Budget Passes, Schechter Wins Board Seat

With the unofficial results tallied, voters have passed the Harrison School District's 2010 - 11 budget. The approval will increase property taxes by 3.3 percent and eliminate 17 total positions within the district, but will keep most school programs in tact going into next year.

The Harrison Board of Education has been confident in its budgeting throughout the process, saying that although difficult decisions had to made, they did the best they could with a difficult situation. In the end, it looks like the voters agreed.

Residents were in support of the budget by a 1,586 to 1,214 margin, meaning that about 57 percent voted in favor.

In the other item on the ballot, Jason Schechter defeated Niomi Oppmann for a seat on next year's school board. That voting margin was a bit wider: Schechter collected 71 percent of the votes, winning the election 1,733 to 693.

Abby Mendelsohn predictably won her unopposed race.

Schechter, who appeared to be the safe bet for voters during the campaigning process, brings with him years of experience with the school system. The father of three Harrison students, Schechter has been an active participant in the school PTA as well as a Harrison recreation soccer coach for six years.

Despite an interesting campaign, Oppmann was unable to get the votes for what many would have viewed as an upset victory.

The votes will be re-counted tomorrow afternoon before becoming official. But a significant change in the final numbers is extremely unlikely Deputy District Clerk Gene George said Tuesday. The vote will become official at Wednesday night's Harrison Board of Education meeting.