| August
10, 2009
Board
of Education adopts 2009-10 tax rates; Glenville rate
to decline by 1.66% on September bills.
May
20, 2009
Daily
Gazette article about approval of school budgets and
propositions across Schenectady County.
Spolight
News article about budget approvals.
May
19, 2009
Thank
You Scotia-Glenville!
The
four proposals on the May 19 ballot were approved:
2009-10
budget, 1,253 to 785
(61.5% to 38.5%)
Bus purchases, 1,227 to 787
(60.9% to 39.1%)
Bldg. proposal #3 (renovations, track),
1,119 to 902
(55.4% to 44.6%)
Bldg. proposal #4 (MS library
improvements), 1,037 to 960
(51.9% to 48.1%)
John
Yagielski received
1,410 votes
Gary
Normington received
1,426 votes
May
19, 2009
Community
vote on the 2009-10 budget, bus purchase proposal, two
building referendums and two candidates for the Board
of Education. Voting will be held from 6 a.m.
to 9 p.m. at the Senior High School Sacandaga Road,
Route 147
May
12, 2009
Daily
Gazette story about the budget and building project
May
11, 2009
Budget/building
project newsletter received in homes.
May
6, 2009
Public
hearing on the budget and discussion of the building
projects at 7 p.m. at the Middle School cafeteria.
Here
is the PowerPoint presentation made at the hearing.
April
29, 2009
The
state requires schools to release this information regarding
their 2009 budgets and the most recent report cards
(in PDF). Hard copies are available at
the schools, District Office and the Scotia and Glenville
braches of the Schenectady County library system.
April
28, 2009
Daily
Gazette notice of April 30 building forum and May 6
budget hearing.
April 3, 2009
Here's
the Times Union story about the budget adoption.
April
1, 2009
Here's
the Daily Gazette story about the budget adoption.
Here's
the Spotlight story about the budget adoption.
March
30, 2009
Superintendent
Susan Swartz presented a third draft budget that totaled
$46,639,381. The Board of Education added back $12,000
in funding to send one more student to the Tech Valley
High School.
The
Board of Education adopted a final budget of $46,651,381,
representing a 1.7 percent or $794,249 spending increase
from the current budget of $45,857,132.
The
budget will be considered by the community during voting
on Tuesday, May 19 at the high school, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
–
0.5 percent tax decrease likely
With
the approval of the state budget, and restoration of
the $1.6 million in state "deficit reduction"
cut proposed by the governor in December, the Board
of Education has decided to put most of that money into
reducing the tax rate.
The
estimated tax rate decrease would be about
10 cents per $1,000 assessed value. The Glenville tax
rate for this year is $20.20 per $1,000 assessed value.
The typical homeowner with an assessment of $160,000
would see a tax decrease of about $16 per year –
before savings from the state's school tax reduction
(STAR) program.
A
public hearing on the budget will be held at 7 p.m.
on Wednesday, May 6, at the Middle School. It will be
followed by the PTA Council's Meet the Board of Education
candidates' forum.
Here
is the superintendent's powerpoint about the final budget.
Over
the past several weeks, the administration and Board
of Education sliced about $1.3 million from the superintendent's
February 23 proposal. Among the reductions:
- 5.2
full-time teaching positions: 2.0 positions
at elementary (through retirements), 1.0 positions
at the middle school (English, science and art); and
2.2 positions at the high school (mathematics, social
studies and foreign language);
- One
full-time cleaner position will not be filled;
- Young
Scholars in grades 4 and 5 will add a math and science
component and be taught by S-G's in-house
gifted and talented teachers for a $25,000 savings.
Grades 4 and 5 students will continued to be taught
humanities by the Young Scholars program through the
Warren-Washington BOCES. Both the humanities and math/science
program, to be called Scotia Scholars as it is in
grade 6, will be half days each and taught at Sacandaga
Elementary School on Wednesdays.
- Supplies
will be reduced by 15% and professional
development will be reduced by 10%;
- Athletics
will be reduced by $30,000 and field
trips will be reduced by $20,000;
- The
director of curriculum and instruction's position
will not be replaced until Nov. 1. Current
director Joseph Kavanaugh is retiring as of Aug. 14;
- The
BOE contractual line for NYSSBA Convention will be
reduced by $2,500;
- BOCES
special education costs will be reduced by $174,000
- which means current students will receive services,
but the additional funding in the budget for anticipated
students who may need out-of-district programs was
reduced;
- The
Career and Technical School at BOCES budget allocation
will be reduced. The district has historically
budgeted for 72 students to attend the program; the
2009-10 budget allocates for 63 to attend. This year,
59 students attended.
- $75,000
less was allocated for the technology replacement
plan;
- Worker's
compensation costs were reduced by $16,000;
- Academic
contest entry fees were reduced by $2,500,
leaving $5,000;
- The
Capital Region BOCES school district assessment
dropped by $10,000;
- Driver
Education students will be charged a $150
tuition charge, up from the current $3 charge. The
program will be self-supporting.
- $350,000
was cut from the Teacher Retirement System
budget line because of lower rates this year;
- 2.0
FTE special education positions will be transferred
from the general fund to special aid fund
based on federal stimulus funding: $120,000 savings
- 1.0
FTE remedial teacher position will be transferred
from general fund to special aid fund based
on federal stimulus funding: $60,000 savings
- A
new summer program for students with Autism will be
paid from federal stimulus funding: $22,000
savings
March
16, 2009
Superintendent
Susan Swartz continued the review of the proposed reductions
she included in the initial budget as well as a list
of other reductions.
Here
is the Powerpoint presentation from the meeting.
The
Board of Education agreed with all of the proposed reductions
except the $7,500 reduction for academic contests
and not replacing Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Joseph Kavanaugh until January.
Board
members also asked for more information about reductions
to the summer driver education program. Most board members
supported charging more than the current $3 per student,
up to $150 per student. They would support a private
driving school taking over the program if more students
had the opportunity to enroll in the program. Most years,
there are not enough instructors available to teach
the classes, so enrollment has to be limited to 24 students
per instructor. Last year, two sections ran in the summer.
Swartz
also presented several other reductions that, which
she said she didn't support them all, would have the
least impact on the majority of students. All of these
were supported by the Board of Education:
- 2.0 FTE
special education positions from general fund to special
aid fund based on federal stimulus funding: $120,000
- 1.0 FTE
remedial teacher position from general fund to special
aid fund based on federal stimulus funding: $60,000
- Limit
attendance at TVHS to two current students: $12,000
- Reduce
BOE contractual line for NYSSBA Convention: $2,500
- Summer
Program for students w/ Autism local share paid from
federal stimulus funding: $22,000
- Maintain
open cleaner position with sub: $35,000
- Reduce
athletics: $30,000
- Reduce
field trips: $20,000
TOTAL:
$301,500
March
9, 2009
Superintendent
Susan Swartz updated the Board of Education about the
federal stimulus funding, state aid and other general
budget issues. Here's
her presentation.
The
Long Range Plan is used by the Board
of Education and administration to shape the proposals
in the 2009-10 budget.
The PDF document below shows the:
Long Range Plan Introduction, page 1;
Long Range Plan Summary, pages 2-11;
Enrollment, Staff and Program Projections, pages
12-28;
Program Narratives, pages 39-67.
Long
Range Plan for 2009-10
March
2, 2009 - Transportation and Facilities/Operations
Director
of Transportation David Van Schaick and Director Facilities
and Operations Donald Petersen presented proposed budgets
for the 2009-10 to the Board of Education.
The
transportation budget would rise by 1.16%, a $22,728
increase from the current $1.952 million to 1.974 million.
The department includes 49 employees. During the last
school year, S-G buses transported to 46 schools (public
and private) on 126 routes per day during the regular
school year and during the summer. The buses traveled
517,547 miles or 2,705 miles per day.
Bus
purchase proposal
The
community would be asked to consider a bus purchase
proposal during the May 19 vote. The plan calls for
spending $474,480 to buy five 65-passenger buses to
replace current buses #141, 149, 150, 151 and 152. Those
buses are currently in good/poor or poor/poor condition
(mechanical/body) and have more than 99,7567 miles on
each vehicle. Van Schaick said the buses, because of
corrosion in the wheel wells, battery boxes, doors and
body panels, will not pass inspection by the state in
2010 without about $70,000 in repairs.
The
money would be repaid over five years beginning in the
2010-11 school year. State aid would reimburse 74.7%
of the cost and interest or $383,681 over the five years.
That would leave a total local cost of $130,011 over
five years or $26,000 per year. That is about 1/10 of
1 percent on the tax rate each year.
Facilities
and Operations
The
facilities and operations budget would increase by 2.15%,
a $79,848 increase from the current budget of $3.71
million to $3.79 budget. The department employs 40 custodians,
cleaners, maintenance workers and grounds workers.
The
proposed $250,285 in maintenance projects at the six
schools for the coming year include carpeting, upgrading
bathrooms, duct cleaning, replacing shades, public address
system upgrades, chimney repairs, painting, replacing
door hardware, faucets, toilets and upgrading electrical
service.
The
department also wants to spend $63,900 for a new vehicle
with a plow, a snowblower, riding mower and other equipment.
The
equipment budget also includes various classroom/school
items like student desks, stools, entrance mats, student
sitting risers and folding chairs and tables.
February
24, 2009
Here
is the story in the Daily Gazette about Monday's
budget presentation.
February
23, 2009
Tonight,
Superintendent Susan Swartz presented a draft 2009-10
budget to the Board of Education. She was able to craft
a budget that slices about $1 million from the $2 million
rollover budget and cover the state aid cuts.
As it stands, spending would increase by $1.068 million,
a 2.33 percent increase. The tax increase would be around
4.13% if this draft budget were adopted.
That does not include any growth in the town assessment,
does not include the federal Title I and special education
stimulus money and assumes the governor's budget is
accepted as is and includes frozen state aid and a one-time
$1.6 million deficit assessment charge.
Here
is the 2009-10 budget presentation.
Below
are some of the reductions presented to the Board of
Education:
•
5.8 full-time equivalent staffing reductions including
the five retirements - three at the HS (physical education,
Spanish and Goal/Health) and two elementary (both at
Sacandaga) - as well as two part-time (0.4 FTE) teaching
positions at the HS. She has not included the administrative
retirement (Joe Kavanaugh, director of curriculum and
instruction) but may leave that position empty for part
of the coming school year.
•
Elimination of the Young Scholars programs in grades
4 and 5 for a savings of $45,000. The two current Opal
teachers will take over that enrichment program in the
elementary schools.
•
Reduction of the allocation for BOCES special education
costs by $174,000 - which means our current students
will still receive services, but she has reduced the
additional funding in the budget for students who may
need out-of-district programs.
•
$75,000 less in the technology replacement plan.
•
$65,000 cut in supplies across all areas.
•
Miscellaneous reductions in worker's compensation ($16,000),
academic contest entry fees ($7,500), Capital Region
BOCES assessment ($10,000), equipment ($10,000), elimination
of driver education (though we may offer driver education
through a private driving company) and reduction in
teaching costs for the summer school program.
•
$350,000 reduction from the Teacher Retirement System
account.
February
20, 2009
Here's
the article that appeared in the Tartan Report
newsletter about the 2009-10 budget.
The
Board of Education will review the budget at work
sessions at 7 p.m. on Mondays March 2, 9, 16, 23 and
30 with adoption by April 6. All of the meetings will
be held at the Middle School. Community members may
comment during the open floor part of the meetings.
Two
seats currently held by Gary Normington and John Yagielski
will be up for re-election in the May 19 vote. The
deadline for applications for run for a three-year
term on the board is 5 p.m. April 20. Contact the
business office - 382-1222 - for more information
and petitions.
The
public hearing on the budget will be held at 7 p.m.
on Wednesday, May 6, at the Middle School. That will
be followed by the PTA Council's Meet the Board of
Education candidates forum.
Community
voting on the budget will be held from 6 a.m. to 9
p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, at the Senior High School.
Budget archives
|
2009-10 budget
