
• Deciding how school boundaries are drawn and whether schools are closed.
  
  

School Board Member Time Commitments

The Port Washington UFSD Board of Education conducts one to two regular business meetings per month, which usually include an Executive Session prior to the start of the regular business meeting, and sometimes immediately at the conclusion of a regular business meeting.  Special meetings may be scheduled in certain circumstances.  In addition, Board members are assigned to various committees that meet on a variable schedule; historically, each committee meets once a month during the school year.  Board members are responsible for coming to board meetings prepared to participate and having reviewed necessary materials.  Attending district events to support the school community is encouraged when possible.

 

School Board Member Compensation

School board members are not paid for their service; the time and commitment they provide is voluntary.

 

What if there are no candidates or not enough candidates?

The election is still held and the vacancies are filled by the individuals who receive the most write-in votes.

 

Why should I step forward?

Your local school board makes decisions that affect your children and your community. This could be your chance to weigh in and shape their future.

Additional information about school board service can be found on the New York State School Boards Association website at http://www.nyssba.org/experience