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Candidates back the school budget overall but raise concerns about EV bus mandate and timing
Summary
Candidates generally supported the district budget while expressing concerns about the state EV school bus mandate, infrastructure and the timing of new requirements amid limited state aid.
Candidates at the Scotia‑Glenville Central School District forum said they support the district budget but voiced concerns about the state requirement to transition school buses to electric vehicles and about tax impacts on families.
Candidate Christina Coughlin said she will “always vote yes on the school budget” because of what is at stake for teachers and students, but called the EV bus timeline “probably bad timing” from the governor’s office and urged district planning to limit tax impacts.
Candidate Mike Trolley said he opposes electric buses for the district at present: “Absolutely not on the buses. I don't think our roads can support the weight of the buses,” he said, and cited reported winter reliability concerns he heard from local National Grid users.
Kimberly Talbot said she voted to exceed the tax cap this year to avoid cuts and would not do so repeatedly, noting the community’s limited ability to absorb higher bills. Talbot cautioned that the district is “part of a group that are purchasing these buses through grants” but added uncertainty about future electricity costs and infrastructure: “We’ve asked Drew, and he does not know,” she said.
Other candidates emphasized the priority of preserving teachers and student programs if the budget is strained. Several candidates warned that a contingency budget would require deep cuts to staff and extracurriculars and urged community engagement and clearer forecasting if new mandates change costs.
No formal board action took place at the candidate forum.
