SOUTHERN ULSTER

TIMES

Vol . 14 , No 8 3

FEBRUARY 22 - 28 , 2017 3 ONE DOLLAR

Valentines for seniors

Page 27

Season coming together

Page 40

SERVING HIGHLAND , MARLBOROUGH AND PLATTEKILL

Marlboro refines school budget

By MARK REYNOLDS mreynolds @ tcnewspapers . com

In a process that began last October , the Marlboro School district continues to sharpen their economic pencils while weighing all options as they develop their 2017-18 budget .

Last week Superintendent Michael Brooks said the administration and school board has adhered to three primary goals while developing a budget . He said the school board , in collaboration with the educational community , “ will evaluate academic programs and commit to excellence in supporting quality programs which help students excel academically , socially , emotionally and physically .” He stressed that the quality of the programs is continuously under review by the administration , teaching leaders and with classroom teachers “ to make sure our students are getting high quality programs . That ’ s an ongoing process that never really ends .”

Secondly , Brooks said the board is committed to the judicious management of their finances .

“ It is a privilege , an expectation , a right and a duty that we treat the dollars entrusted to us by our voters with extreme scrutiny ,” he said .

Finally , Brooks said the administration and school board work hard to ensure

Be Our Guest !

transparency and to keep the public fully informed “ of things that are going on in the school district , not only from the board business , but also operationally within each one of our schools .”

Patrick Witherow , Director of Business and Finance , gave a presentation on the district ’ s current financial status , based upon the most up to date information . He said it is “ probable ” that residents will see a $ 275,000 reduction in the tax levy for the 2017-18 budget ; with this year ’ s levy of $ 34,225,563 dropping to $ 33,950,563 .

“ This would be the third consecutive year in a row where we ’ ve actually seen a

Continued on page 4

Emma Friedrich

The cast of Highland High School ’ s “ Beauty and the Beast Jr .” perform “ Be Our Guest ” during rehearsal last week . The 2016 spring musical will be presented this coming weekend . Story on pages 20-21 .

Fixing roads and bridges

Highway Superintendent highlights work in 2017

By MARK REYNOLDS mreynolds @ tcnewspapers . com

In his annual 284 agreement that was signed on February 15 , Lloyd Highway Superintendent Richard Klotz outlined for the Town Board his road work agenda for 2017 , which also includes repairs to sluices , culverts and bridges .

Klotz ’ s list starts with mill and profile work on a 22 foot wide roadway - Upper Grand Street - from North Road up to Rte . 9W , a distance of 0.25 miles at a cost of $ 31,000 .

Mill and Profile work on a 36 foot wide road from Milton Avenue to River Road , a distance of 0.36 miles at a cost of $ 50,000 .

Shim and Compact work , at 24 feet wide , starting at Havilland Road up to Oakes Road , a distance of 0.76 miles for $ 85,000 .

Shim and Compact work , at 20 foot wide , on Mackey Road , starting and ending on Rte . 9W , a distance of . 45 miles at a cost of $ 60,000 .

Mill and Profile work on a 22 foot wide roadway , starting at Vineyard Avenue up to Bellevue Road at a cost of $ 32,000 .

Shim and Compact work on a 22 foot wide roadway , starting on Rte . 9W and