Port News - Port Jervis City School District

Port News
5
PORT JERVIS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Polling Locations
More voter information is available at www.pjschools.org
Where do I vote?
The polling stations for the District Budget Vote & School Board Election are not the same as the
general election polling locations. Port Jervis School District residents can cast their votes May 17, at Port Jervis Middle School, Port Jervis High School and Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School.
Listed below are the designated areas for the new school election districts.
VOTE
Tuesday,
May 17
POLLS OPEN
6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
School Election District #2: Voter Information
Questions?
School Election District #1: Port Jervis Middle School Gymnasium, 118 E. Main Street, Port Jervis
Designated Area: City of Port Jervis General Election District No. 1; City of Port Jervis Wards 1, 2, 3, 4
Port Jervis High School Gymnasium #2, 10 Route 209, Port Jervis
Designated Area: Town of Deerpark General Election Districts No. 3, 4, 5, 7; Section of the Town of
Forestburgh General Election District No. 1* (Rio)
School Election District #3: Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School, 929 Route 209, Cuddebackville
Designated Area: Town of Deerpark General Election Districts No. 1, 2, and 6; Section of the Town of
Mamakating General Election District No. 4;* Section of the Town of Forestburgh General Election District
No. 1 (Oakland Valley),* Section of the Town of Mount Hope General Election Districts No. 3 & 4*
*Section is located within the Port Jervis School District.
What is fund balance? How is it being used to REDUCE my taxes?
The District is applying $1.05 million
from its fund balance to the 2016-17 budget
to reduce taxes. This transfer, which is part
of the five-year fund balance spending plan,
maintains the tax levy at the prior year level.
Fund balance is created when a district is
able to generate a surplus either by receiving
more revenue than expected and/or by spending less than budgeted.
The district’s fund balance spending plan
was developed to apply money from its reserve funds annually to help reduce the tax burden, while maintaining long-term financial stability. Some districts have chosen to deplete their fund balance to fill budget shortfalls created
by lagging state aid and unfunded mandated costs. The more prudent approach taken by Port
Jervis has helped it to weather the current economic crisis much better than other districts
that are facing school closures, program cuts, and massive layoffs.
This marks the fifth year under the plan that the School Board has applied over $1 million
from the reserve funds to reduce the tax levy.
Call the District Clerk
at
858-3100, Ext. 15511
REGISTRATION
Registration simply involves
signing the form indicating
that you are 18 or older, a
U.S. citizen, and will have
lived in the district for at
least 30 days immediately
prior to election day.
If you are registered to vote
in general elections, you are
automatically eligible to vote
in school elections.
ABSENTEE
BALLOTS
Registered voters may vote
by absentee ballot if they are
unable to get to the polls on
May 17.
The application for an absentee ballot can be obtained
from the District Clerk. Absentee ballots must reach the
District Office no later than
5 p.m. on election day.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Deborah Lasch, President
Cathy Sadaghiani, Vice President
Judith Amato
Valerie Maginsky
Tammy Myers
William Onofry, Sr.
Florence Santini
William Smith
Robert Witherow
Port Jervis
NON-PROFIT
US POSTAGE
PAID
PORT JERVIS, NY
PERMIT NO. 20
12771
CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
9 Thompson Street
Port Jervis, NY 12771
RESIDENT
PORT JERVIS CITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Superintendent
Thomas M. Bongiovi
6
www.pjschools.org
Port News
BUDGET 2016-17
PORT JERVIS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
School District Budget Notice
Overall Budget Proposal
Total Budgeted Amount, Not Including Separate Propositions
Budget Adopted
for the 2015-16
School Year
Budget Proposed
for the 2016-17
School Year
Contingency
Budget for the
2016-17 School
Year*
$65,659,635
$68,415,706
$68,227,658
$2,756,071
$2,568,023
4.2%
3.92%
Increase/decrease for the 2016-2017 school year
Percentage Increase/Decrease in Proposed Budget
Change in the Consumer Price Index
A. Proposed Tax Levy to Support the Total Budgeted Amount
0.12%
$27,696,501
$27,696,501
B. Levy to Support Library Debt, if Applicable
$0
$0
C. Levy for Non-Excludable Propositions, if Applicable **
$0
$0
D. Total Tax Cap Reserve Amount Used to Reduce Current Year Levy
$0
$0
$27,696,501
$27,696,501
E. Total Proposed School Year Tax Levy (A + B + C - D)
F. Permissible Exclusions to the School Tax Levy Limit
$27,696,501
$174,335
$102,491
G. School Tax Levy Limit, Excluding Levy for Permissible Exclusions
$27,522,166
$27,594,010
H. Total Proposed Tax Levy for School Purposes, Excluding Permissible
Exclusions and Levy for Library Debt, Plus Prior Year Tax Cap Reserve
(E - B - F + D)
$27,522,166
$27,594,010
I. Difference: (G – H); (Negative Value Requires 60.0% Voter Approval
– See Note Below Regarding Separate Propositions) **
$0
$0
$5,504,664
$5,799,540
$5,746,690
$50,925,227
$53,272,079
$53,218,131
$9,229,744
$9,344,087
$9,262,837
Administrative component
Program component
Capital component
The School District
Budget Notice (on left) is
mandated by state law.
School districts must
present their costs in three
prescribed components.
The budget document,
which contains a
summary report of
tax exemptions, is
available at:
District Business Office
9 Thompson Street, Port
Jervis, NY 12771, and in
the main office of each
school building.
If you have any questions
or need more information,
please call the Business
Office at 858-3100,
Ext. 15531.
Additional budget
information is
available at
community budget
meetings and on the
District web site,
www.pjschools.org
The 2016-2017 contingency budget will require elimination of equipment purchases as well as small reductions in administrative initiatives.
A contingent budget would require $188,048 in budget reductions.
Estimated Basic STAR Exemption Savings
Budget proposed for 2016-2017 school year
Basic School Tax Relief (STAR) exemption is authorized by Section 425 of the Real Property Tax Law. Port Jervis City School
District is comprised of four towns and one city. STAR Exemption amounts are different for each one. Actual savings is dependent on
assessments and equalizations on rates which are not available before July 1.*
$1,025*
The annual budget vote for the 2016-17 fiscal year by the qualified voters of the Port Jervis City School District, Orange County, New York, will be held at Port Jervis City School District Schools in said District on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., prevailing time in the Port Jervis City School District, at which the polls will be open
to vote by voting machine. Polling Locations are: Port Jervis High School, Port Jervis Middle School, and Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School. For more information, call Dawn
Lasch in the District Office at 858-3100, Ext. 15511.
PORT JERVIS CIT Y SCHO OL DISTRICT
Budget Vote & School Board Election set for May 17
Proposed budget has NO increase to local taxation
The proposed 2016 –
2017 budget for Port Jervis
School District delivers
continued progress in
student programs, enhancement in technological areas
throughout the district, and
provides focus for the future.
The recommended budget
is below the official local tax
levy with a 0% increase in
local taxation.
If approved by voters on
May 17, the $68.4 million
budget would grant the district new teaching positions
and support several administrative initiatives.
Quality investments
Included in the new
positions are two elementary
special education teachers,
three math AIS teachers, an
Instructional Technology
teacher, and an Attendance/
Data teacher. One of these
positions will be grant
funded and a retiree position
will be reassigned.
On the ballot are three
referendum projects. Those
include the Smart Schools
Bond Act, with nearly a dozen
district wide technologybased projects, demolition of
the Sullivan Ave. building, and
the establishment of a Capital
Reserve Fund to address the
future of the middle school
building and property.
SPECIAL EDITION
BUDGET 2016-17
What’s
Inside
2 Three-part Budget
2 - 3 Referendums
4 Board CandIdates
5 District Using $1.05
Million From Fund
Balance
6 Budget Notice
BUDGET VOTE
AT-A-GLANCE
Our students are working hard to meet with success each day and
to be college and career ready.
The Smart Bond Schools
Act, funded with over $3 million in state aid, will greatly
enhance the technology
infrastructure of the district.
Ten laptop carts containing
250 new computers, lighting
and video upgrades, and the
completion of a district wide
security camera and magnetic
door system are proposed.
The local share of this project,
$750,000, comes from existing fund balance.
The removal of the
Sullivan Ave. building eliminates an unsustainable structure and leaves the district
a clean property for future
consideration.
Also on the ballot is the
creation of a Capital Reserve
Fund to address the aging
middle school. This fund is
specific and measured to meet
the needs of education for
tomorrow.
Focus for the future
“The budget as proposed
offers a clear vision for our
district. It focuses on educational improvements and
providing the tools necessary
to meet the challenges of our
modern technological world,”
said board president Deborah
Lasch.
▪▪ Proposed Budget
$68,415,706
▪▪ Budget Increase
$2,756,071
▪▪ Estimated* Tax Levy Increase
0%
▪▪ Also on the Ballot:
BOARD OF EDUCATION
ELECTIONS
Three seats are up
for election.
Each seat carries
a three-year term.
24
PORT JERVIS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
What happens if the budget is not approved?
Three-part Budget Comparison
2015-2016
2016-2017
836,949
869,715
Building Administration
3,168,326
3,485,351
Employee Benefits
1,499,389
1,444,474
TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET
5,504,664
5,799,540
Regular Instruction
17,088,456
18,222,859
Special Education
14,235,664
14,845,419
3,936,677
4,029,948
Pupil Activities
762,468
885,026
Transportation
3,272,487
3,302,830
Employee Benefits
11,629,475
11,985,997
TOTAL PROGRAM BUDGET
50,925,227
53,272,079
Operations & Maintenance
4,864,149
4,745,308
Debt and Legal
2,982,026
3,269,277
Employee Benefits
1,383,569
1,329,502
TOTAL CAPITAL BUDGET
9,229,744
9,344,087
65,659,635
68,415,706
Under Contingency Budget, the district would have
to reduce the budget by $188,048.
ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET
General Support
If a proposed budget is defeated by voters, Board
of Education members in all New York State school
districts have options for a revote or adoption of a contingency budget. Under tax levy limit law, Port Jervis
Schools would eliminate equipment purchases and
reduce administrative initiatives. Fees would be inacted
for all community organizations who use school fields
and buildings.
PROGRAM BUDGET
Instructional Support
CAPITAL BUDGET
GRAND TOTAL
The proposed budget represents a 4.2% increase over last year’s
budget and a 0% projected increase on the tax levy.
Capital Reserve Proposition
The Board of Education will make a decision as to the
future of the aging Middle School. Options include building
a new school, renovation of the current school, or adding an
addition to the existing High School. All options will involve
taxpayer approval, and any plan will include a local financial
share.
Creation of the Capital Reserve allows the Board of
Education to set aside fund balance specifically to offset the
cost of this future building project. The scope of the Capital Reserve is specific to this need and comes with several
guidelines. Funds may be set aside for no longer than ten
years and not to exceed $10 million. All contributions to
the Capital Reserve will require Board of Education action
through a board resolution. After ten years, should there be
excess funds in the Capital Reserve or no action taken, funds
would revert back to the general operating budget.
BUDGET 2016-17 53
Smart Bond Capital Project
New York State has allocated $3.185 million to the Port Jervis City School District
for specific technology initiatives. Called the Smart Schools Bond Act, this program
provides funds for
educational technology
and infrastructure and
to improve learning and
opportunity for students
throughout the State.
Financed through 88%
state building aid, the
local share of this project
is $750,000, provided via
the fund balance.
The Smart Bond
projects span the entire district. At Anna S.
Kuhl Elementary (ASK),
renovations will be made
in the library and new
audio/video upgrades in the cafetorium. Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary (HBE) will
have renovations to the library and similar new audio/video projector upgrades as well
as new lighting in the gymnasium. New security doors with magnetic closing features
will be installed at HBE. (The Route 209 ASK/High School complex had these doors
installed recently).
The middle school will see new “smart” TVs with interactive displays. At the high
school, new lighting in the auditorium and gym are planned.
Other upgrades are planned throughout the district. New security cameras will be
installed and related technology advances will be made. Ten laptop carts containing 250
computers are included in the plan. At the Route 209 complex, repair and upgrades will
be made to the aging sanitary and water lines.
SMART
BOND
CAPITAL PROJECT
• Renovate Elementary
Libraries
• District-Wide Technology
Infrastructure Upgrades
• Sound and Projector
Upgrades - elementary
and high school
cafeterias/auditoriums
• Security Camera
Upgrades
• Middle School Smart
TVs/Interactive Displays
• 10 Laptop Carts - 250
New Computers
• Upgrade security doors
at HBE
• Repair aging water lines
at ASK/High School
Campus
• Lighting Upgrades in
HBE and High School
Gymnasiums
Sullivan Ave. School Demolition
In 2016 Easter Seals relinquished ownership and returned the title of the Sullivan Avenue property back to the
Port Jervis City School District. The Sullivan Avenue building has remained unoccupied for more than ten years. The
Board of Education reviewed the costs of renovation and
determined that the building requires far too much repair
to be a viable school. The Board of Education has proposed
$353,000 to cover the cost of demolition. There will be no
additional cost to the taxpayers. The fund balance will cover
this expense.
The Port Jervis City School District retains ownership of
this property for future use.
BUDGET 2016-17 64
Board of Education Candidates
Robert B. Witherow - Incumbent
Witherow is running for his second 3-year term.
He is the father of three Port Jervis graduates
(class of ‘82, ‘89, 92). Witherow has over 38
years educational experience. Positions held
during his career include, coach, teacher, dean
of students, principal, assistant superintendent,
and superintendent of schools. He has been on various
educational committees and civic organizations.
PLATFORM: “I believe that our foremost obligation is to provide a
sound educational foundation for our students within the abilities of
our school district communities to offset the cost. My goal is to prepare
our students to be ready to succeed in their chosen lives beyond
high school.”
Brian Dewey
Dewey seeks his first term on the board.
He is the Finance Manager at the Port Jervis
Auto Mall.
PLATFORM: “I own two homes here in the
district and would like to see if there is a way to
help offset the tax burden on the general public
while still giving the students the best possible education. My wife is
a teacher here in the district, so I have a direct conduit to the district.
My wife and I have been running a fundraiser here in town for the
past 10 years so I am no stranger to giving back. I have no children
of my own and I can’t think of a better way to give back to the
community then to serve them.”
Tanya Parker-Hughes
Parker-Hughes, class of 1989, is running for her
first term. She is the mother of two students
currently enrolled in Port Jervis schools. ParkerHughes is an English Instructor at SUNY Orange.
She has served on the Port Jervis school
district’s BEPT Committee, Safety Committee,
and has been a PTA board member in the elementary and middle
school.
PLATFORM: “I can make a positive contribution to the board. I
believe in our students, and I’d like our schools to do all they can to
help the students reach their full potential. I simply want to be a part
of helping make the best decisions for the students and taxpayers.”
Three of the nine seats on the Board of
Education are up for election. Five district
residents are running to fill these seats.
Nicholas Tranchina
Tranchina is seeking his first term on the board. He is the father
of a first grade student currently enrolled in Port Jervis Schools.
Tranchina works as an electrician at Cornwall Central Schools
and owns his own business, Nicholas Electrical and Mechanical
Contracting.
PLATFORM: “As a parent, homeowner, and local businessman, the
Port Jervis area has been our home for the last fourteen years. As a board
member I believe I can bring new ideas and opportunities for our students
futures. I share the beliefs and values that we are one district, one mission.”
Earl Walker, Jr.
Walker is running for his first 3-year term,
having been elected or appointed three
times to fill 1 year vacancies. Walker was
Assistant Director of Regulatory Affairs, Lederle
Laboratories, for twenty years, and laboratory
supervisor, Cornell University, for more than
twelve years. Walker is the father of a Port Jervis graduate,
Class of 1985.
PLATFORM: “I want to serve because I have an obligation to serve.
An obligation to my community, my friends, and my fellow taxpayers.
My strengths are management experience and lack of conflicts of
interest. These are the strengths I will bring to bear to resolve the lack
of effective leadership at Thompson Street, especially on education and
personnel issues.”