• The proposed 2008-09 budget totals $70,086,240.
• The proposed budget carries an estimated tax levy increase of 3.48 percent for Niskayuna homeowners, the lowest increase in five years.
• Rising cost of fuel and energy are among the key factors contributing to the spending increase.

The proposed budget supports and enhances academic programs by:

• Providing staffing levels necessary to gradually reduce elementary class sizes and maintain neighborhood schools.
• Introducing Digital Electronics, a fourth pre-engineering course in the Project Lead the Way series that offers hands-on, high-tech, project-based learning for high school students.
• Upgrading to a Web-based library resource system that provides better access to resources students can use for research projects and class assignments.
• Adding a health educator to focus on alcohol and substance abuse prevention and awareness in grades 5-9.
• Increasing the role of assistant middle school principal to allow for more personal interaction with students and promote instructional leadership at the middle level.
• Providing additional counseling support for students during pivotal transitions from elementary to middle school and middle to high school.
• Expanding the current grades 6-8 director of English Language Arts (ELA) to encompass grades K-8. In this broadened role the ELA director would share successful instructional practices and coordinate the application of such practices throughout K-8 classrooms; evaluate New York State assessment data and make recommendations to better accommodate all learning styles.

Residents will also vote on a $799,886 bus proposition, which would allow the purchase of four 66-passenger buses and five 30-passenger buses, and elect two members to the Board of Education.

If you have additional questions, contact Superintendent Kevin Baughman at 377-4666, Ext. 50706 or by e-mail at kbaughman@niskyschools.org.

(May 2008)