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1 News & Announcements from SCHENEVUS CENTRAL SCHOOL State aid boost allows for tax levy decrease; enhanced services Inside Budget vote set for May 17 3 Summary of revenues and expenses 4 Budget Q & A 6 Seniors prep for graduation 7 Bus proposition, board of education election 8 Voter information BUDGET VOTE Tuesday, May 17, 2016 Noon-9 p.m. Hallway of the main entrance of the school BUDGET HEARING Tuesday, May 10, p.m. School Cafetorium Learn more online On Tuesday, May 17, residents of Schenevus Central School District will vote on a proposed $8,565,811 budget for the school year. The proposed budget would lower the district s tax levy from the current year by 0.5 percent. A 5 percent boost to state aid also allows for an increase in spending of 5.2 percent, making enhancements to programming and operations possible. The 0.5 percent decrease in the tax levy matches the district s calculated tax levy cap. Therefore Schenevus proposed budget requires approval by a simple majority (50 percent plus one) of voters to pass. This proposed budget will allow us to maintain our current academic programming, enhance student services and improve operational efficiency, all while decreasing the overall tax levy, Superintendent Thomas G. Jennings said. The bulk of the $423,865 year-to-year increase in spending is due to employee health insurance and contractual salary costs. A reorganization of staffing and BOCES services under the fiscal plan is designed to increase efficiency and student services. There is a decrease in the administrative section of the proposed budget due to a restructuring in staff development duties. The changes in this spending plan from the current year include: Reorganizing the special education Budget Proposal Total Budget $8,565,811 Year-to-Year Increase $423,865 (5.2%) Tax Levy Decrease - $15,088 (- 0.50%) department to eliminate the part-time special education chair position and create a full-time director of special education position. The director of special education will serve as CSE chair and have duties related to work-based learning coordination, staff development and pupil intervention services. The district will also provide its own assistive technology services for special education students rather than contract with BOCES. The district is eliminating its shared/part-time staff development specialist position and shifting those duties to the new special education position and administrators. Adding a full-time library media specialist and ending a part-time contract with BOCES to provide these services. This change would allow for increased library services for students and teachers, as well as create a middle school research class and a gifted and talented program for students in grades four through six. PLEASE SEE BUDGET ON PAGE 2

2 2 Everyone will be Challenged. Everyone will Contribute. Everyone will be Responsible. Where can I learn more about the proposed budget? Learn more about the proposed budget on the district website,. In addition, the district will host a budget informational meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, May 2 at the Westford Town Hall. A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, in the school cafetorium. Residents interested in scheduling another public budget presentation should contact the superintendent s office at School Board: Innovation is key The Schenevus Board of Education is continuing its focus on innovation. Program highlights include multiple opportunities for college-level and Advanced Placement courses and a student internship and job shadowing program. For next year, innovation will lead to a new digital literacy class; an elementary gifted and talented program; and a field trip initiative to ensure all Schenevus students benefit from enrichment opportunities. A $6.7 million capital project to improve facilities was approved last year by voters and is moving forward. Innovation at all levels is moving Schenevus forward into the future and positions the district as a regional leader in public education, Superintendent Thomas G. Jennings said. There are eight Clark Foundation Scholarship recipients for They are, from left to right, Brian Craig, Dominic Hanus, Matthew Odell, Austin Jory, Cecilia Otero, Adam Kruh, Jennifer Walke and Shyanne Carreras. They are joined by Jo Ellen Middleton, far left, and Gary Kuch from the Clark Foundation Scholarship Office. Budget CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Eliminating a shared/part-time grade seven through 12 math teacher and high school special education teaching position. This will allow for adding an elementary special education teaching position. Participating in the BOCES copier/printer service. This would allow for BOCES aidable purchases and a service contract with no increase over the expenditures for copiers/printers. Creating a new bus driver/computer technology position while reducing BOCES computer/technology support. With the implementation of the Smart Schools Investment Plan, increased technology support will be essential. Combining a transportation-aided position with a computer technology position will allow for savings and flexibility. The BOCES tech support services will be reduced from 2.5 days per week to 1. Reducing the contract for BOCES food management services. Under current cafeteria staffing, the district is able to reduce management support. Downsizing the contract for BOCES psychologist services. Demand for this service has decreased. These strategic changes account for a total decrease of $8,798 from the current budget. By taking a strategic approach to annual increases and reductions, we are able to reallocate our resources to areas of need, enhance our programs and save the district money, Jennings said.

3 BUDGET NEWSLETTER Projected Revenues $ Change % Change REVENUES BUDGETED PROJECTED to to State Aid $4,730,549 $4,967,232 $236, % Property Taxes $3,048,109 $3,033,021 ($15,088) -0.5% Refunds, Tuition & Other $185,500 $210,479 $24, % Reserves $10,000 $55,079 $45, % Fund Balance $167,788 $300,000 $132, % Total Revenues $8,141,946 $8,565,811 $423, % Proposed Expenditures PROGRAM $ Change % Change EXPENDITURES BUDGETED PROPOSED to to Teaching $3,512,202 $3,764,760 $252, % Instructional Media $162,683 $148,948 ($13,735) -8.4% Pupil Services $403,065 $395,581 ($7,484) -1.9% Pupil Transportation $469,917 $433,257 ($36,660) -7.8% Employee Benefits $1,647,483 $1,807,252 $159, % Program Subtotal $6,195,350 $6,549,798 $354, % ADMINISTRATION $ Change % Change EXPENDITURES BUDGETED PROPOSED to to Board of Education $4,160 $4,350 $ % Central Administration $157,566 $162,889 $5, % Finance $78,956 $83,586 $4, % Staff $63,513 $65,464 $1, % Central Services $25,581 $28,283 $2, % Administration & Improvement $177,234 $143,108 ($34,126) -19.3% Employee Benefits $123,724 $133,365 $9, % Special Items $154,703 $160,182 $5, % Administration Subtotal $785,437 $781,227 ($4,210) -0.5% CAPITAL $ Change Change EXPENDITURES BUDGETED PROPOSED to to Central Services $504,213 $514,822 $10, % Debt Service $492,148 $523,482 $31, % Interfund Transfers $20,000 $20,000 $0 0% Employee Benefits $144,798 $176,482 $31, % Capital Subtotal $1,161,159 $1,234,786 $73, % TOTAL EXPENDITURES $8,141,946 $8,565,811 $423, %

4 4 Everyone will be Challenged. Everyone will Contribute. Everyone will be Responsible. Do you have questions? We have answers. Q. How was the proposed budget developed? A. The board of education examined every line of the district s budget to determine exactly what was needed to provide the program or service in question, including costs for BOCES services and special programs. Board members accomplished this task during budget development workshops. The result is a budget proposal that would decrease the tax levy by 0.5 percent, or $15,088, which is the district s maximum allowable increase under New York state s tax cap. The district will also use reserves and fund balance to maintain programs and services as part of a continuing, multiyear plan. Q. How would the proposed budget affect my taxes? A. It s impossible to say with certainty what each town s tax rate will be in September. Factors outside the school district s control assessments (as provided by towns) and equalization rates (as provided by the state Office of Real Property Tax Services) affect tax rates in each of the district s five towns. Changes in one town s tax rate affect the tax rates in each of the other four towns. Actual tax rates are set in August. If the proposed budget is approved by voters, the tax levy the total amount of money to be raised by the school district after accounting for all other revenues, including state aid would decrease by 0.5 percent. Q. How does this proposed budget compare to budgets from recent years? A. The overall picture for state aid is getting better, and after several years of being forced to do more with less, the school district, last year, was able to find ways to enhance programming to benefit students. The increase in state aid for next year will allow that to continue under the proposed budget. Although state aid levels will continue to be a concern, employee benefit savings achieved by the district last year and the application of fund balance and reserves contribute to a decrease in the tax levy, keeping the budget under the state s tax cap. Q. What is the district s state mandated tax cap? A. For the fifth time in the five years since the state instituted a property tax levy limit, Schenevus Central School District has stayed within that limit in its budget. Often referred to as a 2 percent cap, the law actually doesn t limit the tax levy increase to 2 percent or any other amount. The 2 percent figure (or the rate of inflation, if less), is just one of several variables that factor into each district s calculation of its tax levy limit as prescribed by law. This year, the cap on the district s tax levy is percent. Last year, the tax levy increased by 1.13 percent. This compares to a 2.31 percent tax levy increase for the school year and a 3.87 percent tax levy increase for the school year. School districts have the ability to override the cap with a 60 percent supermajority of voters. Schenevus Central School District is choosing not to override the cap because the state aid increase and use of fund balance is allowing for the enhancement of programming. Q. If the overall tax levy is going down, how is spending in the budget going up? A. As part of the state budget adopted earlier this spring, the amount of overall state aid the district is slated to receive is increasing by 5 percent or $236,683. Because contractual salary and benefits costs are going up, without that state aid increase, the district would likely have to cut programming and staff to stay under the tax cap. Certain portions of that aid are tied to expense-driven items, such as transportation. Q. What are the changes in district programming and expenditures under the proposed budget?

5 A. In keeping with the district s commitment to innovation, several changes are included in the proposed budget that will allow for operational effeciencies and some program enhancements. These include transitioning some duties and responsibilities away from BOCES and creating positions where staff members can fill multiple roles. This will allow for more flexibility in the area of special education through the creation of a director of special education position; a bus driver/computer tech support position; and a full-time library media specialist, who will also teach a middle school-level research class and lead an elementary-level talented and gifted program. Q. What happens if the proposed budget is not approved by voters? BUDGET NEWSLETTER Proposed revenues Where the money comes from... Property Taxes, 35.4% State Aid, 58.0% Reserves, 0.6% Fund Balance, 3.5% Refunds, Tuition, Other, 2.5% Proposed expenditures...and where the money is spent. Administration, 9.1% Capital, 14.4% A. If the proposed budget is defeated by voters, the board of education has three options: present the same budget to voters a second time, present a revised budget to voters or adopt a contingent budget. If the budget is defeated a second time, the board must adopt a contingent budget. In a contingent budget under New York s tax cap law, a district can levy a tax no greater than that of the prior budget year a zero percent increase. Schenevus would be allowed to adopt a contingent budget that includes $15,088 in spending above what is included in the proposed budget. However, a contingent budget would place restrictions on certain expenses. Schenevus Tax Levy Increase In Percent Tax levy trend 3.87% 2.31% 1.13% Program, 76.5% School Year %

6 6 Everyone will be Challenged. Everyone will Contribute. Everyone will be Responsible. Class of 2016 preps for graduation Scores of students and staff were involved in a performance of The Wizard of Oz last month. Students Shine at Schenevus Faculty at Schenevus strives to provide individual instruction to all students in all subjects. Students at Schenevus learn using the latest technology, above, and through time-honored methods, such as reading books to younger elementary students, right. Older students help mentor younger students at Schenevus Central School, which builds school spirit. The Class of 2016 is an engaged class, both inside and outside of the classroom. Many of the 26 soonto-be graduates have blazed trials in the area of distance learning, receiving college credits in a variety of courses. The seniors ran in the Dragon Run and are mentors and classroom volunteers. They are active in music, athletics, Drama Club, Art Club and Spanish Club. They are leaders in school through Student Council and National Honor Society. Almost all of the seniors also have jobs outside of school. Adam Kruh is the valedictorian. He will attend Rochester Institute of Technology in the fall and plans to major in electrical engineering and minor in physics. Jennifer Walke is the salutatorian. She will attend either SUNY Geneseo or SUNY Cortland and major in pre-veterinary science.

7 BUDGET NEWSLETTER Bus proposition is also on the ballot A separate proposition will appear on the May 17 ballot asking residents to consider a five-year bond to purchase a 66-passenger bus at a cost of $136,000 and a Chevy Traverse SUV for $28,000. The total cost of the vehicle purchase would be $164,000. Approximately 89 percent of the bus and SUV purchase cost would be returned to the district in the form of state transportation aid. A trade-in on old buses would reduce local taxpayers share even more during the life of the five-year bond. Schenevus maximizes the trade-in value of its buses by maintaining a five-year bus replacement schedule. Maintenance and repair costs for new buses are much less than for older buses, as the new vehicles come with five-year warranties. Between the reimbursement from state aid, the sale of the old buses, the projected savings on maintenance, repair and maintaining a five-year purchase cycle, there is minimal or no year-to-year increase in local costs expected from purchasing the buses. Voters to fill one seat on the Board of Education Board of Education incumbent Matthew Sweeney is seeking re-election when voters head to the polls May 17. Sweeney is in his seventh year on the school board. He is the director of operations for Mesa Technical Associates Inc. located in Cobleskill. He and his wife, Naomi, have four children enrolled at Schenevus Central. Sweeney is also a local youth baseball coach and volunteers with the Westford Community Association. Board terms are five years. Board members serve unpaid. There are no other board of education positions on the ballot in this year s election, and no other candidates. Property Taxes: 37.9% Winners on the court; and in the classroom The Schenevus Girls Basketball Team proved during the winter season that not only can they excel on the court, they are also exceptional in the classroom. The team ranked sixth in the state in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Scholar/Athlete Team Awards with a grade point average. The team was tops in Section 4 under the same rankings. The award program recognizes athletic teams from across the state who excel academically. The individual players whose grades were calculated for the rankings include: Meghan Gallagher, Tabitha Stedge, Mimi Tefft, Rebecca Biegel, Alexis Sisson, Megan Walke, Jenn Walke, Ashley Sisson, Ushuaia Diaz and Hailey Shutters The Schenevus Girls Basketball Team not only racked up good grades this winter, they also finished the season with a 14-6 record. The Schenevus Girls Soccer Team put in a similar performance last fall, also taking the top academic spot in Section 4. Want to learn more? Visit

8 SCHENEVUS CENTRAL SCHOOL 159 MAIN STREET SCHENEVUS, NY Bulk Rate Non-Profit Org. US POSTAGE PAID Permit #1 Schenevus, NY BOARD OF EDUCATION Thomas Jory, President Dr. Kelly Gallagher, Vice President Kathryn Fredette Douglas Gulotty Matt Sweeney SUPERINTENDENT Thomas G. Jennings BOXHOLDER Produced in cooperation with the Capital Region BOCES Communications Service. 8 Everyone will be Challenged. Everyone will Contribute. Everyone will be Responsible. Voter Information Annual School Budget Vote, Tuesday, May 17 Who can vote? In order to vote, residents must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and a resident of the Schenevus Central School District for at least 30 days prior to the May 17 vote. When and where is the vote? The school budget vote will take place from noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17, in the hallway of the school s main entrance. Can I vote by absentee ballot? To vote by absentee ballot, you must fill out an application. Call the district office at (607) to obtain an application. If you want your ballot mailed to you, your application must be received by May 10. If you plan to pick up your ballot, your application must be received by May 16. Completed ballots must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17. SENIOR CITIZENS BREAKFAST What exactly am I voting on? Residents are voting on a proposed $8,565,811 budget for the school year that maintains current academic programming, enhances student services and improves operational efficiency, while decreasing the tax levy by 0.5 percent from the current school year. The budget accounts for an increase in state aid that allows the district to present a spending plan that decreases the overall tax levy. Residents are also voting to fill one seat on the board of education and deciding on a proposition to purchase a school bus and a smaller passenger vehicle. Detailed copies of the budget and proposition are available at the district office. Additional information about the proposed budget is available on the district s website,.