Onteora school board candidates split over $55 million central-campus bond and Woodstock Elementary closure

At a candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters, three people seeking seats on the ONTEORA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT board sharply debated Prop 2, a proposed bond package to upgrade a central campus and the related prospect of closing Woodstock Elementary.

"Prop 2 passing is such an important thing for our district on many levels," Rory Smith said, urging voters to back the central-campus upgrades. "We would gladly welcome newcomers" and a modernized campus, he added, saying the central campus can absorb enrollment shifts and help attract families.

Daniel Haliberti countered that the district risks overextending itself. "We're gonna be potentially in a vulnerable state with being $55,000,000 in debt and no capital reserve," he said, arguing that high bond and construction costs could force tax increases and that keeping Woodstock open preserves community visibility.

Ms. Jared framed the choice in terms of students' daily experience and long-term program stability. "Voting no on Prop 2 is voting no on giving our kids, all of our kids, a campus for the future," she said, adding that ongoing building damage — including leaking ceilings at the high school — threatens programming.

Candidates also clarified the legal and procedural relationship between the bond and school closure: Mr. Smith noted that the board separately approved a 2023 resolution to close Woodstock, and that Prop 2 would fund central-campus upgrades but is distinct from the prior closure vote. "If the bond does not pass, we could handle closing Woodstock and taking the kids to the Central Campus as it stands right now without doing any upgrades," he said.

Fiscal and operational trade-offs were a central point of contention. Haliberti urged caution about a long-term debt commitment, saying the bond would not be paid off for decades, while Smith and Ms. Jared emphasized that delayed maintenance and piecemeal repairs would erode programs and facilities over time. Ms. Jared argued the district is paying for infrastructure sized to far larger enrollment levels, raising the district's cost per pupil.

On procedural next steps, forum organizers reminded attendees that the vote is scheduled for May 20 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at both Woodstock and Bennett Elementary Schools.

The candidates' positions leave the outcome dependent on local voters: Haliberti urged fiscal restraint and keeping Woodstock open where feasible; Smith and Ms. Jared endorsed using Prop 2 to modernize the central campus and support program continuity. The board must follow state education department approvals for any major capital work and will move forward based on the May 20 vote and subsequent administrative steps.