Budget Newsletter - Schalmont Central Schools

 2015-16 BUDGET
 Residents
to vote May 19 on 2015-16 budget proposal
Proposed budget carries 1.9 percent tax levy increase
Schalmont Central School District
residents will head to the polls on Tuesday,
May 19, to vote on a $45,797,561 budget proposal for the 2015-16 school year,
which increases spending by $1,242,831 or
2.79 percent over the current year’s budget.
If approved, the tax levy—total amount
of money to be raised through property
taxes—would increase $537,602 or 1.99
percent, which is 0.76 percent below the
maximum allowed under the state’s tax
levy limit law. Budget approval by a simple
majority is required for budget passage.
“By adopting this proposal we sought to
further our mission to ensure all students
are prepared for the challenges of college and careers in the 21st century while
balancing the needs of our taxpayers,” said
Superintendent Dr. Carol Pallas.
Residents will also vote on a bus proposition and elect three candidates to the
Board of Education.
District to receive more state aid
Schalmont is slated to receive an estimated $882,168 or 9.9 percent increase
in state funding over the current year.
The increase is contingent on the district
having a new state-approved teacher and
principal evaluation plan in place next fall.
As part of the increase, the district
expects to receive a partial restoration of
the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA)
totaling $443,586 in 2015-16.
Despite the partial GEA restoration,
Schalmont is still owed approximately
$735,000 in aid that should have flowed
to the district in the coming year as the
state continues to tap into education aid
to balance its own budget.
Although legislators have agreed to end
the GEA permanently in 2016-17, school
officials remain cognizant that Schalmont
has lost approximately $9 million to the
GEA since its inception five years ago.
While the higher-than-expected increase
in state funding closed an earlier projected
$300,000 budget gap between expenses and
revenues, school officials say reductions are
still necessary to address declining enrollment, create efficiencies and maintain the
district’s long-term financial stability.
Proposal supports college and
career readiness
Education is at a pivotal point in history
with the Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS), technology-based learning
Making clouds, studying fingerprints and
examining old skeletons
were among the many
fun and exciting science
experiments students
conducted as part of a
unique enrichment offering led by Schalmont
High School’s Science
Honor Society. More
than 60 fourth-graders
participated in the program, which was held
weekly in March.
May 19 Vote At-A-Glance
Polls open 6 a.m.–9 p.m.
Schalmont High School
New Gym Lobby
• Proposed Budget:
$45,797,561
• Spending Increase:
$1,242,831 or 2.79%
• Tax Levy Increase:
$537,602 or 1.99%
• Also on the Ballot:
Bus Proposition, Board Election
and new graduation requirements changing
the way education is delivered to students.
To that end, budget development involved
a careful review and analysis of current
enrollment, programming and staffing to
ensure all offerings best prepare students for
college and careers.
The budget proposal supports priorities and initiatives outlined in Schalmont’s
strategic plan, such as focusing on student
learning, improving instructional support
for faculty and staff, and incorporating
instructional technology.
There are currently four “teachers on
special assignment” at Schalmont working successfully to help their colleagues
incorporate new learning standards into the
classroom or research, plan and teach technology-infused lessons, units or projects.
The 2015-16 budget further invests in
that approach by adding an instructional
literacy coach at the high school to support teachers in developing a consistent,
clear understanding of what students are
expected to learn following implementation of the CCLS.
continued on page 3
www.schalmont.org
2015-16 BUDGET  page 1
Q & A on the proposed budget
happens if the
Q. What
proposal is not approved?
If the proposed budget is defeated May 19,
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 contingent budget. If the budget
is defeated a second time, the board must
adopt a contingent budget.
Under the state’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 eliminate $537,602
from its proposed budget under contingency.
Q.
How would the proposed
budget affect my tax bill?
Residents’ individual tax bills are determined by tax rates, which are based on
the tax levy, and several factors beyond the
district’s control. These include assessment levels and equalization rates, as well
as individual property owners’ exemptions,
such as the state’s STAR program. The district sets final tax rates each summer after
all of these other factors are finalized.
However, based on current estimates,
the tax bill for a home assessed at $100,000
within the Town of Rotterdam, for example,
would increase by $39 next year if voters approve the proposed 2015-16 budget. This is
only an estimate and subject to change.
Q.
How will the state’s “tax
freeze” affect my tax bill?
Last year, the state Legislature created
a property tax credit that may provide a
rebate check to homeowners next school
year if their local school district stays within
its 2015-16 tax levy cap and receives state
approval for a shared services/efficiency plan
that achieves savings equivalent to one percent of the tax levy each year for three years.
Homeowners who are eligible for the
STAR Program will receive a rebate check
page 2  2015-16 BUDGET
from the state for a portion of school taxes
paid if Schalmont meets both of these requirements. Schalmont officials have not yet
received approval on their submitted plan,
but expect to receive notice by July 2015.
does the state budget
Q. How
affect Schalmont?
As part of the final state budget, Schalmont is expected to receive an estimated
$882,168 increase in state aid. However,
in order to receive that increase, the state
budget includes a provision that says each
district must have a new teacher and principal evaluation plan that complies with a
new set of regulations. The plan must be
sent to and approved by the State Education
Department by November 15, 2015. This
will be the fourth such plan in five years
for school districts and the second time in
recent years that school aid will be linked
to the state’s approval of a local system for
rating teacher effectiveness. While the full
parameters of the new evaluations are not
known at this time, school officials will be
analyzing details as they become available
from the state to meet the requirements and
receive the increase. The new evaluation
procedure is just one part of what is entitled
the “Education Transformation Act of 2015,”
which includes other changes such as extending the probationary period for teachers
and principals from three to four years and
a new process for addressing “chronically
underperforming” schools. Learn more at
schalmont.org/budget.
Estimated tax rates by town
Town
Guilderland
Florida
Duanesburg
Princetown
Rotterdam
2014-15
Final
$21.40
$37.86
$53.63
$53.35
$19.34
2015-16
Estimated
$21.83
$38.61
$54.70
$54.41
$19.73
Dollar
Change
$0.43
$0.75
$1.07
$1.06
$0.39
Tax rates are shown per
$1,000 of assessed value.
These are estimates only
based on 2014-15 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.
Proud to be a Sabre!
Schalmont employees make a difference every day encouraging the success and well-being of
each student. The following thoughts highlight this
sentiment. Read more this spring on the district’s
Facebook and Twitter accounts using the hashtag
#SabrePride.
“The feeling of pride that comes with a lesson where
students seem to truly get it is like walking on air.”
—John Urbanski, grade 7/8 teacher.
“I am very fortunate to work with wonderful
children and be a member of a community that appreciates the efforts of educators.”
—Jason Thompson, Jefferson Assistant Principal.
“Food service staff supply our students with healthy, nutritious and great-tasting food that helps
students stay focused in class and grow strong bones.”
—Marcy vonMaucher, food services director.
“Schalmont is a tight-knit community where everyone cares about each other.”
—Marie Drislane, second-grade teacher. v
www.schalmont.org
Proposed budget
continued from page 1
The addition of a computer technician
will provide students and staff with timely
and knowledgeable technical support for
initiatives outlined in the district’s technology
plan, including the roll out of Chromebooks
to next year’s incoming freshman class and
every high school student by 2018.
By offering a new Project Lead the Way
course next year, Schalmont will provide
students new opportunities to develop college and career-ready skills and create an
alternate pathway to high school graduation.
The addition of a part-time psychologist
at Jefferson will provide the social/emotional support necessary to increase student
readiness to learn.
Some existing programs, courses and
staffing assignments have been restructured at no additional cost, including
withdrawal from Schalmont and Mohonasen’s joint Community Transition Program for
students with disabilities.
Under the proposal, existing district
staff would return to the secondary level
to provide much-needed support, and the
sole remaining student would transfer to a
BOCES placement next year.
“Although we’ve had a successful
partnership over the years through this
program, we think this is the responsible
thing to do,” said Pallas.
Of the approximately $270,000 in
reductions, nearly half of the total will be
achieved through salary breakage following the retirement of several veteran
instructional and administrative staff
members who will be replaced by professionals with lower salaries (see right). v
Learn more at schalmont.org
Extensive budget information is
available online at schalmont.org/budget.
Read more about about how school
budgets work, watch videos about the
state’s property tax levy limit and Gap
Elimination Adjustment and download
flyers about everything from the STAR
program to pensions and state mandates.
What’s different in the proposed budget?
Total Proposed Budget Reductions ($270,000)
Non-Instructional Staff Reductions: $70,000
• Eliminate a 1.0 full-time-equivalent (FTE) senior account clerk position and
transition duties to district treasurer ($60,000)
• Change a 1.0 FTE custodial position to a 1.0 FTE cleaning position as a costsaving measure following a retirement ($10,000)
Instructional Staff Reductions: $200,000
• Reduce second grade teaching position by 1.0 FTE due to declining enrollment
($50,000)
• Savings from retirements/resignations ($150,000)
— Director of Transportation
— Social studies teacher
— Art teacher
— Math teacher
— Facilities Director
Recommended Program/Staffing Changes - No additional cost
• Withdrawal from the joint Schalmont/Mohonasen Community Transition Program
for students with disabilities by shifting the one remaining student to a BOCES
placement next school year. The existing 1.0 FTE special education teaching
position would transfer to the middle school, while the 1.0 FTE social worker
position would move to the high school.
• Change three 0.2 FTE teaching positions into one 0.6 FTE teaching position to
replace an antiquated high school business course with a technology-focused
one, enabling students to navigate the college and career planning process
using Naviance to complete the common application, apply for financial aid
and explore today’s careers.
• Retool a sixth-grade reading program to focus on enhancing students’ online
literacy with an emphasis on digital citizenship by reallocating 1.2 FTE
teaching positions.
• Replace 2.0 FTE teacher aides with a 1.0 FTE teaching assistant position to
better address student needs and provide support.
Additions: $120,000
• Add 1.0 FTE in technological support to assist with implementation of
initiatives outlined in the district’s technology plan. $35,000
• Add a 1.0 FTE high school literacy coach to support teachers implementing
Common Core Learning Standards. $50,000
• Add a 0.5 FTE psychologist to address student needs at Jefferson. $25,000
• Add a 0.2 FTE teaching position to create an additional pre-engineering course
to begin offering a Career and Technical Education pathway at the high school.
$10,000
www.schalmont.org
2015-16 BUDGET  page 3
The three-part budget
The state requires school districts to present their annual budgets in three parts: program,
administrative and capital.
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.
• 2015-16: $37,100,381 (81.01%)
• 2014-15: $36,078,452 (80.96%)
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.
• 2015-16: $2,269,430 (4.95%)
• 2014-15: $2,205,415 (4.95%)
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.
• 2015-16: $6,427,750 (14.04%)
• 2014-15: $6,270,863 (14.09%)
Where
does the
money
come
from?
 Expenditure
 Revenue
Board candidates featured in
future brochure and online
On May 19, voters will elect three
candidates to three open seats on the
Schalmont Board of Education.
Newcomer Joseph Amoroso,
Amelia Hallam, who is currently
filling a ten-month vacancy, and
current board president Gregory
Campoli are running for the open
seats. Albert Falcone is not seeking
re-election to the school board.
Two seats carry three-year
terms of office, and one seat is a
one-year term of office. All seats
are “at large” which means that
each nominee is eligible for
every vacancy rather than only
for a specific seat. The candidates with the most votes will
get the three-year terms of office
followed by the one-year term of office.
Candidate biographies will be featured in
a future brochure to be mailed after the May
5 budget hearing. In addition to candidate
biographies, the publication will include the
state-mandated budget notice. Information
is also posted at schalmont.org. v
Summary
Approved Budget Proposed Budget
Percent
2014-15 2015-16Change
State and Federal Aid
$12,406,509
$13,266,288
6.93%
Fund Balance Appropriations
$644,778
$596,749
-7.45%
Interfund Transfers
$524,243
$505,973
-3.49%
Interest Earnings/Building Use/Refunds $514,250
$394,750
-23.23%
Payments in Lieu of Taxes
$3,449,773
$3,481,022
0.91%
Property Tax Levy for Budget
$27,015,177
$27,552,779 1.99%
Revenue in budget
$44,554,730
$45,797,561
2.79%
Summary
Approved Budget Proposed Budget
Percent
2014-15 2015-16Change
Instruction
$21,130,454 $22,053,286
4.37%
Employee Benefits
$13,093,600
$13,064,935 -0.22%
Operations and Maintenance
$2,546,753
$2,563,750
0.67%
Transportation
$2,601,826$2,731,960
5%
District Support
$1,372,987
$1,434,630
4.49%
Debt Service and Transfer
$3,809,110
$3,949,000
3.67%
Expenditures in budget
$44,554,730 $45,797,561
2.79%
page 4  2015-16 BUDGET
www.schalmont.org
Where
does the
money
go?
(see next page for details)
Budget–to–budget comparison
How your school tax dollars are spent
Proposed Expenditures
2014-15
Budget
2015-16
Proposed
Teaching
$10,901,217
Occupational Education
$962,525
Special Education
$5,045,601
Curriculum Development
$337,639
Supervision
$832,426
Summer School
$39,316
Library
$314,233
Computer-Assisted Instruction
$1,163,830
Guidance
$610,031
Health Services
$289,637
Psychological Services
$229,048
Co-Curricular Activities
$72,757
Athletics
$332,194
Total
$21,130,454
Percent Change
$10,993,877
$922,000
$6,174,399
$280,250
$834,800
$66,800
$332,750
$793,300
$638,900
$302,000
$245,510
$55,000
$413,700
$22,053,286
4.37%
(28.53% of 2015-16 budget)
Health Insurance
$7,520,700
$8,050,935
Teachers’ Retirement
$2,577,800
$2,120,000
Employees’ Retirement
$1,056,100
$900,000
Social Security (FICA)
$1,562,500
$1,650,000
Worker’s Compensation
$130,000
$145,000
Unemployment
Life Insurance
$100,000
$122,000
$40,000
$131,000
$24,500
$28,000
$13,093,600
$13,064,935
Total
Percent Change
-0.22%
Transportation (5.97% of 2015-16 budget)
Transportation
Garage
Contracted Transportation
Total
Percent Change
$6,280
$2,320
$232,742
$372,805
$47,792
$500
$15,000
$8,700
$108,150
$59,898
$111,000
$57,100
$128,000
$18,700
$204,000
$6,000
$1,900
$235,200
$341,730
$40,200
$500
$9,000
$8,700
$105,000
$74,000
$170,800
$60,600
$145,000
$20,000
$216,000
$1,372,987
$1,434,630
4.49%
(3.13% of 2015-16 budget)
(48.15% of 2015-16 budget)
Disability Insurance
2015-16
Proposed
District Support
Instruction
Employee Benefits
2014-15
Budget
Proposed Expenditures
$2,412,240
$2,420,110
$79,586
$76,850
$110,000
$235,000
$2,601,826
$2,731,960
5%
www.schalmont.org
Board of Education
District Clerk/Meeting
Central Administration
Business Administration
Auditing
Treasurer
Tax Collection
Purchasing
Legal Services
Personnel
Public Information
Central Printing
Insurance
School Dues
BOCES Administration
Total
Percent Change
Debt Service & Transfers
(8.62% of 2015-16 budget)
Buses
Construction
Tax Certiorari
Interfund Transfer
Total
Percent Change
$426,310
$2,828,350
$469,450
$85,000
$3,809,110
$505,000
$2,885,000
$474,000
$85,000
$3,949,000
3.67%
Operations & Maintenance
(5.60% of 2015-16 budget)
Custodial Services
Maintenance
Total
$1,843,670
$1,718,350
$703,083
$845,400
$2,546,753
$2,563,750
Percent Change
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
Percent Change
0.67%
$44,554,730
$45,797,561
2.79%
2015-16 BUDGET  page 5
Produced in
cooperation
with the Capital
Region BOCES
Communications
Service.
Board of
Education
Gregory Campoli
President
4 Sabre Dr., Schenectady, NY 12306
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 203
Albany, NY
Superintendent
Dr. Carol Pallas
School Business
Administrator
Joseph Lenz
Postal Customer
ECRWSS
Michael Pasquarella
Director of
Vice President
Curriculum
John DiCocco
Bronson Knaggs
Albert Falcone
Editor
Amelia Hallam
Audrey Brahler
Robert Sheehan
Kevin Thompson
Phone
(518) 355-9200
BOARD CANDIDATES TO BE FEATURED IN FUTURE BROCHURE AND ONLINE AT SCHALMONT.ORG
Voters to decide on bus proposition
Budget Vote - Tuesday, May 19
On May 19, voters will consider a separate proposition to
purchase three new 66-passenger buses, one new 28-passenger
bus and one new wheelchairaccessible bus at a cost not to
exceed $470,000.
The district’s bus fleet
would not increase under
the proposition because older,
heavily-used vehicles that are
becoming costly to maintain
would be traded in toward the
purchase of the new vehicles.
The older vehicles have logged
128,000-181,000 miles over the
past 11-14 years.
Polls open 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.,
Schalmont High School New Gym Lobby
On the Ballot:
• 2015-16 Budget Proposal
ID is
Proper
e.
d to vot
• Bus Proposition
require
• Board of Education Election
If approved, the actual cost to
the district will be significantly
less because of the trade-in value
and state aid reimbursement on
51 percent of the cost.
This reduces the local taxpayer share of the proposition to
$219,900. This cost is already
included in the debt service
calculation for the 2015-16
proposed budget so it would not
increase the proposed budget.
The proposition is part of the
district’s annual bus replacement
plan designed to keep buses in
safe, working order while mitigating the cost to taxpayers. v
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 to residents who will be
out of town or unable to vote in person on May 19 due
to illness or disability. Ballots are available in the District
Office, 4 Sabre Drive. Call 518-355-9200, ext. 4002, for
more information or to have a ballot mailed to you.
Exit survey to be available at the polls
Schalmont’s 50-unit bus fleet travels nearly 600,000 miles per year. The
annual bus replacement plan has helped to maintain student safety and
control repair and maintenance costs on older buses.
page 6  2015-16 BUDGET
Voters will be given the opportunity to complete a voluntary
and anonymous exit survey at the polls. School officials use
feedback to help guide future budget decisions.
www.schalmont.org