The below items are a plain language summary of the 45 day legal notice dated April 4, 2024. To see the notice in its entirety scroll to the bottom of this page or click the button above.

The Camden Central School District's vote on the 2024-25 proposed budget and Board of Education elections will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 in the Camden High School Auditorium Lobby. Polling hours for that day will be from Noon to 9 p.m. To vote, you must meet the following requirements as a qualified voter.

A qualified voter is one who is:
(1) a citizen of the United States of America,
(2) eighteen years of age or older,
(3) resident within the School District for a period of thirty (30) days preceding the annual vote and election, and
4) not otherwise disqualified to vote by applicable law.

The School District may require that all persons offering to vote at the budget vote and election provide one form of proof of residency pursuant to Education Law Section 2018-c. Such form may include a driver’s license, a non-driver’s identification card, a utility bill, or a voter registration card. Upon offer of proof of residency, the School District may also require that all persons offering to vote provide their signature, printed name and address.

Apartment dwellers who meet these qualifications are eligible. No prior registration is required and residents do not have to be registered voters. (Education Law § 2012)

I. Proposition No. 1: To vote upon the Budget for the 2024-2025 school year. 
"Shall the Board of Education of the Camden Central School District be authorized to appropriate and expend an amount not to exceed $59,829,761 for general purposes for the school year 2024-2025, and to levy a tax on the taxable real property of the school district as provided by law?"

II. Proposition No. 2: To vote upon the Transportation Limits, which shall appear as follows:
“Shall the Camden Central School District be authorized to transport students residing in the District from greater than the maximum distance required by Education Law § 3635(a).  Specifically, shall the Camden Central School District be authorized to transport students who reside in the District up to 28 miles from their school of enrollment?”

III. To vote on the election of Board of Education members as follows: Elect two members to the Board of Education of the Camden Central School District for  “at-large” vacancies for two seats whose current terms expire on June 30th, 2024. The two candidates receiving the most votes will receive three-year terms on the Board, beginning in July 2024 and concluding on June 30, 2027.

You may select up to two (2) candidates for “at-large" vacancies. The candidates below have satisfied the requirements to appear on the ballot, and are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot on May 21st, 2024.

Randi Swancott

Thomas Fanning

Lindsey Burdick

Scott Piersall-Leuenberger

In addition, space for write-in candidates will be provided to each voter if they wish to utilize it.

Qualified voters of the District may obtain applications for absentee ballot or early voting ballot from the office of the Clerk of the School District. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 P.M. prevailing time, on May 20, 2024, and must be received no later than 5:00 P.M., prevailing time, on May 14, 2024 if the absentee or early voting ballot is to be mailed to the voter. Completed applications received after 5:00 P.M. on May 14, 2024, will require the voter to personally appear at the office of the Clerk of the School District to receive an absentee or early voting ballot. A listing of all persons to whom an absentee or early voting ballot is issued will be available for inspection by any qualified voter during regular business hours in the office of the Clerk of the School District during each of the five business days prior to the election.

Important Dates:

• Application is available for pickup: April 8

• First day Clerk may receive an application: April 21

• Window to receive ballot via mail: April 21- May 14

• Last day Clerk may mail a ballot: May 15

• Last day Clerk may receive an application: May 20

• Completed Ballot due to Clerk by: May 21 at 5p.m.

Thank you for your interest. The Camden Central School District Board of Education currently consists of seven members, all of whom are volunteers. The Board of Education will have two vacancies available for three-year terms in the upcoming May 2024 election. All Board of Education seats are considered “at-large” positions; therefore the any nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy on the Board.

The following link has information from the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA).  The article includes responsibilities and characteristics of a board member, information on eligibility requirements, nominating petitions, campaigning, training, and more.

For information click here:  Running for the School Board - NYSSBA 2024
NYSSBA’s School Board Member Experience
NYSSBA 2024 Annual Budget Vote & School Board Election Timeline

According to Education Law, a Board of Education member of the Camden Central School District must meet the following qualifications:

• Must be able to read and write (§ 2102).

• Must be a qualified voter of the district; that is, a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age or older, and not adjudged to be an incompetent (§§ 2102, 2012, 2502(7); Elec. Law § 5-106(6)).

• Must be and have been a resident (but need not be a taxpayer) of the district for a continuous and uninterrupted period of at least one (1) year immediately before the election (§§ 2102, 2502(7), (9)(d)).

• May not have been removed from any school district office within the preceding year (§ 2103(2)).

• May not reside with another member of the same school board as a member of the same family (§ 2103(3)).  (That is, the only Camden CSD board member in a household.)

• May not be a current employee of the school board (§ 2103(4)).  (That is, an employee of Camden CSD.)

• May not simultaneously hold another incompatible public office.

To be listed on the ballot, candidates must fulfill the petition requirements.

Petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education are available from the office of the Clerk of the School District between the hours of 7:30 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. on Monday through Friday. Each petition must be directed to the Clerk of the District, shall be signed by at least twenty-five qualified voters of the District, shall state the residence of each signer, and shall state the name and residence of the candidate. Petitions must be received by the District Clerk no later than April 22, 2024 between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.

Reminder: All positions are “at-large” positions; therefore the nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy on the Board.

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Board of Education shall conduct a Public Hearing for the residents of the Camden Central School District, at the Camden Central High School Tuthill Learning Commons on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 7:00 P.M. for the purpose of presenting the Budget therefore for the fiscal year 2024-2025 to be voted on May 21, 2024 in accordance with the Education law.

NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for school purposes may be obtained by any taxpayer at the District Office during the 21 days immediately preceding the Annual Meeting (Budget/Trustee Vote), except Saturday, Sunday or holidays, between the hours of 7:30 A.M. and 3:30 P.M.

NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that pursuant to Resolutions adopted by the Board of Education of the District, a regular meeting of qualified voters of said School District will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at Camden Central High School Room 302 Lobby between the hours of 12:00 noon and 9:00 P.M. Such meeting shall be held for the purpose of voting upon the matters hereinafter set forth:

I. Proposition No. 1: To vote upon the Budget for the 2024-2025 school year. 

II. Proposition No. 2: To vote upon the Transportation Limits, which shall appear as follows:
“Shall the Camden Central School District be authorized to transport students residing in the District from greater than the maximum distance required by Education Law § 3635(a).  Specifically, shall the Camden Central School District be authorized to transport students who reside in the District up to 28 miles from their school of enrollment?”

III. To vote on the election of Board of Education members as follows: Elect two members to the Board of Education of the Camden Central School District for  “at-large” vacancies:

A three-year term ending June 30, 2027, presently held by incumbent Mr. Thomas Fanning until June 30, 2024.

A three-year term ending June 30, 2027, presently held by incumbent Mrs. Randi Swancott until June 30, 2024.

Positions are “at-large” positions; therefore the nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy on the Board. The two candidates that receive the greatest number of votes will fill the two seats whose terms end June 30, 2024. 

NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that the qualified voters of the School District shall be entitled to vote at said annual vote and election. A qualified voter is one who is (1) a citizen of the United States of America, (2) eighteen years of age or older, and (3) resident within the School District for a period of thirty (30) days preceding the annual vote and election, and (4) not otherwise disqualified to vote by applicable law. The School District may require that all persons offering to vote at the budget vote and election provide one form of proof of residency pursuant to Education Law Section 2018-c. Such form may include a driver’s license, a non-driver’s identification card, a utility bill, or a voter registration card. Upon offer of proof of residency, the School District may also require that all persons offering to vote provide their signature, printed name and address.

NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education are available from the office of the Clerk of the School District between the hours of 7:30 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. on Monday through Friday. Each petition must be directed to the Clerk of the District, shall be signed by at least twenty-five qualified voters of the District, shall state the residence of each signer, and shall state the name and residence of the candidate. Petitions must be received by the District Clerk no later than April 22, 2024 between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that qualified voters of the District may obtain applications for absentee ballot or early voting ballot from the office of the Clerk of the School District. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 P.M. prevailing time, on May 20, 2024, and must be received no later than 5:00 P.M., prevailing time, on May 14, 2024 if the absentee or early voting ballot is to be mailed to the voter. Completed applications received after 5:00 P.M. on May 14, 2024, will require the voter to personally appear at the office of the Clerk of the School District to receive an absentee or early voting ballot. A listing of all persons to whom an absentee or early voting ballot is issued will be available for inspection by any qualified voter during regular business hours in the office of the Clerk of the School District during each of the five business days prior to the election.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that military voters who are qualified voters of the School District may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application from the District Clerk at (315)245-4075 or awilliams@camdencsd.org.  For a military voter to be issued a military ballot, the District Clerk must have received a valid ballot application no later than 5:00 P.M. on April 25, 2024.  

In a request for a military ballot application or ballot, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application or ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail. If a military voter does not designate a preference, the Board of Education shall transmit the military ballot application or military ballot by mail. Military ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later no later than 5:00 P.M. on May 21, 2024. 

BY ORDER OF THE CAMDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION BY:

Adja Williams
District Clerk
Camden Central School District
Camden, New York 13316

FOR PUBLICATION: April 4, April 18, May 2, May 16