KEENE VALLEY — Voters approved a second, bare-bones budget for the 2025-26 school year in a revote on Tuesday. The $9,183,192 budget was approved by 81% of voters, with 275 voting “yes” and 65 voting against it.

This budget was put to voters after the initial one of $9.3 million was rejected at the polls on May 20. The original budget would have gone above the tax cap and needed a supermajority to pass, but was only approved by around 54% of voters.

The revised budget, which is $138,589 less than the original one, includes a proposed tax levy of $7,372,404 and will be compliant with the tax cap, the increase in the tax levy allowed by the state. The tax cap for KCSD this year was 3.03%.

The KCSD board of education approved the amended budget on May 20, with the target amount set at exactly what would be needed to meet the tax cap. Mayberry said meeting this budget mostly meant streamlining it and trimming a little bit from various items.

“The main goal is to make the changes with as little impact as possible on the student program and the student experience,” he said. “That was kind of the mindset.”

This trimming applies to a number of budget lines dedicated to materials and supplies, as well as budget lines for software and textbooks. One budget line that was eliminated entirely was for unemployment insurance. Mayberry said he doesn’t expect the school to need these funds, and if they do, they have a reserve fund that they would be able to use for that purpose, with board approval.

In addition, the school had a teaching assistant resign after the original budget was put to the voters, and this resignation was not accounted for in the first budget. Mayberry said they will not replace this position, which allowed them to shave money off of various employee expenses such as retirement, social security and health insurance.

“That was not our original intent, but with the budget vote being the way it was, we had to look at all possible changes that we could make,” he said.

–

Interim superintendent

–

The district is also facing a season of transition with Mayberry’s departure. He will be leaving the district this summer to be the superintendent for Guilderland Central School District.

On Tuesday, the KCSD board unanimously appointed Cynthia Ford-Johnston as Interim Superintendent of Schools, effective Aug. 1. Ford-Johnston previously served as superintendent for KCSD for 16 years, and has held a wide variety of educational roles.

Ford-Johnston is no stranger to interim positions, having served as a temporary superintendent for districts in Westport, Peru and Ticonderoga. She and her husband, David, are co-founders and operators of DaCy Meadow Farm in Westport.

“We are thrilled to welcome Cynthia back to Keene,” board President Jen Kazmierczak said in a statement. “Her deep knowledge of our district, combined with her proven leadership and unwavering commitment to education, make her the ideal person to guide us during this period of transition. Her return brings not only experience but also a personal investment in the success of our school and our students.”

The district will be aided by Champlain Valley Educational Services District Superintendent Dr. Mark Davey as they begin a search for a permanent superintendent, according to a statement from the district.