GASD residents have approved a $75,918,919 district budget for the 2020-21 school year by a vote of 2,023-842. Three other propositions also passed. The vote, which is still unofficial until tonight’s Board of Education meeting, was held by absentee ballot due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the votes were counted over a nearly nine-hour period June 16-17.

Three candidates, Dr. Nellie Bush, Rev. Kent McHeard and Deana Mancini (all incumbents) were also re-elected to new three-year terms on the GASD Board of Education beginning on July 1, 2020. The final vote was as follows:

• Dr. Nellie Bush – 1,984 votes (Elected)
• Rev. Kent McHeard – 1,730 votes (Elected)
• Deana Mancini – 1,554 votes (Elected)
• James P. Walrath – 961 votes (Not elected)
• Thomas J. Coughlin, Jr. – 873 votes (Not elected)

District voters also approved three other propositions that appeared on the June, 2020 ballot.

Proposition No. 2  sought voter approval allowing for the purchase of two school buses and security cameras at an estimated cost of $225,000, with 90 percent of the cost eligible for state aid reimbursement. The bus proposition passed by a vote of 1,964-887.

Proposition No. 3 asked voters to enable personal registration of voters for school district elections and votes to occur on any school business day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the District Clerk’s office and during any registration dates designed by the school board prior to the annual election and vote or any special vote, effective July 1, 2020. No person, however, would be permitted to register to vote in a school district election or vote less than five days preceding each election or vote. The personal registration proposition passed by a vote of 2,176-640.

Proposition No. 4 asked voters to approve the authorization of the GASD to levy taxes in the amount of $240,000 to support the Amsterdam Free Library for library services during the 2020-21 fiscal year and each year thereafter. The  library proposition passed by a vote of 1,773-1,063.