First published in print: Friday, January 23, 2009
ROTTERDAM — Several local school districts will soon unveil and seek voter approval for their fiscal year spending plans amid tough economic times.
Among those beginning the budget process is the Schalmont Central School District, where residents next week are being invited to attend the first of four budget advisory committee meetings.
The panel, made up of volunteers, will review the 2009-10 spending plan and make recommendations to school board members in advance of community forums and a public hearing. The district is also conducting a survey to learn what issues residents would like to discuss or find out more information about.
Anyone wishing to complete the survey can visit http://www.schalmont.org or look for it in an upcoming district newsletter. Surveys must be turned in by March 18.
Voters in the district will cast their ballots on the 2009-10 budget from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 19, 2009, in the foyer of the Schalmont High School new gym located at 1 Sabre Drive.
The meeting dates for the four budget advisory committee are:
Wednesday, Jan. 28
Tuesday, Feb. 10
Thursday, March 5
Thursday, March 19
All meetings begin at 6 p.m. inside the LGI room at Schalmont Middle School.
ROTTERDAM District likely to lose 15 positions $1.3M loss of state aid anticipated BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
The Schalmont Central School District is anticipating a loss of 15 full-time jobs, or their equivalent, next school year as the district braces for an estimated $1.3 million shortfall in state aid. Superintendent Valerie Kelsey said the cuts would be in both support and instructional staff but shouldn’t affect the district’s program levels. She said the staff reductions are all but certain given the economic climate in the state and the governor’s budget proposal. Kelsey said those affected by the cuts have already been informed of the move. The staff reduction is the largest she’s seen since becoming superintendent more than fi ve years ago. “We have to make some real tough choices,” she told the district’s 15-member budget advisory committee during its first meeting Wednesday. In anticipation of the aid reduction, Kelsey said, the district has already trimmed more than $1 million worth of spending from the 2009-10 budget proposal. These cuts include the purchase of new computer equipment, the purchase of new sports uniforms, a freeze on several expenditures, including Schalmont’s bus replacement program, and a 10 percent reduction in supplies. The summer enrichment program has been eliminated. Schalmont will also trim $15,000 from the budget by relocating its offices from a building outside the Rotterdam Corporate Park to vacant space in the high school. Kelsey said the district will make the move sometime during the summer or early fall but continue to use the property for its bus garage and storage. The offices have been located in .......................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar01102
Schalmont will also trim $15,000 from the budget by relocating its offices from a building outside the Rotterdam Corporate Park to vacant space in the high school. Kelsey said the district will make the move sometime during the summer or early fall but continue to use the property for its bus garage and storage.
But if this space has been there, why didn't they use it before? And another look at this says...why are they adding on to the school if they're not using all the areas of it to teach the children? We still pay taxes to heat the entire thing!
ROTTERDAM Schalmont plans cuts to keep tax levy level Attrition, retirements expected through district BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.
Schalmont will trim about a dozen jobs for the coming school year to avoid an increase in the tax levy, district officials said Thursday. The district will shed the fulltime equivalent of 12 jobs through attrition, retirement and layoffs to trim the 2009-2010 budget by $878,318. The reduction in jobs and spending will mean the draft $42.3 million spending plan will not raise the tax levy. “With the troubled economy, it was important to the school board that we aim for no increase in the tax levy while still meeting the needs of students," Superintendent Valerie Kelsey said. "These cuts were spread out so that they’ll have the least negative impact on students possible." Overall, the draft budget represents a 1.81 percent increase over the current year, which ends June 30. However, Kelsey said the $27.7 million levy, raised through school taxes, is level. The draft budget also takes into account a restoration of the $1.1 million shortfall the district was facing through the governor's deficit reduction in aid. Kelsey said the funds in the federal economic stimulus package will likely be used to eliminate that. "This budget reflects that, but should the governor change his mind, the school board will make appropriate cuts to keep from increasing the tax levy,” she said. The actual tax rate and bills that will be paid by households has not been established. MIDDLE SCHOOL LOSSES Kelsey said many of the position cuts are from the Middle School, which is losing enrollment. She said other budget reductions include a 10 percent reduction in instructional supplies, freezing the five-year bus replacement plan, and by not purchasing any sports uniforms. The district will also move its offices to the main Schalmont campus by next fall. By moving from a building outside the Rotterdam Corporate Park, Schalmont will save about $15,000. Schalmont's Board of Education is scheduled to adopt the budget on April 6. Kelsey said this date could be postponed if the state budget isn't passed. The public................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar01103
Teachers are making enough money to pay more for health care
Schalmont teachers have a health plan that costs the district $12,000 per year per teacher. The teachers pay 5 percent, or $600. In [private] industry, the employees would contribute [around] 30 percent, or $3,600. My wife and I, both retired seniors, pay over $7,300 out of pocket for premiums for Medicare and supplements. Our only income is from Social Security and a small pension. A recent reassessment brought our school tax up to $5,070. More than 90 percent of that is for salaries and benefits. There are 115 Schalmont teachers, and if they paid the 30 percent norm for industry, the savings would be $345,000 per year. The salary schedule for this district is $40,389 for a beginner to $95,531 for a master’s degree after 25 years. Last year, teachers were asked to increase their share of health costs from 5 percent to 15 percent, but they refused. Unfortunately, they are protected by the Taylor Law, which says that the teachers can give up their overly generous benefits only if they want to. When I was chairman of the science department and head of the teachers union in a Massachusetts suburb, I proposed salaries and benefits comparable to those of similarly educated people in surrounding industries. Teachers, you are now making salaries comparable to workers in industry with similar education. It’s time to pay your fair share of your health plan.
ROTTERDAM Schalmont spending plan carries no increase in tax
Schalmont voters will decide Tuesday whether to adopt the district's 2009-10 budget, which carries no increase in the tax levy. The proposed $42.3 million spending plan is a $775,000 — or 1.87 percent — increase over the previous year’s budget, according to figures released by the district. However, the budget carries no increase in school taxes. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the foyer of the Schalmont High School new gym. “With federal stimulus money, we were able to preserve some jobs and make appropriate cuts with the least negative impact on students,” Superintendent Valerie Kelsey said in a statement. Still, budget cuts will lead to a decrease of about 12.5 full-time equivalent positions at Schalmont. “This budget maintains our ability to prepare students to be competitive college and job applicants," she said. “With no increase in the tax levy, it also addresses our residents’ economic concerns.” Kelsey said the district will set school tax rates for homestead and non-homestead properties in August 2009. For this reason, she warned that some homeowners’ school tax bills may change, even though the tax levy did not increase. ....>>>>....>>>>.............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar01104
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