Tuxedo said no to the no George F. Baker High School​ school board candidates. Voters rejected candidates who voiced doubt regarding the high school’s viability after losing Greenwood Lake students, even though only 130 students in 7 through 12 grade are currently scheduled to be enrolled at George Baker in the fall.

The Tuxedo Union Free School District constituted a new school board with Tuesday’s election, voting to give George F. Baker High School a chance.

The Tuxedo Union Free School District $14.1 million budget was also passed 508 yes to 188 no (poll #s from here).

Mary “Meg” Vaught, one of the energies behind everything Tuxedo, TPFYI.com, put word into action and was elected to a school board seat with 484 votes.

Tuxedo returned current board vice president Diana L. Petrosky, who received 482 votes. And also elected newcomer Alysson Arber, who got 463 votes.

Candidates who expressed doubts about the high school’s viability were pretty much pummeled at the polls:
Joe Rickard – 206
Mary-Fidelis Feeley – 171
Angela Mulvaney – 158
Raymond R. Ferri – 53
Edward J. Colletti – 33

Meg Vaught, writing in March about the trials of George F. Baker High School, which this past year lost Greenwood Lake students as well as bid to become a conversion charter STEM Academy, said: “Once the school is closed, it will be next to impossible for it to re-open. In all probability, there will never be a high school in Tuxedo again.  We will forever be dependent on other districts, their Boards and budgeting processes…constantly at the mercy of contract negotiations and re-negotiations on a 5-year cycle.  We will be outsiders and will lack a predominant voice in how our children are educated.”

After the March 17 rejection of Tuxedo’s charter conversion by the NYS Regents, Tuxedo’s BOE determined to go it alone, without the STEM Academy and without Greenwood Lake students.

The idea is to bet on Tuxedo Farms, and the future growth of Tuxedo. Where Tuxedo Reserve was once a bitterly fought development proposal in the town, it is now seen as a possible way forward, featuring upscale housing that may act as a magnet, drawing people to the promise of life in the surrounding hills and woods.

“There is hope … in the form of Tuxedo Farms,” wrote Vaught in March 18 Save Our School = Save Our Town missive:

“An unusually long application process has caused a great number of people to lose faith in reality of this development but, rest assured, it is happening….very soon.  While the high school will not see immediate benefits, the developer projects an influx of roughly 400 kids over the next 10 years.  That’s a lot of kids in a relatively short period of time….and it’s more than enough to repopulate the school and in fact, drive enrollment up.

If the school does remain open, it is undeniable that the next several years would be uncertain and possibly shaky.  That being said, I believe it is a risk we need to take for the future of this Town and the community that lives here.  I say this knowing that my children will be directly affected.  I know there will be many people who disagree with me and I understand and respect their views….but I stand by mine.”