Ted Remsnyder is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the voters in the Catskill Central School District will be asked in May to approve a proposition that would fund the purchase of a new school bus. The final draft of the 2022-23 district budget proposal will be released April 6. If approved, the proposition would authorize the Catskill Board of Education to buy a school bus, as well as maintenance and grounds equipment, for a maximum cost of $400,000. Superintendent Ronel Cook said transportation is needed for students who participate in after-school activities. He wrote in an email April 4, “Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a shortage of bus drivers available for our after-school athletic runs. ....If the district is able to buy a bus, then this will provide us with more flexibility in case the driver shortage extends into the future.” Cook said the district is also developing a rotation plan to replace its outdated equipment. The superintendent said he and the district business official met with principals and department supervisors in February to assess the needs of their staff and departments for the upcoming school year. Three board of education seats will be up for grabs in May, with incumbents Allan Couser, Patricia Dushane and Andrew Varone eligible for reelection to three-year terms. Nominating petitions for candidates must be filed with the board clerk by April 18. A final budget workshop will be held this week, and the board is prepared to adopt the draft spending plan on April 12. A public hearing on the budget will be conducted on May 4. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.