Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Capital Region Independent Media voters in the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District have been asked to approve the district's $48.68 million budget for the 2020-21 school year. The annual budget vote and school board election will be conducted by absentee ballot this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Approval of the school and community library spending plans, as well as the selection of school board and library board candidates are on the ballot, as well. The proposed budget reflects an increase of 1.28 percent over last year, but it does not require a tax levy increase. The district has identified several key goals for the coming year, Superintendent Brian Bailey said: improve literacy, numeracy, attendance and the graduation rate; reduce negative student behaviors; increase connections with the community; and align the K-12 curriculum. Residents will also vote on a significant vehicle acquisition proposition. The district is looking to buy three 65-passenger Blue Bird propane buses with cameras; one 36-passenger Blue Bird diesel wheelchair bus with cameras; three 7-passenger Dodge Caravans; one 4x4 Chevy Suburban; and one 4x4 maintenance utility truck, all for a total of just under $647,000. The district business manager said the vehicle debt will not come due until the 2021-22 school year. Incumbent school board members seeking re-election include Tina Furst-Hotaling, William McFerran and Peter Ross. J. Russell Sykes is the lone library trustee candidate on the ballot. Read the full story in the Ravena News-Herald.