December 10, 2024

West Irondequoit CSD voters passed both propositions on the ballot for Tuesday’s Promise Project 2027 vote, authorizing the district to use more than $24 million for a pair of major projects.

• Proposition I passed 1,129 to 135 votes (89%)
• Proposition II passed 987 to 278 votes (78%)

Neither will impact the tax levy. The district will use a combination of its own capital reserves, state funding and state aid.

VIDEO OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Proposition I ($6 million) will renovate the Pinegrove Learning Center, 154 Pinegrove Ave., and allow the district to expand its Pre-Kindergarten/UPK program. Plans call for three new Pre-K classrooms, a new playground, Multi-Purpose Room, a STEAM Room (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) for district-wide use and upgrades to rooms already used by Helmer Nature Center. The 12,700-square foot building is a former elementary school and senior center that was built in 1954.

The Pinegrove project is expected to use $5 million in capital reserves and $1 million from the NYS State Assembly given last fall.

Proposition II ($18.64 million) will build a new Multi-Purpose Athletic Complex at Irondequoit High School and a new baseball field at Iroquois Middle School. The state-of-the-art IHS complex will include two synthetic turf fields for baseball and softball (able to be used by other sports) and includes new dugouts, sidewalks, walkways, lighting for night use and a new parking lot.

The IHS upgrades will displace the junior-varsity baseball diamond, which will be relocated to Iroquois MS. The athletic fields project is targeted to use $8.04 million in capital reserves and $10.6 million in state aid.

Superintendent Aaron Johnson thanked the Board of Education for its support and guidance and added, "Thank you to the community for your overwhelming support for both propositions. This is going to open up a lot of doors for our students and create a lot of opportunities, not only for our youngest learners as they prepare for the K-12 experience but also for our students at the upper levels, our athletes and for the community as a resource and as an asset."

For more information, go to the Promise Project Vote 2027 page on the district website.

West Irondequoit voters approved the 2024-25 School District Budget and Proposition #1, a new Maintenance Capital Project, on May 21, 2024, and elected three new Board of Education members. Below are the results:

District Budget (74% approval)

• YES – 1,237
• NO – 436

Proposition #1 (Maintenance Cap. Project)

• YES – 1,322
• NO – 352

Board of Education election (three available seats)

• Gary Adams – 949 votes
• Kevin Schoepfel – 1,073 votes
• Kate Copeland – 1,341 votes
• Tamara Wall – 1,110 votes

Mrs. Copeland, Mr. Schoepfel and Ms. Wall were elected to 3-year terms starting July 1, 2024. Thank you to our community for its continued support!

FULL DETAILS/INFORMATION

The West Irondequoit CSD held a Special Election on December 12, 2023 to fill the vacant seat on its Board of Education created by the resignation of Courtney Shouse on October 6, 2023. In a four-candidate race, Melissa N. Bohrer was voted in by district residents to serve the remainder of Shouse's term through June 30, 2025. Election results were: 

• Melissa N. Bohrer 278 votes

• Tamara Wall 127

• Mike Fischer 102

• Gary Adams 67 votes

The BOE opted for a Special Election rather than appoint a new member. Mrs. Bohrer was sworn in after the vote. Thank you to everyone who voted. Here is a link to the video after the election.

Petition submission closed on November 13, 2023. Four candidates are running for one vacant seat.

CANDIDATES' BIO INFORMATION: Read their bios. 
VIDEO: Watch "Meet the Candidates' Night" (November 27, 2023)

2023-2024 District Budget- $88,689,971

• $4.41 estimated tax rate decrease per $1,000 assessed value
• 7.60% budget increase
• 2.30% tax levy increase

VIDEO OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT

District Budget Vote
Yes votes – 1,437
No votes - 591
Budget passed with 71% approval

Board of Education (two seats available)
John Vay – 1,663
Victoria Bournival – 1,605
Both elected for a three-year term

Proposition 1: Authorization of Capital Project
Yes votes: 1,183
No votes: 850
Passed with 58% approval

KEY LINKS

- Budget Overview
- Board of Education election candidates 
- R.I.S.E. Capital Project Overview (separate vote on May 16)
- Watch R.I.S.E. Project videos

KEY 2023 DATES ABOUT BUDGET/VOTE & CANDIDATE INFO

March 16: Informational meeting for prospective Board of Education election candidates at District Office, 6PM

March 25: Monroe County School Boards Association Prospective School Board Candidate Seminar. 

April 17: Board of Education candidate petition submission closes.

April 20: BOE Meeting/Budget Adoption.

April 27: 2023-24 Budget Book posted

May 4: BOE Meeting/Budget Hearing

May 8: WICPTSA Candidates' Night video

May 16: Budget Vote, St. Paul Fire Dept., 433 Cooper Road

QUESTIONS? 

About the budget should be directed to James Brennan, Asst. Supt. for Finance: email or 585-336-2993.

About the voting process should be directed to Jenna Lustig, District Clerk: email or 585-336-2983 

2022-2023 District Budget- $82,403,923

• 2.98% tax levy increase (within allowable cap, needs simple majority to pass)

• $0.85 estimated increase per $1,000 assessed value

• 6.39% budget increase

Yes Votes - 1,187
No Votes - 377
Budget passed with 76% approval

Board of Education: Two seats available
Courtney Shouse - 1,147
Matthew Sullivan - 1,290
Both elected for a three-year term.

Proposition 1: Authorization of Capital Reserve
Yes Votes: 1,226
No Votes: 320
Passed with 79% approval

Proposition 2: Acquisition of Pinegrove facility
Yes Votes: 1,261
No Votes: 299
Passed with 81% approval

Watch the video of the announcement.

KEY DATES ABOUT BUDGET/VOTE & CANDIDATE INFORMATION

March 17, 2022: West Irondequoit Informational meeting for prospective Board of Education election candidates at Rogers Middle School, 6 PM

March 26, 2022: Monroe County School Boards Association Prospective School Board Candidate Seminar. 

April 14, 2022, 7 PM: BOE Meeting/Budget Adoption. Public comment is available at this meeting.

April 18, 2022, 5 PM: Board of Education candidate petition submission closes.

April 25, 2022: 2022-23 Budget Book posted.

May 2, 2022, 6:30 PM: WICPTSA Candidates' Night (watch the video)

May 5, 2022, 7 PM: BOE Meeting/Budget Hearing

May 17, 2022, 6 AM - 9 PM: Budget Vote, St. Paul Fire Dept., 433 Cooper Road

QUESTIONS? 

About the budget should be directed to James Brennan, Asst. Supt. for Finance: email or 585-336-2993.

About the voting process should be directed to Jenna Lustig, District Clerk: email or 585-336-2983 

2021-2022 District Budget- $77,452,765

• .72% tax levy increase (within allowable cap, needs simple majority to pass)

• $0.21 estimated increase per $1,000 assessed value

• 2.67% budget increase

YES VOTES - 1,489
NO VOTES - 372
Budget passed with 80% approval

Board of Education: Three seats available

Justin Connor - 1,496
Matthew Metras - 1,454
Rosa Vargas-Cronin - 1446
Diane White - 655
Bruce Casler - 348

Connor, Metras & Cronin-Vargas elected for a three-year term.

Watch the video of the announcement.

KEY DATES ABOUT BUDGET/VOTE & CANDIDATE INFORMATION

March 4, 2021: Informational meeting for prospective Board of Education election candidates.

April 19, 2021, 5 PM - Board of Education candidate petition submission closes

April 21, 2021, 7 PM: BOE Meeting/Budget Adoption. Public comment is available at this meeting.

April 22, 2021: 2021-22 Budget Book posted.

May 3, 2021: WICPTSA Candidates' Night (Watch the Youtube replay)

May 6, 2021, 7 PM: BOE Meeting/Budget Hearing. Public comment is available at this meeting.

May 18, 2021, 6 AM - 9 PM: Budget Vote, St. Paul Fire Dept., 433 Cooper Road

QUESTIONS? 

About the budget should be directed to James Brennan, Asst. Supt. for Finance: email or 585-336-2993.

About the voting process should be directed to Jenna Lustig, District Clerk: email or 585-336-2983 

Vote date: June 9, 2020

2020-2021 District Budget - $75,440,052

• $0.50 estimated tax rate increase per $1,000 assessed value
• 1.44% budget increase
• 1.83% tax levy increase (within allowable cap, needs simple majority to pass)

Budget Vote Results (approved by 71%)

• YES VOTES - 3,749
• NO VOTES - 1,502

Budget information here

Board of Election: Two seats available

• Ann E. (Culp) Cunningham - 3,492 votes
• John Vay - 3,119 votes
• Michael J. Valente - 1,895 votes
• Larry MacDonald - 1,580 votes

Mrs. Cunningham and Mr. Vay elected for a three-year term.
VIDEO OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Vote date: May 21, 2019

2019-2020 District Budget - $74,368,265

• $0.77 estimated tax rate increase per $1,000 assessed value
• 2.76% budget increase
• 2.83% tax levy increase (within allowable cap, needs simple majority to pass)

Budget Vote Results (approved by 80%)

• YES VOTES - 1,693
• NO VOTES - 427

Budget information here

Board of Election: Two seats available

• Matthew Sullivan - 1,429 votes
• Matthew Fink - 1,312 votes
• Brian M. Charles - 1,021 votes

Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Fink elected for a three-year term.
VIDEO OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Vote date: May 15, 2018

2018-2019 District Budget - $72,371,573

• $0.80 estimated tax rate increase per $1,000 assessed value
• 0.52% budget increase
• 2.21% tax levy increase (within allowable cap, needs simple majority to pass)

Budget Vote Results (approved by 81%)

• YES VOTES - 1,515
• NO VOTES - 353

Budget information here

Proposition 1: Renewal Project Results (approved by 83%)

• YES VOTES - 1,543
• NO VOTES - 327
• Renewal Project ($9.62 million) included replacement of all K-3 playgrounds; roof work at IHS, Rogers, Seneca and TLC; flooring (carpets/gym floors), masonry, concrete repair/replacement at Iroquois, Dake and IHS; LED enhancements - lighting at IHS and Dake, message signs outside Iroquois and Rogers; security improvements at Dake entrance and hallways

Board of Election: Three seats available

• Dr. Margaret (Meg) Callahan Steckley - 1,545 votes
• David G. Long - 1,535 votes
• Matthew Metras - 1,441 votes

Dr. Steckley, Mr. Long, and Mr. Metras elected for a three-year term.

Vote date: May 16, 2017

2017-2018 District Budget - $71,997,349

• $0.45 estimated tax rate increase per $1,000 assessed value
• 1.15% budget increase
• 1.59% tax levy increase (within allowable cap, needs simple majority to pass)

Budget Vote Results (approved by 81%)

• YES VOTES - 1,928
• NO VOTES - 444

Budget information here

Board of Election: Two seats available

• Ann E. (Culp) Cunningham - 1,492 votes
• John T. Vay - 1,348 votes
• David G. Long - 1,315 votes

Mrs. Cunningham and Mr. Vay elected for a three-year term.

Vote date: May 17, 2016

2016-2017 District Budget - $71,181,074

• $0.21 estimated tax rate increase per $1,000 assessed value
• 4.10% budget increase
• 0.73% tax levy increase (within allowable cap, needs simple majority to pass)

Budget Vote Results (approved by 75%)

• YES VOTES - 1,906
• NO VOTES - 627

Budget information here

Proposition 1: Reauthorization of 2004 Capital Reserve Fund Results (approved by 76%)

• YES VOTES - 1,914
• NO VOTES - 588
• Reauthorization of 2004 Capital Reserve Fund allowing district to pay for future projects

Board of Election: Two seats available

• Brian M. Charles - 1,530 votes
• Carolyn Iman Stahl - 1,470 votes
• Amanda R. Insalaco - 1,392 votes

Mr. Charles and Mrs. Iman Stahl elected for a three-year term.