What’s
inside
pg.
2-3
Budget Q & A
Student Achievements
pg.4-5
Technology
Revenues & Expenses
pg.
6
Board Candidates
Bus Proposition
pg.
7
Budget Notice
Three-Part Budget
pg.
8
Voter Information
2014-15 BUDGETProposed budget carries a 2 percent tax levy increase
Residents to vote on 2014-15 proposed budget May 20
Schalmont Central SchoolDistrict residents will head to the polls on Tuesday, May 20, to vote on a $44,554,730 budget proposal for the 2014-15 school year, which increases spending by $1,381,575 or 3.20 percent over the current year’s budget.
Voters will also elect two candi-dates to the school board and decide on a bus purchase proposition (see page 6).
If approved, the budget would carry a tax levy—the total amount of money to be raised through property taxes—of $27,015,177, which is a 2 percent increase from the current year’s tax levy. This is equal to the maximum amount the district can levy in taxes, as determined by a formula set by the state, without triggering the need for a 60 per-cent budget approval rate.
“Our goal with this budget proposal is to strategically plan for the future with a focus on technology and delivering resources and services more efficiently and effectively,” said Superintendent Dr. Carol Pallas.
Balancing the budget
Faced with a $300,000 projected gap between expenses and revenues next year, school officials turned to the community for input early in the budget development process. To guide development of the 2014-15 budget proposal, they also considered district priorities, requirements set forth by the state’s reform agenda and available data.
With passage of a final state budget, Schalmont received a partial restoration of the Gap Elimination Adjustment or GEA (see page 2) and more state aid than originally anticipated. The state aid increase
of $527,921 over the current year will help address an unanticipated cost increase for BOCES special education tuition rates. It will also fund advancements in instruc-tional, infrastructure and hardware costs associated with implementation of the district’s technology plan (see page 4).
“We need to take advantage of every op-portunity to embrace
technology within everyday instruction so students are truly college and career ready,” said Pallas.
Changes address declining
enrollment, efficiency
While any increase in funding is wel-come news, it wel-comes after five years of devastating reductions driven by withheld state aid, the state’s tax levy cap, and declin-ing enrollment. Since 2010-11, the district has lost 52.2 full-time equivalent (FTE) po-sitions district-wide, closed two elementary schools, centralized bus stops, and reduced various offerings and programs.
The budget going before voters on May 20 includes approximately $253,000 in re-ductions affecting 5.75 full-time equivalent positions and other changes due in part to declining enrollment and other changes to help the district become more efficient and effective (see page 3).
“Even though it is never easy to make reductions, we believe these decisions are prudent and appropriate,” said Pallas. “We need to continue addressing enrollment changes and face a number of economic challenges to prepare the district for sustain-ability now and in the future.” v
The cast and crew of the spring musical “Grease” put on an outstanding performance. The production affords high school students the opportunity to act, sing and dance, as well as participate in set building and costume design. Photo courtesy of Mark Woythal.
Polls open 6 am–9 pm
Budget Vote - Tuesday, May 20
Schalmont High School New Gym Lobby
•
Proposed Budget:
$44,554,730
•
Spending Increase:
$1,381,575 or 3.20%
•
Tax Levy Increase:
$528,431 or 2%
•
Also on the Ballot:
Q & A
on the proposed budget
How does the tax levy
cap work?
Now in its third year, New York’s property tax levy “cap” legislation requires each school district in the state to use a complex formula to calculate its own unique “tax levy limit.” Districts then add exclusions set forth in the law to this limit to determine their maximum allowable levy and the level of voter support needed for budget passage.
Under the state’s calculation for 2014-15, Schalmont has a maximum allowable tax levy (tax levy plus exclusions) of $27,015,177, which is an increase of 2 percent from the current year’s levy. The district’s proposed levy is equal to its maximum allowable levy, meaning that it is within the property “tax cap” according to the law. As a result, the budget requires a simple majority (50 per-cent plus one) for approval.
Although the law has been referred to as a “2 percent tax cap,” it does not restrict any proposed tax levy increase to 2 percent—or any other amount. In fact, 2 percent (or the rate of inflation if less) is just one of eight variables that factor into each district’s calculation of its individual tax levy limit as prescribed by the law.
The fact that this year’s tax levy limit happens to be 2 percent is merely a coinci-dence. The district’s tax levy limit will vary from year to year based on the formula.
How does the GE PILOT
affect the district’s budget?
The General Electric PILOT (payment-in-lieu-of-taxes) is beneficial for Schalmont because, unlike state aid, it guarantees an amount of revenue for the district for each year under the terms of a 10-year agreement that became effective in 2013.
Schalmont has also had a PILOT in place with SI Group for many years.
Is STAR changing in 2014?
No, the rules for homeown-ers’ School Tax Relief (STAR) program exemptions are not changing for the fall 2014 school tax bill. However, the state comptroller’s office has discovered that many exemptions were improperly granted in the past. To stop this abuse of the system, the state Legislature has started requiring periodic renewal of Basic STAR exemptions. In order to continue receiving STAR exemptions, taxpayers were required to re-register with the New York State Tax Department by March 1, 2014. For more information, contact your town assessor.
How will the new state
“tax freeze” affect my
school tax bill?
As part of the adopted state budget, the state Legislature passed a Property Tax Credit that may provide a rebate check to homeowners beginning in the upcoming school year. In the first year of this rebate program, a district must stay within its 2014-15 tax levy cap. In the second year, a district must stay within its 2015-16 tax levy cap and receive state approval for a shared services/efficiency plan that achieves savings equivalent to 1 percent of the tax levy each year for three years.
Because the district is staying within its maximum tax levy limit, homeowners who are eligible for the state’s STAR Program will receive a rebate check from the state for a portion of school taxes paid after paying their school tax bills. Residents will still receive a school tax bill in September and will still need to pay their annual taxes under the program. Additional details about the program, including when rebate checks will be mailed by the state, are still forthcoming.
Q.
Q.
School districts around the state are headed into their fifth straight year of a Gap Elimina-tion Adjustment.
The GEA was introduced in 2010 as a way to close the state’s then $10 billion budget deficit. Under the legislation, a portion of the funding shortfall at the state level is divided among all school districts throughout the state and reflected as a reduc-tion in school district state aid. Since its inception, the net total GEA reduction in school aid for
Schalmont amounts to approximately $7.5 million. Since there are only two main sources of revenue for public schools—state aid and taxes—the GEA’s impact on the school district budget has been significant. School officials have needed to raise taxes and make difficult decisions about programs and services. In March, the Schalmont school board ap-proved a resolution calling on the New York
State Legislature to immediately end the GEA.
In the final state budget, legislators agreed to a partial restoration of the GEA for the 2014-15 school year. For Schal-mont, this resulted in the restoration of $194,071. However, this reduction of the reduction still results in the district losing more than $1.1 million in state aid next year. v
GEA continues to devastate schools
Proposed Budget Changes
Total personnel reductions: 5.75 FTE*Non-Instructional Staff Reductions
(3.75 FTE = $78,000):
• 3.75 FTE non-instructional teacher’s aide positions will be reduced and reassigned as 2.0 teaching assistant positions to provide increased direct instructional support to students (figure includes net reduction).
Instructional Staff Reductions
(2.0 FTE = $100,000):
• Reduce 2.0 FTE elementary teaching positions due to declining enrollment
Other Savings
($75,000):
• Consolidate high school summer school program with Mohonasen and Scotia through Capital Region BOCES ($35,000)
• Consolidate printers districtwide ($30,000)
• Reduce district purchased supplies at the elementary level ($10,000)
* Full-time equivalent - includes salaries and benefits.
Q.
Q.
Proposed Budget Changes
Total personnel reductions: 5.75 FTE*Non-Instructional Staff Reductions
(3.75 FTE = $78,000):
• 3.75 FTE non-instructional teacher’s aide positions will be reduced and reassigned as 2.0 teaching assistant positions to provide increased direct instructional support to students (figure includes net reduction).
Instructional Staff Reductions
(2.0 FTE = $100,000):
• Reduce 2.0 FTE elementary teaching positions due to declining enrollment
Other Savings
($75,000):
• Consolidate high school summer school program with Mohonasen and Scotia through Capital Region BOCES ($35,000)
• Consolidate printers districtwide ($30,000)
• Reduce district purchased supplies at the elementary level ($10,000)
* Full-time equivalent - includes salaries and benefits.
A decline in enrollment and efforts to be-come more efficient and effective drove the changes included in the proposed budget, as outlined below.
What’s different in the
proposed budget?
How would the proposed
budget affect my tax bill?
Residents’ individual tax bills are de-termined by tax rates, which are based on the tax levy, and several factors beyond the district’s control. These include assess-ment levels and equalization rates, as well as individual property owners’ exemptions, such as the state’s STAR program. The dis-trict sets final tax rates each summer after all of these other factors are finalized.
However, based on current estimates, here’s an idea of what a typical district tax-payer can expect. The tax bill for a home assessed at $100,000 within the Town of Rotterdam would increase by $37.43 next
year if voters approve the proposed 2014-
Students excel in the classroom and beyond
The following student achievements are just a sampling of the return on the community’s investment in Schalmont schools.
• Schalmont jumped to #16 in 2013 from #49 in 2005 in the Albany-based Business Review’s annual school district rankings.
• In a report published by
Buffalo Business First in fall 2013, Schalmont was ranked 19th for academics
out of 83 upstate school districts.
• Of the Class of 2013, 89 percent went on to attend a two- or four-year college.
• In June 2012, Schalmont’s graduation rate was 92 percent while the state’s average was 74 percent.
• Nearly all of the current school year’s fall and winter sports teams earned recognition as scholar-athletes by the New York State Public High School Athletics Association for earning a 90 average or better.
• Students make a positive difference in the community, the region and world. This year, students raised money and awareness for dozens of causes ranging from the Make-A-Wish Foundation to funding initiatives in impoverished countries. v
Estimated tax rates by town
Town 2013-14 Final 2014-15 Estimated Dollar Change Guilderland $20.72 $21.13 $0.41 Florida $37.48 $38.23 $0.75 Duanesburg $55.47 $56.58 $1.11 Princetown $52.52 $53.56 $1.04 Rotterdam $18.76 $19.13 $0.37
Tax rates are shown per $1,000 of assessed value (rounded to the nearest cent). These are estimates only based on 2013-14 data, with no change in the equalization rate, and do not reflect STAR, or other tax exemptions. Final tax rates will be set in August.
Visit www.schalmont.org/budget
for budget-related fact sheets,
videos and much more.
Learn more online
15 school budget. Again, this is only anestimate and subject to change.
What happens if the proposed
budget is not approved?
If the proposed budget is de-feated by voters on May 20, state law gives the school board three options: Present the same budget to voters a second time, present a revised budget to voters or go directly to a contingency budget. If the budget is defeated a second time, the board must adopt a contingent budget.
Under New York’s tax “cap” law, a district can levy a tax no greater than that
of the prior budget year—a zero percent increase—in a contingent budget. Also, non-contingent expenses including student supplies, certain equipment purchases and community use of school facilities must be removed. Schalmont would have to elimi-nate $528,431 from its proposed budget under contingency. v
Q.
Proposed Expenditures 2013-14 Budget Proposed2014-15
Instruction
(47.43 % of 2014-15 budget) Teaching $10,414,060 $10,901,290 Occupational Education $896,503 $962,525 Special Education $5,254,137 $5,045,601 Curriculum Development $322,601 $337,639 Supervision $833,299 $832,426 Summer School $65,500 $39,316 Library $332,813 $314,233 Computer-Assisted Instruction $760,621 $1,163,830 Guidance $523,842 $610,031 Health Services $291,502 $289,637 Psychological Services $268,618 $229,048 Co-Curricular Activities $71,681 $72,757 Athletics $323,499 $332,194 Total $20,358,676 $21,130,527 Percent Change 3.79%Employee Benefits
(29.39% of 2014-15 budget)Health Insurance $7,147,625 $7,520,700 Teachers’ Retirement $2,362,484 $2,577,800 Employees’ Retirement $1,077,799 $1,056,100 Social Security (FICA) $1,513,553 $1,562,500 Worker’s Compensation $173,188 $130,000 Unemployment $100,000 $100,000 Life Insurance $121,988 $122,000 Disability Insurance $24,500 $24,500 Total $12,521,137 $13,093,600 Percent Change 4.57%
Transportation
(5.84% of 2014-15 budget) Transportation $2,398,530 $2,412,240 Garage $78,719 $79,586 Contracted Transportation $110,000 $110,000 Total $2,587,249 $2,601,826 Percent Change 0.56%Where
does the
money
come
from?
Revenue
Summary
Approved Budget Proposed Budget Percent 2013-14 2014-15 Change
State and Federal Aid $11,878,588 $12,406,509 4.44% Fund Balance Appropriations $393,778 $644,778 63.74% Interfund Transfers $424,243 $524,243 23.57% Interest Earnings/Building Use/Refunds $514,250 $514,250 0% Payments in Lieu of Taxes $3,475,550 $3,449,773 -0.74% Property Tax Levy for Budget $26,486,746 $27,015,177 2.00%
Revenue in budget $43,173,155 $44,554,730 3.20%
Approved Budget Proposed Budget Percent 2013-14 2014-15 Change
Instruction $20,358,676 $21,130,454 3.79% Employee Benefits $12,521,137 $13,093,600 4.57% Operations and Maintenance $2,558,739 $2,546,753 -0.47% Transportation $2,587,249 $2,601,825 0.56% District Support $1,323,680 $1,372,988 3.73% Debt Service and Transfer $3,823,674 $3,809,110 -0.38%
Expenditures in budget $43,173,155 $44,554,730 3.20%
Where
does the
money
go?
(see next page for details)
Expenditure
Summary
Proposal includes funding for technology integration
Life in a technology-powered world and new mandates, such as the Common Core Learning Standards, are not only changing what students need to learn, but the way they learn.
That’s why the proposed budget in-cludes funding for technology initiatives.
“Our vision is to engage every student and build our capacity in order to em-power students with the 21st-century skills
necessary for their long-term success,” said Superintendent Dr. Carol Pallas.
Since Feb. 2013, a 26-member com-mittee of employees, parents, students, residents and a board member have been developing a new five-year districtwide tech-nology plan, which outlines goals, objectives and a timeline for implementation.
The committee has been busy review-ing the district’s existreview-ing technology plan, researching requirements to support next generation, computer-based assessments and designing a technological framework around the educational shifts associated
with the state’s new learning standards. Their work follows guidance from the Partnership for 21st-Century Skills
Orga-nization, a national group advocating for the integration of skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and communica-tion into the teaching of core academic subjects. It also adheres to the Internation-al Standards for Technology in Education, which are recognized and adopted world-wide for learning, teaching and leading in the digital age.
“The plan will serve as a framework upon which a culture of learning and technol-ogy integration will live, grow and thrive at Schalmont,” said Pallas.
Initiatives currently under consider-ation include acquiring tablets for all students in fifth through twelfth grade within the next five years and equipping all classrooms with interactive devices within the same period.
The plan is expected to be finalized next school year, and will be shared with
the public once approved. It would be continuously updated based on implemen-tation, feedback and the evolving nature of technology. v
As part of a professional development day in March, about a dozen educators shared with their peers instruc-tional strategies they’ve been piloting in their classrooms using a variety of technologies. High school math teacher Kathryn Sargent is pictured, right, explaining the concept of a flipped classroom, which involves mak-ing instructional videos for students to watch at home and then spending classroom time on activities based on the videos.
Proposed Expenditures 2013-14 Budget Proposed2014-15
Instruction
(47.43 % of 2014-15 budget) Teaching $10,414,060 $10,901,290 Occupational Education $896,503 $962,525 Special Education $5,254,137 $5,045,601 Curriculum Development $322,601 $337,639 Supervision $833,299 $832,426 Summer School $65,500 $39,316 Library $332,813 $314,233 Computer-Assisted Instruction $760,621 $1,163,830 Guidance $523,842 $610,031 Health Services $291,502 $289,637 Psychological Services $268,618 $229,048 Co-Curricular Activities $71,681 $72,757 Athletics $323,499 $332,194 Total $20,358,676 $21,130,527 Percent Change 3.79%Employee Benefits
(29.39% of 2014-15 budget)Health Insurance $7,147,625 $7,520,700 Teachers’ Retirement $2,362,484 $2,577,800 Employees’ Retirement $1,077,799 $1,056,100 Social Security (FICA) $1,513,553 $1,562,500 Worker’s Compensation $173,188 $130,000 Unemployment $100,000 $100,000 Life Insurance $121,988 $122,000 Disability Insurance $24,500 $24,500 Total $12,521,137 $13,093,600 Percent Change 4.57%
Transportation
(5.84% of 2014-15 budget) Transportation $2,398,530 $2,412,240 Garage $78,719 $79,586 Contracted Transportation $110,000 $110,000 Total $2,587,249 $2,601,826 Percent Change 0.56%Proposed Expenditures 2013-14 Budget Proposed2014-15
District Support
(3.08% of 2014-15 budget) Board of Education $6,281 $6,281 District Clerk/Meeting $2,209 $2,320 Central Administration $225,952 $232,742 Business Administration $343,642 $372,804 Auditing $47,792 $47,792 Treasurer $60 $500 Tax Collection $10,610 $15,000 Purchasing $8,400 $8,700 Legal Services $108,150 $108,150 Personnel $58,334 $59,825 Public Information $107,991 $111,000 Central Printing $59,555 $57,100 Insurance $128,000 $128,000 School Dues $18,700 $18,700 BOCES Administration $198,004 $204,000 Total $1,323,680 $1,372,914 Percent Change 3.72%
Debt Service & Transfers
(8.55% of 2014-15 budget) Buses $475,574 $426,310 Construction $2,764,862 $2,828,350 Tax Certiorari $458,238 $469,450 Interfund Transfer $125,000 $85,000 Total $3,823,674 $3,809,110 Percent Change -0.38%
Operations & Maintenance
(5.71% of 2014-15 budget) Custodial Services $1,860,314 $1,843,670 Maintenance $698,425 $703,083 Total $2,558,739 $2,546,753 Percent Change -0.47%
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
$43,173,155
$44,554,730
Percent Change 3.20%Three candidates vie for two open board seats
On May 20, voters will select two board members from the following three candidates (listed alphabetically). The positions are unpaid, carry three-year terms, and become effective July 1, 2014.
Voters to decide on proposition to replace five school buses
On May 20, voters will consider a sepa-rate proposition to purchase five new school buses at a cost not to exceed $481,000.
Approximately 52 percent of the actual cost would be returned to the district in the form of future state aid, offsetting the local taxpayer share of the proposition by $244,829. The cost is already included in the debt service calculation for the 2014-15 proposed budget.
If approved, the vehicles would replace five buses that have logged 110,000-140,000 miles over the past 11 to 12 years. Older buses would be traded in for an estimated savings of $12,000.
Replacement plan ensures
safety, saves money on repairs
The proposition is part of the district’s annual bus replacement plan, which is designed to keep the district’s fleet of buses in safe, working order while mitigating the cost to taxpayers. The new buses replace older buses that are becoming too costly to maintain due to frequent repairs and replacement parts.
The new buses would consist of three 66-passenger buses, one 23-passenger wheelchair-accessible bus and one 28- passenger bus.
“Our first priority is always the safe transportation of our students,” said Trans-portation Supervisor Kevin Mercoglan. “Replacement of older vehicles is one way of ensuring their safety.”
School buses are subject to some of the strictest road safety requirements. State law requires buses to undergo rigorous safety inspections twice per year. If a school bus fails one of these inspections, it must be taken off the road immediately and cannot be put back into service until it meets the state’s standards.
It costs much more to maintain an older bus to the state’s standards than it costs to maintain a new bus. New ve-hicles also carry lower maintenance costs for the first five years when they are still under warranty. v
Michael Pasquarella
Michael Pasquarella is running for his second term. He is a clinical pharmacy manager at Ellis Medicine. He is an active committee person for the Our Lady Queen of Peace Annual Festa. Pasquarella currently serves on the district’s Budget Advisory and Safety Committees. He previously volunteered as chair of the Town of Rotterdam Ethics Committee. After graduating from Schalmont High School in 1986, he earned a bachelor’s degree and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy. A district resident for 38 years, Pasquarella and his wife, Carmela, are Rotterdam residents. They have two children currently attending Schalmont schools, one at the middle level and one at the high school.
Ryan Snyder
Ryan Snyder is running for his first term. He is manager of project plan-ning at Aquatic Development Group, Inc. He is an active volunteer with the Alzheimers’ Association of Northeastern New York and supporter of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Snyder is a graduate of Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, where he earned both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in architecture. He also participated in Northern Marianas College Graduate Internship Program. Snyder lives in Rotterdam with his wife, Su-zanne, and their son, Matthew, who attends Schalmont Middle School. He also has a daughter who attends the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District.
Kevin Thompson
Kevin Thompson is running for his fourth term. He is the chief financial of-ficer of Quandt’s Foodservice Distributors, Inc. He is also a licensed certified public accountant. His professional memberships include the American Insti-tute of Certified Public Accountants and the NYS Society of CPAs. Thompson currently serves on the Board of Directors for AAA-Northway. For more than nine years, he volunteered as an instructor for business/accounting courses at SUNY Cobleskill’s Community Outreach Program. He also previously coached Rotterdam Little League. Thompson received his bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany. He and his wife, Carol, live in Schenectady, and have two children who both attend Schalmont schools. v
The district’s annual bus replacement plan for its existing bus fleet has helped to maintain student safety and control repair and mainte-nance costs on older buses. The district’s 50 unit bus fleet travels nearly 600,000 miles per year.
The state requires school districts to present their annual budgets in three parts: program, administrative and capital.
1. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS:
Salaries and benefits of all professional staff members who spend 50 percent or more of their time in administration and supervision. Also included: salaries and benefits of clerical staff for administrators; public relations; central printing; curriculum development and supervision; research planning and evaluation; central data processing; tax collection; most legal services; and school board costs.
2. PROGRAM COSTS:Salaries and benefits of all teachers, guidance counselors, speech therapists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, aides, monitors, etc. Also included: district transportation costs (except bus purchases); interscholastic athletics; in-service training; computer-assisted instruction; library, audiovisual and educational TV costs; and co-curricular recreation, youth and civic programs.
3. CAPITAL COSTS: Debt service on buildings; leases; school bus purchases; tax certiorari and court-ordered costs; operation and maintenance costs, including salaries and benefits of all janitorial staff.
DEFINITIONS
The box to the right is the
“School District Budget
Notice”
as required by
state law. School districts
must distribute this notice,
as prescribed, to all district
residents.
Estimated Basic STAR Exemption Savings1
Under the Budget Proposed for the 2014-15 School Year Basic STAR tax savings $571.00
The annual budget vote for the fiscal year 2014-15 by the qualified voters of the Schalmont Central School District, Schenectady County, New York, will be held in the Schalmont High School new gym lobby on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., prevailing time, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by a voting ballot or machine.
1The basic school tax relief (STAR) exemption is authorized by section 425 of the Real Property Tax Law. Figure representative for the Town of Rotterdam.
List Separate Propositions that are not included in the Total Budgeted Amount: (Tax Levy associated with propositions not eligible for exclusion may affect property tax levy limit and voter approval requirements)
Description Amount
School District Budget Notice
Overall Budget Proposal Budget Adopted
for the 2013-14 School Year Budget Proposed for the 2014-15 School Year Contingency Budget for the 2014-15 School Year*
Total Budgeted Amount, Not Including Separate Propositions
$43,173,155 $44,554,730 $44,026,299 Increase/Decrease for the 2013-14 School Year $1,381,575 $853,144 Percentage Increase/Decrease in Proposed Budget 3.20% 1.98% Change in the Consumer Price Index 1.46%
Total Proposed School Year Tax Levy, Including Levy to Support Library Debt, if applicable
$26,486,746 $27,015,177 $26,486,746
Total Permissable Exclusions $693,297 $416,731 A. Proposed School Year Tax Levy, Not Including
Levy for Permissible Exclusions or Levy to Support Library Debt
$25,793,449 $26,598,446
B. School Tax Levy Limit, Not Including Levy for Permissible Exclusions
$25,865,032 $26,598,446 Difference: A - B (Positive Value Requires 60.0%
Voter Approval) ($71,583) 0
1. Administrative Component $2,156,980 $2,205,415 $2,177,593 2. Program Component $34,713,649 $36,078,452 $35,627,843 3. Capital Component $6,302,526 $6,270,863 $6,220,863
*If the proposed budget is defeated by voters on May 20, the Board of Education will have three options: Present the same budget to voters a second time, present a revised budget to voters or adopt a contingent budget. If the budget is defeated a second time, the board must adopt a contingent budget. In contingency, districts can levy a tax no greater than that of the prior budget year—a 0 percent increase. In addition, non-contingent expenses including student supplies, certain equipment purchases and community use of school facilities must be removed. If forced to adopt a contingency budget, Schalmont would be faced with eliminating another $528,431 from its proposed budget.
4 Sabre Dr., Schenectady, NY 12306
Postal Customer
ECRWSS
Board of Education Gregory Campoli President Michael Pasquarella Vice President Michael DellaVilla John DiCocco Albert Falcone Robert Sheehan Kevin Thompson Superintendent Dr. Carol Pallas School Business Administrator Joseph Lenz Director of Curriculum Bronson Knaggs Editor Audrey Brahler Phone (518) 355-9200 Produced in cooperation with the Capital Region BOCES Communications Service. Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 203 Albany, NYWhat’s InsIde? BUDGET q&a, BUs ProPosiTion DETails, school BoarD canDiDaTEs anD morE!
Voter Qualifications
All voters must be at least 18 years old, a United States citizen and a district resident for at least 30 days prior to the vote. No pre-registration is required, but personal identification/proof of residency is required (e.g., driver’s license with current address, utility bill showing resident’s
name and current address). Residents will not be allowed
to vote without proper identification.
Absentee Ballots
Absentee ballots are available for those who are unable to appear in person at the polls. Voters must complete and return an application seven days prior to the vote if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter or one day before the vote if the ballot is to be picked up personally by the voter. Absentee ballots must be returned to the district clerk no later than 5 p.m. on May 20. Call 518-355-9200, ext. 4002, for more details.
More Information
For more information about the 2014-15 proposed budget,
visit www.schalmont.org/budget or call 355-9200, ext.
4001. A copy of the complete budget proposal is also available in the district office and each school’s main office.
Fifth-graders learn essential skills for success
Using spaghetti and mini-marshmallows, fifth-graders learned what it takes to shine in the real world while having a lot of fun. Working in small groups, students used the ingredients to construct a tower for SureDone, Inc., a fictional architectural company at which they were mock-interning. The classroom activ-ity was the brainchild of fifth-grade teachers Lori Hurley and Stephanie Lazzari, who wanted students to see first hand the importance of communica-tion, collaboration and innovation in today’s workplace.
Your opinion matters!
The district invites voters to complete a voluntary and anonymous exit survey after casting ballots on May 20. Your participation helps the district gather feedback and will help
inform future budget decisions.
