Ballston Spa school-board candidates outline visions on budget, staffing and GlobalFoundries expansion

Two candidates for the Ballston Spa Central School District Board of Education — Tim Turbiac and Carrie Chapman — outlined priorities on budgeting, staffing and the potential effects of a GlobalFoundries expansion at a meet-the-candidates forum held at a local library.

The forum matters because the candidates’ positions touch on the district budget, potential mid-year cuts from reduced federal funding, recruitment and retention of teachers and bus drivers, and local partnerships that provide grants and services for students and schools.

Tim Turbiac, a Ballston Spa resident and candidate for the school board, said the district should preserve student supports and opportunities. “The ability to achieve a meaningful diploma should be afforded to all students, and they should be provided the environment to see that through,” Turbiac said in his opening remarks.

Carrie Chapman, president and former vice president of the Malta Avenue PTA and a candidate for the board, emphasized family and staff engagement and said she would bring her school-level experience to district decision-making. “I am running to champion every student success and promote a safe, inclusive community within the schools,” Chapman said.

On the budget, Chapman said the district’s proposed plan reflects long-range priorities and cited figures discussed at a recent meeting: she said the overall budget is planned to increase about 2.9 percent, transportation costs are up about 6.7 percent, and the expected homeowner tax impact is approximately 2.1 percent. Chapman described that increase as “a very reasonable increase, especially in the face of our current inflation.”

Turbiac said fiscal responsibility and careful allocation of resources are priorities and said the district should be prepared to reallocate funds if outside funding declines. “You have to be prepared, have a plan, and have all that in place in order to meet any challenge that may lay ahead,” he said when asked how he would respond to potential mid‑year cuts in state or federal aid.

On labor and staffing, Turbiac said the district has maintained favorable relations with teachers’ unions and the Civil Service Employees Association while negotiating contracts. Chapman said she would seek open communication with labor leaders and stressed fair compensation, professional development and workplace safety as retention tools. On bus-driver recruitment, Chapman described drivers as dedicated and urged renewed outreach and appreciation efforts, saying, “They are amazing.”

Both candidates discussed the likely local effects of the planned GlobalFoundries expansion. Chapman noted the company’s grant support for district programs and facilities, including visiting-author events for K–5, alternative learning spaces at Malta Avenue, an outdoor science courtyard and a weather station, and funding for Super Science Saturday. Turbiac said the company has been “a key piece in our county’s growth” and that a new plant will likely benefit the district’s tax base.

On socioeconomic supports and student engagement, Turbiac pointed to the district’s diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging policy as a framework for reducing obstacles to student success. Chapman cited partnerships with programs such as the McKinney Vento program and local groups (including BARK and the BACC) and recommended free, school-level community events—glow parties, drive-in movie nights and talent shows—to boost attendance and family engagement.

Organizers reminded attendees that school-board and school-budget elections are Tuesday, May 20; polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with Milton and Boston residents voting at the high school and Malta residents at Malta Town Hall.

The forum included opening statements, responses to moderator questions on budget and staffing, a period for audience-submitted questions and three-minute closing statements from each candidate. Voters in the district will decide two open board seats in the upcoming election.