Monday, April 8 – Students will be dismissed early today due to the solar eclipse.
Early dismissal times
- 11:10 a.m. middle school students
- 11:15 a.m. high school students
- 12 p.m. all elementary students
Board of Education meeting at 7 p.m.
Tonight at 7 p.m. the Scotia-Glenville School District Board of Education will be meeting in the Middle School Cafeteria. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed live on the district’s YouTube Channel. The YouTube link for tonight’s meeting—and the meeting agenda—can be found by clicking the BOARD OF EDUCATION tab on our website.
School board approves budget proposal for 2024-25 school year
The annual budget vote and school board election is May 21 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the high school B-wing gym
During the last Board of Education meeting on March 25, the board approved a budget for the 2024-25 school year. The $65,085,194 proposal maintains all current programs and services for students and preserves critical health and safety features of the current budget, including cyber security, two school resource officers, an athletic trainer, and increased mental health services.
The proposed spending plan increases by 3.38% or $2,125,612 from the current year, and includes a tax levy increase of 2.83% or $919,347. With an estimated tax rate increase of 1.92%, the tax bill on a $160,000 home would increase by an estimated $74.40 per year or $6.20 per month before STAR.
Ballot Measures
In addition to the 2024-25 budget, voters will also be asked to decide on three other propositions.
- A $12.5M building proposition – with no increase to 2024-25 tax levy due to the debt falling off, new building aid funds, and a debt service reserve the district set aside. This capital project was presented at the January 22 Board of Education meeting. It proposes safety and other necessary upgrades to our buildings throughout our six schools.
- The anticipated purchase of three new buses in the amount of $329,000 – with no increase to 2024-25 tax levy. Going forward, the new debt would be offset by the payoff of old debt.
- An electric bus proposal – with no increase to 2024-25 tax levy – contingent on receipt of state or federal funding to offset purchase.
Board of Education Candidacy and Public Budget Hearing
There are two open seats on the Board of Education. Each seat carries three-year terms and are unpaid positions. The deadline to turn in petitions for candidacy is Monday, April 22 with a drawing for ballot positions the next day.
On Wednesday May 8, the district will conduct a Meet the Candidates night for the Board of Education seats and an open public hearing on the budget proposal.
Ability to vote by mail or in person
District residents can vote in person on Tuesday, May 21 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the High School B-wing Gymnasium.
Absentee ballot voting is available. In addition, the new Early Mail Voter Act, effective January 1, 2024, allows for early voting via mail without any reasons needed for voting early. You must fill out an application to vote by early voting or absentee ballot. There are separate applications for voting by early voting or absentee ballot, but the application process and deadlines are the same for both.
Resources to stay informed
In the coming weeks, we will keep you updated on our website. You can also follow the discussions, watch the BOE meetings, and read through agenda documents on the BUDGET & TAXES and BOARD OF ELECTION tabs on the district’s website. Be sure to look for the district’s annual budget newsletter in your mailbox after the public hearing in May.