Niskayuna Board of Education adopts proposed
2008-09 budget
Budget reflects current economic environment
while being responsive to student needs
The Niskayuna Central School District Board of
Education unanimously adopted a recommended
$70.1 million budget for the 2008-09 school year
during its March 24 meeting. District residents
will vote on the proposed plan on Tuesday, May
20 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Niskayuna High
School.
The proposed budget would increase spending by
approximately $6.85 million next year, and yield
a projected tax levy increase of 3.48 percent.
It is not possible to accurately estimate the
2008-09 school tax rate at this time as the Town
of Niskayuna is in the midst of a town-wide
reassessment of all properties, and several
factors remain unknown.
Of the total proposed increase in spending,
roughly $4.4 million is for costs associated
with the district’s $94.5 million construction
and renovations project, approved by voters in
January 2006. These costs, however, will be
offset entirely next year by a combination of
state building aid and the elimination of other
debt, resulting in no impact on local taxes.
Much of the remaining proposed $2.45 million
increase is attributed to rising costs in the
areas of contractual salaries and benefits,
utilities and fuel, and special education.
Superintendent of Schools Kevin Baughman said
the proposed 2008-09 budget reflects
current economic trends. “The budget developed
over the past three months represents both our
lowest spending increase and estimated tax levy
increase in the past five years,” he said. “We
are cognizant and respectful of the challenges
that everyone is facing given current economic
conditions.”
New in the 2008-09
budget
Dr. Baughman added that a proposed increase in
staffing levels next year would enable the
district to be more responsive to the needs of
students. Additional staff, for example, would
provide more support designed to encourage
students to build stronger connections with
their schools, creating greater opportunities
for success in the classroom. The following
proposed staff additions would also help
strengthen continuity in instructional programs
and increase academic achievement:
- One and
one-half teaching positions to meet next
year’s projected elementary enrollment
growth of 30 students. Additional staffing
at this level would help the district
gradually reduce elementary class-size
guidelines.
- A health
teacher to focus primarily on alcohol and
substance abuse prevention for students in
grades 5-9. Instruction about the physical,
social and legal risks of alcohol and drug
use would be targeted to students in these
grades levels.
- A
half-time counselor to meet the increasing
need for student support— developmentally,
academically and socially. The counselor
would help sustain an environment where
students feel a stronger connection to their
schools, empowering them to be more
productive learners.
- A
half-time assistant middle school principal,
which would expand the existing position to
full-time. The assistant principal would
share responsibilities between Iroquois and
Van Antwerp schools. With this leadership
position increased to full-time, the
assistant principal would devote more time
to making personal connections with students
and assisting with supervision and
discipline, while also helping to oversee
student activities and intervention.
- A
half-time director of English Language Arts
(ELA) to modify the current grades 6-8
position to a full-time K-8 ELA director. In
this expanded role, the K-8 director would
help coordinate and develop a more cohesive
language arts curriculum among the five
elementary schools. The director would also
evaluate test data and make recommendations
to tailor instruction for improved overall
student performance.
- Additional
hours for existing technology staff at the
high school to continue implementation of
Project Lead the Way pre-engineering
curriculum. In 2008-09, the high school will
introduce Digital Electronics, a fourth
course in the Project Lead the Way
pre-engineering series.
Bus proposition and
Board of Education election
On May 20, residents will also vote on a
transportation proposition to fund the purchase
of four full-size buses and five smaller buses
for a combined total of $799,866. The new buses
would replace older ones that have high mileage
and have become increasingly expensive to
maintain. This proposition does not affect the
projected tax rate because approximately 63
percent of the cost would be funded by state
aid; the remaining share would be paid through
the district’s fund balance.
Two seats on the Board of Education are also up
for election May 20. Terry Weiner and Deborah
Oriola, who currently hold these seats, are both
seeking re-election. The two candidates
receiving the most votes will serve three-year
terms, beginning July 1. Residents interested in
running for the Board of Education may pick up
nominating petitions at the District Office,
1239 Van Antwerp Road. Petitions are due by
April 21.
Public budget hearing
set for May 6
The Board of Education will host a public
hearing at 7 p.m. on May 6 in the Van Antwerp
Middle School auditorium, at 2253 Story Avenue,
to discuss the budget and hear community
comments. A district newsletter detailing the
proposed budget will be mailed to residents in
early May.
(March 2008) |
