South Orangetown Board Calls Special Election Dec. 17 to Fill Vacant Seat, Unanimous Vote

The South Orangetown Central School District Board of Education voted unanimously to call a special district meeting and a special election on Dec. 17, 2024, to fill the board seat vacated by Dawn Kitts, whose resignation took effect Sept. 25, 2024.

Board members spent the bulk of the meeting debating whether to appoint an interim member or hold a special election. Dave argued for a public vote, saying the district should leave the choice to voters: "the taxpayers should determine who their elected officials are using the Democratic process." Several other members pointed to past practice and community notice as reasons to hold an election.

The board chair, who read the resolution to call the special district meeting, framed the choice against fiscal and practical considerations, saying appointment would allow an experienced person to serve for a short period and avoid election costs. The board ultimately agreed to put the decision to the electorate and passed the resolution calling the special district meeting; the presiding member announced the motion passed with "All 4 board members."

Officials announced procedural details for prospective candidates: nominating petitions will be available in the district clerk's office beginning Thursday, 2024; petitions must be submitted to the district clerk no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. For more information, the board provided a contact: Kathy Lascari at (845) 680-1012.

Members also discussed election logistics and cost estimates. Staff described vendor fees for electronic poll books (NTS) as a flat fee and cited an NTS line item of roughly $13,000; paper-ballot processing and other vendor items were discussed as higher-cost options in the meeting record. The board agreed to use four voting machines for the special election and said it would pursue cost-saving measures where feasible. Board members clarified that the election funding would come from the district's annual district meeting account, not direct instructional accounts, though several members said they wanted clearer budget transfer details before the next election cycle.

The meeting concluded with instructions on timelines and publicity: the legal notice for the election requires placement 45 days before the vote, and staff will prepare the notice for publication in the Journal News and the Rockland County Times. The board adjourned at 8:16 p.m.

The special district meeting and election are scheduled for Dec. 17, 2024; the board has set administrative timelines and candidate petition deadlines to move the process forward.