Schalmont School District http://www.rotterdamny.net/ http://www.eblah.com en 2 Years and No Contract For Schamont http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1310036344/ http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1310036344/#num1
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ROTTERDAM
Schalmont teachers’ impasse hits 2-year mark
BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Michael Goot at 395-3105 or mgoot@dailygazette.net.

    It has been two years, and Schalmont teachers still do not have a new contract with the district.
    The Schalmont Teachers Association’s contract expired June 30, 2009.
    Board of Education President Kevin Thompson said he remains optimistic, despite no concrete signs of progress in salary and benefits. School officials are trying to hold the line because of the challenging fiscal climate, especially in light of the new state 2 percent property tax cap.
    “The Board of Education does not want to be in a position where as a result of approving that contract, we’re going to have to make reductions in our current programs, services and activities,” he said.
    The district kept its tax levy increase below 1 percent in the past few years and did not increase it at all this year. However, health insurance costs alone are going up more than 2 percent a year.
    “We’re going to be challenged with how to be able to maintain a low tax increase,” he said.
    Thompson said the contract negotiators have to keep these cost constraints in mind. ...................>>>>..................>>>>.....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01502&AppName=1
]]> Thu, 7 Jul 2011 05:59:04 Admin Schalmont > Cash Incentives To Retire http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1305886648/ http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1305886648/#num1
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ROTTERDAM
Schalmont offers cash for teachers to retire
BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter

    Schalmont school officials are offering longtime teachers a monetary incentive to retire early.
    The Board of Education on Monday approved the incentive, which is for teachers who have been with the district at least 10 years and are eligible by age for retirement. The payout would equal 25 percent of the employee’s annual salary.
    Superintendent Valerie Kelsey said about 15 to 18 people would qualify for the incentive. The deadline is June 15. The district was looking at ways to reduce costs by replacing veteran teachers with new teachers, who would earn less.
    “We save substantial money when we get younger people,” she said. “It’s a balance. You lose experience, too. You have some wonderful teachers.”
    The top annual pay for a Schalmont teacher is $92,981 with a bachelor’s degree and $95,531 with a master’s degree. This does not include any stipends for other activities. First-year teachers are paid $40,389 if they have a bachelor’s degree and $42,939 if they have a master’s degree.
    Kelsey said the district was lucky to be able to submit a budget with no tax levy increase this year. The district achieved savings by closing the Mariaville and Woestina elementary schools.
    “We know 2012-13 is going to be an equally difficult year,” he said. .........................>>>>.....................................>>>>......................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01003&AppName=1
]]> Fri, 20 May 2011 05:17:28 Admin Schalmont residents approve 2011-12 budget http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1305684599/ http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1305684599/#num1 http://www.schalmont.org/District/budget/budget.htm

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Schalmont residents approve 2011-12 budget
Today Schalmont Central School District residents voted by a margin of 690 to 241 to pass the proposed $41,770,000 budget for the 2011-12 school year.

“We’re grateful for everyone who came out to vote in their school budget and board elections today,” said Superintendent Dr. Valerie Kelsey. “The annual school budget plays a vital role in providing for the education of our youth. This budget, in particular, will help maintain the high level of programming that our community values, even as our district faces ongoing fiscal challenges.”

The proposed budget does not increase the school tax levy, which is the total amount of revenue collected from local taxpayers. The proposed budget maintains educational programs despite being $550,000 less than the budget for the current school year.

Three candidates — John DiCocco, Michael Pasquarella and Kevin Thompson — submitted petitions to run for the two three-year seats available on the school board.

• DiCocco received 449 votes and was not elected to his first term on the school board.

• Pasquarella received 568 votes and was elected to his first term on the school board.

• Thompson received 582 votes and was reelected to a third term on the school board.

By a margin of 615 to 314, voters passed the school bus purchase proposition asking voter permission to purchase to purchase three 66-passenger buses. The initial cost of the three buses is $315,000 spread across five years, but Schalmont is eligible for state aid on a portion of that cost. As a result, the true cost is $126,000 before factoring in trade-in discounts for older, heavily used buses. The cost of the proposition is already included in the debt service calculation for 2011-12, so it does not increase the proposed budget.
]]> Tue, 17 May 2011 21:09:59 Kevin March Schalmont School Budget Vote Tues. http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1305285988/ http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1305285988/#num1
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Schalmont to vote
on $42M budget
    ROTTERDAM — Schalmont Central School District voters will decide Tuesday on a $41.7 million budget that keeps the tax rate unchanged.
    The district saved about $1.3 million by closing the Mariaville and Woestina elementary schools and cutting 24 full-time equivalent positions including 10 teachers, 11 support staff and three administrator.
    Also on the ballot is a proposition to purchase three buses at a cost of $315,000. Kelsey said the additional buses are necessary because of the closure of the two elementary schools.
    Voting will take place from 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the foyer of the Schalmont High School new gym.
    Three people are seeking two open seats on the Schalmont Board of Education. Incumbent Carl Strang is not running again after serving three terms.
    Board President Kevin Thompson is seeking re-election to a third term. Thompson said he wants to continue the fiscal discipline of the last few years. “We’ve done an excellent job of being responsible to the taxpayers in the district without significantly diminishing the programs or offerings to the students,” he said.
    Thompson said he wants to make sure that the district continues to prepare college-ready students. He serves as chief fi nancial offi cer for Quandt Food Service Distributors Inc.
    John DiCocco, a contract manager at General Electric, is also seeking a seat. DiCocco ran unsuccessfully last year for a seat on a platform of fi scal responsibility. He said he is similarly looking this year to control school costs. He has served on the Budget Advisory Committee for the last three years and formerly as a Cub Scout pack master.
    Michael Pasquarella, a clinical pharmacy manager with Ellis Medicine, is also seeking his fi rst term. He said he served on the Schalmont budget advisory committee and wants to look at creative ways to preserve programs while being fi scally responsible.
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http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01800&AppName=1]]> Fri, 13 May 2011 06:26:28 Admin Class of 1986, 25 Year Reunion 5/28/11 http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1298606460/ http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1298606460/#num1 The Schalmont Class of 1986 is having their 25 year reunion on Saturday, May 28, 2011, at Mallozzi's. Please visit our website at
http://www.schalmont1986.blogspot.com for more information on the event and also a list of classmates we are missing. If you would like to
contact us, please send an email to schalmont1986@aol.com. ]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:01:00 Schalmont1986