Patchogue-Medford School Budget, Trustee Election

PATCHOGUE-MEDFORD, NY — Residents in the Patchogue-Medford School District will head to the polls next week to cast their ballots for a proposed school budget and to elect school board trustees.

Polls will be open on May 18 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at South Ocean Middle School, Medford Elementary School, Saxton Middle School, Tremont Elementary School, and Eagle Elementary School.

The Board of Education is proposing a $198.9 million budget for the 2021-22 school year.

That represents a 1.93 percent spending increase over the current year and it comes with a 2.56 percent hike in the school tax levy.

Also on the ballot will be whether or not to approve a proposition to re-allocate $1.1 million previously approved for the purpose of purchasing portable classrooms at Bay Elementary School from the 2019-2020 school year budget to be used for the purpose of Univent replacements at South Ocean Middle School and/or Career and Technical Education modifications at Patchogue-Medford High School.

Three at-large seats are up for grabs on the Patchogue-Medford Board of Education. Incumbents Bernadette Smith and Marc Megrin will be up against challengers Francis Salazar, Justin Conklin, Jennifer Krieger, Nathalie Diaz and Pamela Petersen for the open spots.

Incumbent Anthony O'Brien will not be running.