Schools

Wrap-Up: School Budget and Election Results

Of the five area school districts, one had a failing budget Tuesday.

School Board elections and budget votes were Tuesday, and after the smoke cleared, incumbents were safe in Sagaponack, Bridgehampton and Sag Harbor, two new members were elected in Southampton, and a former board member ousted a sitting member in Tuckahoe. Tuckahoe was also one of a handful of budgets on Long Island to be rejected by voters, while all other area school districts had their budgets pass comfortably.

Catch up on how budgets fared and elections ended this week in eastern Southampton Town:

Tuckahoe


The Tuckahoe School District's proposed $17.8 million budget failed, 228-275, on Tuesday, and former School Board member Harald Steudte ousted incumbent Sharon Grindle by an 8-vote margin. Steudte received 220 votes to Grindle's 212. At least 71 voters abstained from deciding on a candidate.

Find out what's happening in Southamptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


School Board will discuss Monday how to come up with a budget that voters will find acceptable.


One idea to pursue to lower taxes for perpetuity is for the school district to give up its sovereignty and merge with the adjacent , which already serves most of 's high school-age students. The notion of a merger, which could result in significant tax savings for Tuckahoe residents, has been floated for years, but the districts have never taken the leap.

Find out what's happening in Southamptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Southampton


Southampton School District voters, by an overwhelming margin, approved a $59.5 million budget on Tuesday, 566-260, and elected two new School Board members. In a close race for two undefended School Board seats, Andrew Brindle was the top vote-getter with 370, and James Wilson was close behind with 366. Charles Styler had 348 votes, and write-in candidate Jacqueline Robinson garnered 140 votes.

Sag Harbor


Voters approved a $34 million school budget on Tuesday. The final tally was 892-to-420 when the polls closed at 9 p.m. Gregg Schiavoni was re-elected to the Sag Harbor School Board of Education with 1,039 votes and past president Walter Wilcoxen also kept his seat with 795 votes. Challenger Tom Gleeson, a retired teacher and college admissions consultant, received 576 votes.

Bridgehampton & Sagaponack


Budgets passed by outstanding margins in Bridgehampton and Sagaponack school districts on Tuesday, and all incumbents kept their seats.


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