SHERBURNE – Four candidates registered their petitions by the deadline on Monday for three open seats on the Sherburne-Earlville Central Schools District Board of Education.

The seats are currently held by Thomas Caton and Patrick Dunshee, both of Earlville, and Thomas Morris of Sherburne. All three were elected as new board members in 2007, and all but Caton are running for re-election to another three-year term.

Newcomers John Cook Jr. of Smyrna and Daniel Piliero of Earlville have also thrown their hats into the race.

Sherburne-Earlville Central Schools District residents will have the opportunity to cast their votes May 18 for or against the candidates as well as the district’s 1.99 percent tax increase.

The tax increase covers a New York State reduction to the district of $919,187.

The Sherburne-Earlville Board of Education has already approved the school’s $28,975,880 million budget for the 2010-2011 school year. It represents a 3.73 percent increase from the prior year. The budget reflects a loss of up to seven staff members, including four teachers who will retire and not be replaced.

The budget saves a total of $370,180 in salary reductions and $66,000 in benefits. Ongoing administrative restructuring discussions led to replacing the district’s instructional technology department administrator, Todd Griffin, with a teacher, and moving Griffin into retiring district’s Assistant Superintendent Thomas Strain’s position, but at a lower salary.

Here’s the breakdown on salary savings:

New Assistant Superintendent: $30,000 reduction in salary