The change will allow families more time for celebrating, say school district officials.

GUILDERLAND — The Guilderland school board is considering its next steps, following a failed capital-construction project referendum on Oct. 16.

The district’s other schools have not been tested in a decade.

GUILDERLAND — An exit poll on the narrowly defeated $43 million capital project to upgrade Guilderland’s seven schools shows the most frequently cited reason for voting “no,” at 56 percent, was, “The tax increase is not responsible.”

In the wake of its capital-project defeat, the Guilderland School District will look at exit polls to see what direction to take next, said Superintendent Marie Wiles.

Citizens in a democracy need to do their part — each one of us — to make a government of the people, by the people, and for the people viable.

A former fifth-grade student, now 19, says the occasional hugs that Tod Mell would give went on a little too long.

District Superintendent Marie Wiles hesitated to say if three times in a week was a lot. “They happen when they happen,” she said.

Catherine Ricchetti offers training sessions, which are “raved over,” for professionals across the state on how they can start their own service-dog programs, said a spokeswoman for the organization that honored her.