Some are worried that a cut this year, based on state aid windfalls announced after figures were completed and submitted, could result in program and staffing cuts in the future. Similarly, others fret about spending on new things like better sports fields and new programs, even if most contingency budgets at this point are higher if not pretty much equal to what's being proposed.

As usual since institution of the tax cap, what drama is left in local school matters rests with school board races, all of which are quite full this year.

In Ellenville, residents will be asked to vote to elect candidates to three, three-year terms: the seats of current board president Karen Osterhoudt, and trustees Phil Mattracion and Willie Bruce, Jr., who are all running for reelection. Facing them are former Ellenville teacher, coach and Journal columnist John Burns, perennial candidate Francis Gurgui, and parent Cassie Spoor, who ran a spirited campaign for the board last year.

In Rondout Valley, there will also be three, three-year seats up for grabs, albeit with no incumbents running this time. Seeking to fill seats currently occupied by James Ayers, James Blair and Glenn Dannaham will be five candidates. Those include former board member Breanna Costello of Kerhonkson, Kim Cohen of Accord, Chris Schoonmaker of High Falls, Megan Snair of Accord, and Fallon Wynkoop of Kerhonkson. A meet-the-candidates event will take place at 6 p.m. this coming Tuesday, May 2 at the RVSD Intermediate School.

In Pine Bush, incumbent trustees Matthew Watkins and Cara Robertson will be seeking reelection. They are being faced by Joan Miller and Kristi Kheiralla.

To date, excepting those races where candidates are running for a second or third time, no information has yet emerged on who each candidate is, or what their platforms are. More will become available in the coming weeks, with a full delineation of final budget numbers and all candidates before the May 16 votes, which take place in local schools from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the major differences between candidates tend to be about educational priorities, with other issues of recent years now largely quieted.

Stay tuned...