Budget Information

The Annual School Budget Vote will take place on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Residents will vote on a proposed $13,461,559 budget for the 2025-2026 academic year. The proposal includes a 1.99% tax levy increase, which also remains within the local tax cap limit.

2025-26 Pathways Budget Newsletter

The proposed budget reflects the district’s continued commitment to providing a high-quality education while supporting the academic, social, and emotional well-being of every student. The development of this budget was a collaborative and thorough process, commencing in October with strategic planning and inclusive roundtable discussions with every district employee. This was followed by four monthly budget workshops with the School Board, beginning in January. These meetings were instrumental in establishing the guiding principles for this spending plan, known as "Forts Vision 2025"

Fort Vision 2025: Key Priorities

This budget is strategically aligned with ten key priorities designed to elevate the Fort Edward School District to new levels of excellence while maintaining fiscal responsibility:

1. Avoid the status quo: Embracing continuous improvement and innovation.
2. Sustain long-term leadership: Fostering stability and vision for the future.
3. Recruit and retain outstanding faculty and staff: Investing in the district's most valuable asset.
4. Actively engage community partnerships: Strengthening ties and leveraging local resources.
5. Invest in long-term capital improvement: Ensuring safe and modern facilities.
6. Utilize regional support systems: Maximizing efficiency through collaboration.
7. Fully implement human resource management strategies: Optimizing personnel practices.
8. Blend innovative programming with time-honored instruction: Providing a comprehensive and effective education.
9. Create and maintain impeccable facilities: Providing a conducive learning environment.
10. Provide unwavering customer service: Prioritizing the needs of students, families, and the community.

Key Budget Highlights

• Streamlining administration: Creating more efficient roles within the administrative structure.
• Investing in transportation: Providing necessary staffing and vehicle purchases to expand transportation services to younger students.
• Maintaining educational programming and extracurricular activities: Ensuring the continuation of the current high-quality student experience.

The community is encouraged to review the detailed budget information available in this year's edition of PATHWAYS. Interim Superintendent Ben Halsey welcomes any questions or comments and can be reached directly at 518-747-4529. The district is committed to ensuring that taxpayers are well-informed about this proposed spending plan, reinforcing Fort Edward's commitment to both educational excellence and fiscal responsibility.

School Bus and Van Purchase: This would authorize to expend a maximum of $360,000 from the Districts existing reserve fund know as the "Transportation Reserve Fund"  to purchase (1) 28-passenger bus with a lift and (3) minivans, with all such vehicles to be used in the transportation program of the District.  This expenditure, using the Transportation Reserve Fund, will have no impact on the tax levy of the district for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Board of Education Election: Voters will elect candidates to fill four open seats on the Board of Education. More Board of Education Election information is available here.

One Board seat is to succeed Ella Collins, who resigned effective June 30, 2024, for the remainder of her term, commencing immediately after the election or as close thereto upon taking an oath of office, and expires on June 30, 2027. 

One Board seat is to succeed Taylor Boucher, who resigned effective September 30, 2024, for the remainder of her term, commencing immediately after the election or as close thereto upon taking an oath of office, and expires on June 30, 2027. 

One Board member is to succeed John Guglielmo, who resigned effective April 27, 2025, for the remainder of his term, commencing immediately after the election or as close thereto upon taking an oath of office, and expires on June 30, 2026.

The other available Board seat is for a five-year term, which commences on July 1, 2024 and expires on June 30, 2030, to succeed Christopher Boucher, whose term expires on June 30, 2025.

In May 2024, the Fort Edward community overwhelmingly approved the Fortify our Future Capital Project, securing vital long-term facility improvements across the district. While visible construction hasn't begun, significant progress has been made behind the scenes.

Over the past year, extensive planning and design sessions have been conducted to ensure the project meets district needs, student requirements, and all New York State Education Department regulations. Construction blueprints have been drafted and are currently under review by the State Education Facilities Review Department, a process expected to take several months.

We anticipate releasing contractor bids in the fall of 2025, with construction slated to begin in the early spring of 2026. This phased timeline allows the district to strategically leverage the completion of a previous project for full funding of Fortify our Future Capital Project.

We appreciate the community's patience as we navigate this crucial planning phase. Rest assured, all approved renovations and additions will be completed, and the final results will be well worth the wait for our students and the future of Fort Edward.

The Fort Edward Union Free School District will hold its annual School Budget Hearing on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the LGI. This meeting provides an opportunity for community members to learn about the proposed  budget for the 2025-2026 academic year and to ask questions before the budget vote on May 20, 2025.

The school budget vote will take place from noon to 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, May 20, in the main entrance foyer of the Fort Edward UFSD located at 220 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY.

Voter registration is required in the Fort Edward Union Free School District. Anyone who is registered to vote in general elections and has voted within the past four years may vote in school district elections. District residents may also register online with the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles https://dmv.ny.gov/more-info/electronic-voter-registration-application.
Voters may register in person at Washington County Board of Elections at 1153 Burgoyne Ave, Fort Edward, NY 12828 (518) 746-2180. 
Registration forms may also be picked up at Fort Edward Village Clerk's office at 118 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 12828 (518) 747-5212.  To register, residents must be United States citizens, at least 18 years old, and have resided in the school district for at least 30 days prior to the vote.

First day to apply for an absentee ballot for the Budget Vote and Election is Monday, April 21, 2025.
Absentee ballots must be returned to the District Clerk's Office by May 20, 2025 at 5:00pm. Registered voters may request an application for an absentee ballot by contacting the district clerk's office at (518) 747-4529 x3113. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven 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 or the voter’s designated agent.

First day to apply for an early mail ballot for the Budget Vote and Election is Monday, April 21, 2025.
Early mail voter ballots must be returned to the District Clerk's Office by May 20, 2025 at 5:00pm. Registered voters may request an application for an early mail voter ballot by contacting the district clerk's office at (518) 747-4529 x3113. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven 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 or the voter’s designated agent.