Proctor, Sherwood-Dudley Win Southampton School Board Race; Budgets Pass in Southampton, Tuckahoe, Bridgehampton, Sagaponack

With the exception of Wainscott, voters in school districts across the South Fork approved school budgets for the 2023-2024 school year on Tuesday.

Ballot propositions also received support across the region, with the exception of Sag Harbor School District’s proposition to purchase property on Marsden Street for the district’s future use. The measure failed by 75 votes with exceptionally high voter turnout.

Newcomer Monique Proctor won a seat on the Southampton School Board on Tuesday as the top vote getter, with 398 votes, and will join incumbent SunHe Sherwood-Dudley, with 378 votes, on the board. Longtime incumbent Donald J. King fell short, with 309 votes.

“I am truly honored to have been elected to the Southampton Union Free School District’s School Board,” Proctor said in a statement on Tuesday night. “I look forward to collaborating with the board members, administration, staff, community members and, most of all, our children. I strive to make the proper heart-centered decisions that will enhance the unity in our community and school district. We are raising the future, let’s all make it our own personal missions to strive to be the best examples for them. They deserve that and you deserve to be proud of who you are, as well.”

Following her win, Sherwood-Dudley congratulated and welcomed Proctor to the board, and extended a “heartfelt thank you to Don King for his 18 years of dedication, contributions and service to our community.”

“Thank you to the Southampton community for supporting the district’s endeavors, as well as their demonstrated confidence in me,” she said in a statement on Tuesday night. “I will continue to partner with our leaders to ensure we are bringing the best we have to offer.”

Voters approved the district’s $76.9 million budget and nearly $62.3 million tax levy in a 455-177 vote.

Voters also passed all of the propositions, which will authorize a number of capital projects, including the purchase and replacement of a bus and technology equipment district wide, the installation of climate control in classrooms and offices at the intermediate school, and in the first-floor classroom in the art and shop wings at the high school, the installation of a sawdust collection system in the carpentry classroom, and the replacement of a scoreboard with a new video scoreboard.

Two additional approved propositions related to the newly acquired district office on Hampton Road: To, first, spend up to $3.5 million from the Southampton Property Acquisition and Facility Construction Capital Reserve Fund on renovations, and to adjust the lease for the current administrative office space to end June 30, 2025.

The last four propositions will authorize the district to contract with the Southampton African American Museum for $125,000, the Southampton History Museum for $275,000, the Parrish Art Museum for $429,028 and the Southampton Youth Association for $445,000 in order to levy taxes for the 2023-24 school year.

Tuckahoe Common School District voters supported its $23.8 million spending plan for 2023-2024 by a vote of 132-32.

District voters also approved two propositions in addition to the budget. Voters gave the green light to the district to support the Southampton Youth Association by levying $65,000, 134-30. It was also authorized to fund the Parrish Art Museum with $10,000, 129-35.

Robert E. Grisnik, running unopposed for the School Board, was reelected with 147 votes.

In the Sagaponack School District, the proposed budget passed with 13 votes in favor and none against. The $1.89 million budget was less than a 1 percent increase in spending from the current school year budget and will result in a 2 percent tax rate increase.

Thomas Schultz was the lone member of the School Board up for reelection on the ballot and received all 13 of the votes cast.

The Bridgehampton School District budget passed by a vote of 92-29.

The $21,74 million budget includes a 3.74 percent spending increase and a tax levy increase of 3.24 percent.

Incumbent School Board members Markanthony Verzosa and Kathleen McCleland were reelected to their seats on the board after running unopposed.

With Reporting by Michelle Trauring, Michael Wright and Cailin Riley.