Board places $500,000 bus‑purchase proposition on May 19 ballot after debate over electric vs. gas

The Lake Placid Central School District board voted to add a proposition to the May 19, 2026 ballot authorizing the purchase of replacement school buses. Administrators said the measure is a routine replacement of three buses coming off lease; the total cost cited in discussion was roughly $500,000.

A board member urged robust community outreach ahead of the vote, saying low turnout in local elections could cause the measure to fail and that voters might balk at the headline cost without context. “Not that many people vote, period … it’s only a few hundred people,” the board member said, urging a simple Q&A and outreach to parents and teachers.

Discussion centered on whether to specify the buses’ fuel type in the ballot language. Several board members expressed concern that an anticipated state electric‑bus mandate could raise costs for charging infrastructure and operations, and suggested adding the phrase 'gas‑powered buses' to reduce voter confusion. Administrators noted the purchase is to replace three vehicles being retired from the fleet and that the district typically cycles purchases annually; they said specifying gas buses could complicate ballot wording but agreed to work on messaging and outreach.

The board directed staff to include clearer outreach material explaining the rationale, funding source (reserve fund), and fleet needs. At the meeting the board proceeded with adding the bus proposition to the ballot and discussed drafting explanatory materials for the community. No detailed recorded roll‑call tally was provided in the transcript for this particular motion; discussion indicates the board moved forward with the item and planned communications to voters.