Vincent Rizzi, Sue Gilmore and Tom Miller. (photos by Lauren Thomas)
The voters in Highland have spoken by passing the proposed $38.5 million 2013-2014 school budget by a 62 percent majority — 968 in favor to 593 opposed. As for Proposition 2, which called for $200,000 to be spent on security cameras for the district’s bus fleet, the vote passed — 831 in support to 669 opposed.
The three school board candidates vying for two seats on the school board went to the incumbents Tom Miller and Sue Gilmore, whose terms will now continue until 2016.
Miller was the top vote getter with 1,018, Gilmore second with 938 and former school board member and board president Vincent Rizzi with 689.
“I’m glad to be able to serve another three years and help the district move through the difficult times we’re in,” said Miller after the tallies were announced. “I think we are moving in the right direction.”
Miller was also pleased that both the budget and the security camera proposition passed, as he strongly supported both. “We put forward the very best budget we could and I’m glad the voters responded favorably,” he said.
Superintendent Deborah Haab said that she was “very grateful that the community continues to support the programs that the Highland Central School District provides to our students. We couldn’t do it without them.”
As for the trustees race, she congratulated all three for their desire to serve the district and said “all the candidates were certainly qualified, as they’ve all had experience on the board. We will continue to work as a team to move the district forward.”