With a school budget of $42.3 million, The Schalmont Board of Education hopes to adopt a 2010-11 budget that shows a zero percent change in budget from the previous year.
With the expectation that the district will see a loss of $1.5 million in state aid, the board of education and Schalmont Superintendent of Schools, Valerie Kelsey, have worked to create a budget with no year to year increase in spending.
The proposed budget includes proposed cuts at all levels of the district, including elementary summer school programs, the gifted and talented program, the DARE program and more than $25,000 in cuts to the athletic program, according to information from the district website.
The largest portion of cuts in the proposed budget include the elimination of 14 full time equivalent positions, which would impact nearly 21 employees in the district.
"We've made quite a bit of cuts but we've managed to maintain the integrity of school programs," said Kelsey.
The Schalmont Board of Education will meet again on Monday, April 12, for their second budget forum and to adopt the 2010-2011 budget at Jefferson Elementary School at 7 p.m. The school board will also hold an official budget hearing at the Schalmont Middle School on May 10. The official budget vote will be held on May 18 at the Schalmont High School Gym foyer.
ROTTERDAM Schalmont budget to cut 20 from payroll BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter
Residents of the Schalmont Central School District would see a 1 percent tax rate increase under a budget the Board of Education approved on Monday. The $42,325,000 proposal, which keeps spending flat, also would cut 14 full-time equivalent positions, affecting about 20 people in all. The district would lose about $1.2 million in aid under Gov. David Paterson’s proposed budget, so it had to make reductions. Another factor is enrollment has been steadily declining. The district has about 2,000 students, having lost 300 students during the last six years. “We’ve tightened our belt in all areas,” said Superintendent Valerie Kelsey. “We feel at the same time we’ve been doing these reductions, we’ve maintained the integrity of our programs.” Among the cuts are positions in math and home economics at the high school, a section at the middle school, four kindergarten aides and a reduction in the supply budget by 30 percent. Also eliminated was the math and science summer academy, music camp, the DARE program, the gifted and talented program, a social worker, speech improvement specialist and deaf educator. Sports were also affected. The district cut the ice hockey program it shared with Mohonasen, freshmen boys’ and girls’ basketball and modified track. In addition to the layoffs and staff cuts, Schalmont is also tapping $623,000 from its fund balance. This is more than what the district usually takes from its surplus, according to Kelsey. The board voted unanimously to send the budget to voters on May 18. .............>>>>............>>>>.................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00702&AppName=1
SCHALMONT Schalmont voters approved a $42.3 million budget and reelected the three incumbents to the Board of Education. The budget plan, which was approved by a vote of 768 to 504, keeps spending flat and raises the tax rate by 1 percent. The spending reductions were necessary because of a proposed reduction of $1.2 million in state aid. “We’re grateful for everyone who took the time to vote today,” Superintendent Valerie Kelsey said in a statement. “It was a difficult budget year, especially with no official decision yet on the governor’s state aid cuts. This budget will help ensure Schalmont students continue to receive a quality education.” Incumbents Robert Sheehan, Michael DellaVilla and Sandra Beloncik were re-elected. Sheehan received 832 votes, DellaVilla had 815 and Beloncik had 749. John DiCocco, who was seeking his first term, finished out of the running with 628 votes. Voters also approved purchasing three 66-passenger buses at a total cost of $294,000 by a vote of 667 to 500. State aid will pick up some of the cost, leaving the taxpayers with a cost of $117,600.
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