For release: February 28, 2006

Scotia-Glenville Superintendent Susan Swartz presents 2006-07 budget to the Board of Education

Superintendent Susan Swartz presented a $42.1 million 2006-07 budget to the Board of Education on Monday that would increase spending by 5.2 percent or $2.08 million and taxes by an estimated 6 to 7 percent.

The Board of Education will review the budget at work sessions at 7 p.m. on March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3 and April 10 at the Middle School. The board expects to adopt a budget on Wednesday, April 12.

The formal budget hearing and PTA Council Meet the Candidates' Night is set for 7 p.m. on May 3 at the Middle School. The community vote on the budget is Tuesday, May 16, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the high school gym.

"Budget development is a year-round process and this is the culmination of that," said Swartz. "We know we can't have everything we want; this budget represents what we truly feel is important for our children."

She noted that the budget looks healthy because of teacher retirement savings, some posts have remained unfilled, health insurance costs are under budget for the year, savings from returning special education classes to S-G and an effort to save money by using internal staff instead of hiring from the outside.

The 6 to 7 percent tax increase estimate assumes no change in assessments and that Gov. Pataki's state aid proposal is adopted by the state Legislature.

A carryover budget with no new programs would increase spending by $1.58 million or 3.94%. A contingency budget, required if the budget is twice defeated by the community, would require a $98,705 reduction in spending.

Swartz cautioned that there are several unknowns that affect revenue in the budget: adoption of a state budget; reassessment of homes in Scotia and Glenville; fluctuations in the prices of gas and oil; the on-going issues with student enrollment; and completion of annual special education reviews of students.

Joseph Kavanaugh, director of curriculum and instruction, presented the recommendations of the Long Range Planning Committee. These proposals are the centerpiece of the superintendent's budget:

Elementary:

  • Appoint a lead teacher to increase collaboration between special education and general education teachers (grant funded);
  • Add two teaching assistants for the four elementary computer labs; two additional teaching assistants would be added the following year;
  • 1.0 reading teacher split between Glendaal and Glen-Worden (grant funded);
  • Add 2-3 new slots for the BOCES Young Scholars program in both grades 4 and 5;
  • 1.0 reduction in teaching positions at Glendaal;

Middle School:

  • Foreign Language every day in grade 7 (now taught every other day);
  • Offer health instruction in grade 6 instead of grade 7;
  • Studio Art offering in grade 8 for accelerated students;
  • Consolidated the SAIL (alternative education program) program from a grades 6-7-8 offering to a grades 7 and 8 offering;
  • Increased social worker time ( .2) (grant funded)
  • Middle Skills Program (MSP) for special education student offered in grade 8
  • Young Scholars (enrichment in humanities) offered for half-day in grade 6; the half- day Scotia Scholars program would still be offered for math and science enrichment
  • ELA honors program in grade 7 within current staffing;
  • Teaching Assistant provided for co-teaching (partially grant funded);

High School:

  • Change dean of students to assistant principal;
  • Increase in GOAL alternative education staffing;
  • Expansion of special education Life Skills Program;
  • Reduction of Academic Head teaching load (reduce from three classes per day to two classes per day within current staffing) to focus more on K-12 curriculum programs and supervision of teachers;
  • Director of Technology to replace current technology coordinator;

Operations:

  • Increased district library clerk time;
  • Add an Athletic Trainer for two hours per day for two days per week;
  • Increase in Float Nurse position to be sure nurses' offices are covered;
  • Increases in Budget Lines of: supplies; field trips; staff development and summer curriculum;
  • Technology Replacement Plan;
  • IEP/504 accommodation aide at MS;

Buildings and Grounds:

  • In-house program for heating/ventilation/air conditioning to replace having outside contractor maintenance agreements;
  • Increase for projects and maintenance ;

Transportation:

  • Bus proposition (to be detailed at March 6 meeting)
  • Increase in head bus driver time.

For more information, contact Superintendent Susan Swartz at 382-1215 or
Robert Hanlon, communications, at 386-4343.