First Draft Budget Proposal is Presented
Plan calls for addition of $3.6 million in programs & services, no change to tax levy
Interim Superintendent Aaron Bochniak presented a first draft of a 2021-2022 Budget proposal to the Board of Education on Wednesday, April 14. The draft proposal calls for increasing spending by $11.8 million or 5.8 percent, adding $3.6 million worth of programs, services and staffing, and holding the tax levy flat.
The $216 million proposal restores all service and programming that was in place prior to the pandemic and includes the addition of 40 positions that support district priorities including improving attendance and academic outcomes, and keeping the district's efforts to ensure equity and inclusion at the forefront. The new positions in the draft proposal include the following:
-
12 Full-time Positions to support an 8-period day at the middle school level, $1,080,000
This is to increase equitable opportunities for middle school students. The current 7-period day does not allow for students who need intervention and/or enrichment, the opportunity to participate in the full academic program with elective classes because it does not fit into the current 7-period day. An 8-period day would allow all students, including those who receive intervention services, to participate in advanced opportunities. Increasing the elective opportunities allows us to capture student interest and build upon some of the incredible opportunities that are available in high school. It gives students an opportunity to try new things that interest them such as the AVID elective and potential possibilities like computer science, health and social emotional learning, fine arts and CTE options. Adding an 8th period will provide students space to participate in these opportunities in addition to any intervention or enrichment they might need. The goal is to accelerate all students so that they enter high school ready, engaged and on the path to graduation.
-
5 Attendance Deans, $450,000
-
6 Teachers to decrease elementary class sizes, $540,000
-
5 Assistant Directors in the areas of literacy, ELA, math, science and social studies, $600,000
This is toward addressing intensifying efforts to prioritize curriculum and instruction.
-
5 Full-time Positions that focus on equity, diversity and inclusion, $540,000
The positions include four specialists focusing on family and community, systems improvement staff engagement, student engagement, and one project manager.
-
5 Restorative Justice Coaches, $450,000
Other Addition
Dr. Bochniak explained that the proposed additions are priorities that actualize the district's vision and values, strategic plan goals and provide multi-tiered systems and supports (MTSS) to minimize achievement gaps created by the pandemic.
The proposal was built with the assumption that all students and staff will return to in-person teaching and learning, as it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. All programs and services will be completely restored and district schools will be re-opened with their original grade levels and configurations.
The district is able to add services and programming due to a $10.8 million increase in state Foundation Aid and $1 million increase in other state aid for a total of $11.8 million. The increase is significant toward building a healthy spending plan, not only for adding but for keeping programs and services that students need intact. The district relies heavily on the state Foundation Aid. In fact, it's the largest source of revenue. Without any increase, the district would have been looking at a gap of approximately $8 million.
$8.2 million of the Foundation Aid increase will cover rollover expenses which includes things such contractual increases, health insurance costs, teacher and employee retirement system increases and other annual increases in expenses. The additional programs and services added to the proposed spending plan round out the $3.6 million balance.
Also, in large part, due to the significant increase in Foundation Aid, the proposal allows for the tax levy to remain unchanged in 2021-2022. This, for the second consecutive year, would keep the amount of tax dollars that have to be levied, lower than they were in the years 2012 through 2019.
New York State has made a promise to fully fund Foundation Aid over the next three years, which is great news for the district. Dr. Bochniak said that, while that is encouraging, we have to be cautious. "The only thing that is certain right now is next year," he stressed. "The only thing we know is what the increase is anticipated and planned to be." He pointed out that there have been times in the past in which a promise for full funding of Foundation Aid was made and then taken back. "It's good news to think about that three-year phase-in," he said. "But, it could change. It is contingent on the state having the revenue to do that."
Dr. Bochniak and Board President John Foley both expressed gratitude to the Schenectady community and legislators who have advocated for equitable funding over the last several years. Mr. Foley said that the people in the community make a difference. The voices of community members and district parents count heavily. "This is a significant gain for the children in Schenectady," said Mr. Foley. "Thank you everybody who participated over the years to get us to this point."
The draft spending proposal does not account for the $60 million ($15 million per year over the next four years) that will be coming to the district in the form of federal relief aid. The funds, which will be treated in the same way that grant funds are, must be encumbered by 2024. The district will work on a comprehensive multi-year plan. These funds are not to be included in the proposed spending plan that will going before voters on May 18. They are above and beyond and are in response to the impact of COVID-19.
Dr. Bochniak explained that districts don't have specific guidelines about how to get the money and how it can be spent. He said that learning loss will be addressed and some of the intervention programs and services that will potentially be included are after-school and evening tutoring, summer enrichment, multi-tiered systems and supports, and before and after school programs. Since these one-time funds that expire in 2024, the district needs to be strategic and cautious.
"We do have the federal funds that will allow us to do some long term planning, " said Dr. Bochniak. "We are putting the those on the shelf right now while we focus on next year's general fund spending plan."
A refined second draft budget will be presented and discussion will resume at the Board of Education Budget Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 21 at 7 p.m.