2019-2020 Budget

Click here for 2019-2020 Proposed Budget
  Click here for 2019-2020 Budget Mailer 
  2019-2020 Proposed Budget    2019-2020 Budget Mailer

When voters head to the polls to vote on the 2019-2020 Budget, they will also elect three members to the Board of Education and decide on one proposition, the sale of the former Elmer Avenue School.

Proposition:  Sale of the former Elmer Avenue School
The proposition is a separate resolution on the ballot asking for authorization for the district to sell the building at 90 Elmer Avenue, the former Elmer Avenue Elementary School, for at least $450,000.

The district believes now is an appropriate time to sell the property because the cost to make the necessary renovations to the building is large and could not be offset by building aid from the state.  As part of our long-range planning, we deemed it prudent to close the building and use our financial resources on other schools.  If the proposition is voted down, the district would need to pursue options such as a higher purchase price or leasing it to an outside organization.

Voting/Polling Place Information



April 17 2019

Board adopts budget

BUDGET PRESENTATION AND DETAILS

The Schenectady City School District Board of Education approved a $202,446,363 2019-2020 Budget at the April 17 meeting.  The plan represents a 4.12% increase over the current year and reduces the tax levy by $750,000 or 1.44%, making the lowest it has been in ten years.  

The proposal call for the addition of 48.5 positions, including teachers and clinicians that serve to expand and support the General Education Continuum (GEC), Social Emotional Learning (SEL), expansion of the Summer Enrichment Program, as well as positions and services that aim to keep high school students on the path to graduation.  The plan also allows for the addition of 12 teacher interns (not included in the position additions above).

Residents will head to the polls on May 21 to vote on the spending plan.  Voters will also elect three members to the board of education and decide on a sale of the former Elmer School building.  

   2018-19  Proposed 2019-20  Change
 General Fund  $194,437,849  $202,446,363 $8,008,514 
 Food Service Fund  $   6,217,000  $   6,217,000 $0
 Special Aid Fund (Grants)  $ 21,681,908  $ 21,393,908  ($288,000)
 Total  $222,336,757  $230,057,271  $7,720,514


District Budget:     $8 million (+4.12%)
Programs and Services:     $4.8 million (+2.5%)
Tax Levy:     -$750,000 (-1.44%)


Each year, since 2016-17, The district has continued to decrease the tax levy.  Under the budget proposal, the amount levied would be nearly $3 million less than three years ago.




April 11 2019
PRESENTATION

Superintendent Spring presents $202 million budget proposal

Plan adds 51 positions, boosts intervention & support services,​ and lowers tax levy

Superintendent Larry Spring presented to the board of education Wednesday, a budget proposal that is slightly revised since the one presented on April 3.  The updated plan includes an additional $500,000 worth of positions and services. 

The $202 million proposed spending plan calls for the addition of 51 positions (plus 12 teacher interns), including teachers and clinicians that serve to expand and support the General Education Continuum and social emotional learning, expansion of the Summer Enrichment Program, as well as positions and services that aim to keep high school students on the path to graduation.  The proposal represents a 3.97% increase over the current year and calls for a 1.44% or $750,000 reduction of the tax levy, making it the lowest it has been since 2010.

District Budget Proposal
$202,162,188
$7.7 million increase (3.97%)

Programs and Services
$4.8 million increase (2.5%)

Tax Levy
$ 750,000 decrease (-1.44%)




Schenectady is able to add staff, programs and services due to a $7.7 million increase in Foundation Aid.  The proposal calls for the addition of 31.5 teachers, 5 administrators, 3 paraprofessionals, 1.5 secretarial positions, 4 operations and maintenance positions, a middle management position and 17 other positions including teacher interns and a liaison/translator.

Since April 3, Kimberly Lewis, district director for business and finance, refined rollover estimates and projections, and determined an additional $500,000 can be spent in the upcoming budget.  

The proposal calls for a large portion of the funds to be used by the schools.  Allocations to each school are determined by the school's New York State Education Department's accountability status.  

Hamilton, Howe, Woodlawn, Zoller, Central Park, and Oneida - schools in good standing - will each receive $15,000.  "These school are not likely to receive improvement monies next year so we decided to provide this funding to support them," said Lewis.

Schools designated as Targeted Support and Improvement (TSi), which include Van Corlaer, Mont Pleasant, and Schenectady High School, will each receive $20,000.

Lincoln, King, Paige, and Pleasant Valley are schools designated as Comprehensive Support and Improvement Schools (CSI).  They will each receive $25,000.

Keane Elementary, a receivership school, will receive $30,000.

Additionally, a portion of the $500,000 will be allocated toward district level identified needs as follows:

1 cleaner
Increased funding for the Summer Enrichment Program.  
1 Assistant Facilities Director
Funding will be allocated to add water fountains and acoustical treatments, which help manage echoing and noise in rooms with high ceilings. 

Lewis noted that the district is slowing replacing water fountains in the schools.  The funding will help "step up" the installation of those.

Here is an outline of the 2019-2020 Budget Proposal:

ELEMENTARY PROGRAM CHANGES:  $1,981,400
MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM CHANGES:  $904,000
HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM CHANGES:  $1,106,500
DISTRICT SUPPORT CHANGES:  $1,297,900

8.5 General Education Continuum Teachers
(1 Howe, 1 Zoller, 1 Van Corlaer, 1 Hamilton, 2 Paige, 1.5 PV, 1 Oneida)

1 Common Branch Teacher (Van Corlaer)

1 Math Intervention Teacher Specialist (Yates)

1 Instructional Support Teacher (Central Park)

6 Teachers (Earth Science, ELA, Math, Social Studies, Visual Arts, Technology) (SHS)

1 AVID Teacher Expansion (SHS)

1 Grad Lab Teacher (SHS)

2 Special Education Teachers (Keane)

1 Intensive Case Manager (SHS)

4.5 Social Workers (1 Paige, .5 Woodlawn, 1 Central Park, 1 Oneida, 1 Crisis Prevention Team)

1 Psychologist (MPMS)

1.5 School Counselor (1 Central Park, .5 MPMS)

1 Engagement Dean (SHS)

1 Assistant Principal (King)

1 Instructional Supervisor (Lincoln)

3 Teaching Assistants (King, PV)

2 Substitutes (Lincoln, King)

12 Teacher Interns (2 Van Corlaer, King, Yates, 2 Oneida, 3 MPMS, 2 SHS)

1 Part-time Hispanic Liaison/Translator (Hamilton, King)

1 Crisis Prevention Team Office Manager

1 Equity and Cultural Responsive Education Supervisor (District)

1 Assistant Director of Student Intervention Services (District)

1 Teacher Induction Coach (District)

1 Diversion Specialist (District)

1 Fiscal Analyst (District)

1 Central Receiving Duplicating Clerk

1 Facilities Director

1 HVAC - R Technician

1 HVAC Technician

.5 Account Clerk Typist

2 Cleaners

Parent Liaison Hours (King)

Summer Enrichment Program

After School Program (Woodlawn)

Student Field Trips (Lincoln)

Mediation Matter Expansion (Central Park, Oneida, MPMS)

AVID Expansion (MPMS)

Professional Development Conferences (Lincoln)

Data Counselor (Summer Hours) (SHS)

Computer Technology (SHS)

APEX Software Licensing (SHS)

Software Licenses (Woodlawn)

Student Supplies - $5 per student

District Vehicle

Water Fountains

Acoustical Panels

Through the budget development process, the following were identified as needs.  It was determined that it would be possible to fund these from the 2018-2019 Budget:

Graphing Calculators/Microscopes
Classroom Libraries - Grades 4 and 5
Bookmobile
Literacy and Math Interventions
Research-Based Reading Materials
Math Kits for Intervention
Social Emotional Learning Curriculum
Tier 3 Curriculum
Chromebook Carts
Auditorium Sound System at Mont Pleasant
Gym Partitions at SHS
Kiln at SHS

The attached presentation indicates additional detail including per pupil increases and the building needs index for each of the schools.

The board of education is expected to adopt a budget on April 17.

Schenectady residents will head to the polls to vote on a spending plan and elect three members to the board of education on May 21. 

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION


Superintendent Spring presents 2019-2020 draft budget

Draft plan calls for 61 positions, boosts general education continuum & lowers tax levy

Schenectady Superintendent Larry Spring presented, to the board of education on April 3, a $202 million draft budget that adds 61 positions, including teachers and clinicians that serve to expand and support both the general education continuum and social emotional learning as well as positions and program enhancements that are poised to help high school students graduate.  The plan, which represents a 3.96% increase over the current year, also calls for a 1.44% or $750,000 reduction of the tax levy, making it the lowest it has been since 2010. 

District Budget Proposal:  $7.7. million increase  (3.96%)
Programs and Services:     $4.3 million increase (2.19%)
Tax Levy:                              $750,000 decrease (-1.44%)

Schenectady is able to add $4.3 million in staff, programs and services due to a $7.7 million increase in Foundation Aid.  “We think we got a reasonable increase,” said Spring.  “The distribution of aid is more to the liking of what we think it should be, prioritizing higher need districts.”  While Schenectady is still shorted, the increase in 2019-2020 will afford the district to do much more.

The draft proposal calls for the addition of 31.5 teachers, 4 administrators, 3 paraprofessionals, 1.5 secretarial positions, 3 operations and maintenance positions, a middle management position and 17 other positions including teacher interns, school substitutes and a liaison/translator.

Under the proposal, every school in the district is set to receive a boost.  The amount that each school receives is based on a building needs index with 1 having the least need and 4 having the most.  The needs index considers many variables including proficiency, poverty rate, reading, special education classification rates, behavior, suspensions, daily attendance, retention and English as a New Language (ENL).    



Building Needs Index of Schools


When the budget development process began, Spring asked school and district leaders to submit proposals for things that they determined were needed to support student academic growth going forward.  Those proposals came to a total of approximately $17 million.  In recent days, those same leaders met to discuss and prioritize items.

The draft proposal includes:

Elementary Program Changes:  $1,746,400
Middle School Program Changes:  $854,000
High School Program Changes:  $1,086,500
District Support Staffing Changes:  $1,092,900   

General Education Continuum Teachers

8.5

Students who are served through GEC are making progress. Schools want to add this. Literacy improvement.

Teachers at Schenectady High school
(Earth Sci., ELA, Math, Soc. Studies, Visual Arts, Tech.)

6.0

By adding 6 teachers, more sections will be created/960 student slots. Fills holes in schedules with course credits.

Special Education Teachers

2.0

Elementary

Common Branch Teacher (Van Corlaer)

1.0

To eliminate split

Teacher Induction Coach

1.0

Teacher to serve as a mentor all new teachers regardless of when they are hired. Provide support, feedback etc.

Instructional Support Teacher

1.0

Middle School

AVID Teacher (Social Studies)

1.0

High School – Program Expansion

Grad Lab Teacher

1.0

High School – Focus is on students who want to graduate but have barriers before them.

Math Intervention Specialist

1.0

Elementary School

School Counselor

1.5

Middle School

Social Workers

4.5

Elementary and Middle School & 1 Crisis Prevention

Psychologist

1.0

Mont Pleasant Middle School

Intensive Case Manager

1.0

High School

Engagement Dean

1.0

High School

Instructional Supervisor

1.0

This will provide position to the only elementary school that does not have one.

Teacher Interns

12

Pre-Service Teachers – 2 years of working in district with certified teacher as co-teacher, participating in professional development.

Substitute Teachers

2.0

Elementary School

Crisis Prevention Team Office Manager

1.0

Allows the clinicians to see more kids and to do so more efficiently.

Equity & Cultural Responsive Education Supervisor

1.0

Provide professional development, bring awareness to and push work in the shift to culturally responsive instruction

Assistant Director Student Intervention Services

1.0

This position addresses growth in the General Education Continuum and systems within.

Assistant Principal

1.0

Elementary School

Teaching Assistants

3.0

Elementary School

Diversion Specialist

1.0

Will work with families whose children are on diversion to keep them engaged, on until moved to case workers or service provider in school.

Fiscal Analyst

1.0

Analysis for long range planning and effective spending

Central Receiving/Duplication Clerk

1.0

Addresses the heavy volume of work that results in overtime

HVAC – R Technician

1.0

Districtwide Need – Have made cuts in this area in the past. Positions not restored. There is work that needs to be addressed immediately.

HVAC Technician

1.0

Districtwide Need – Have made cuts in this area in the past. Positions not restored. There is work that needs to be addressed immediately.

Account Clerk Typist

.5

Increase .5 position to 1.0 – dedicate to co-curricular accounts.

Cleaner

1.0

Great need for additional cleaners.

Data Counselor


Adding time in summer for data counselor so work on data can be done prior to September

Hispanic Liaison Translator


Part-time

Parent Liaison Hours



Afterschool Program



Student Supplies - $5 per student


Additionally - Looking at list of supplies systematically and determining what we can purchase as a school to reduce the cost for parents.

Summer Enrichment Program


Services students in Pre-K through 8

District Vehicle


Transportation of small groups and teams

Software Licenses



Computer Technology



APEX Software Licensing



Student Field Trips



Professional Development Conference



Mediation Matters Expansion


Middle School

AVID Expansion


Middle and High School

Through the process, the following were identified as needs but will be funded using carryover from 2018-2019:

  • Graphing Calculators/Microscopes

  • Classroom Libraries – Grades 4, 5

  • Bookmobile

  • Literacy and Math Interventions

  • Research-Based Reading Materials

  • Math Kits for Intervention

  • Social Emotional Learning Curriculum

  • Tier 3 Curriculum

  • Chromebook Carts

  • Auditorium Sound System at Mont Pleasant

  • Replace Gym Partition at SHS

  • Replace Kiln at SHS

“We want to continue to add to the General Education Continuum and add sections to the high school,” said Spring.  “We are seeing accelerated growth with the GEC – it’s fantastic.”  He said the district also needs to be able to continue to feed those places where there is mental health need.  Spring stressed that “reducing the tax levy again, is important.” 

Throughout the budget development process, input was collected through community engagement sessions, school-based meetings, Let’s Thought and Thoughtexchange.

A budget proposal will be presented on April 10.  The board is expected to adopt a final budget on April 17.

2019-2020 PROPOSALS/PRESENTATIONS
ROLLOVER BUDGET
DOWNLOAD PDF
01.09.19 2019-2020 PROJECTED BUDGET:  $198,965,893 
EST. GAP:  $1,100,000
     
REVENUE
DOWNLOAD PDF
01.23.19 $2.2 M INCREASE IN FOUNDATION AID (EST BASED ON GOV)
EXPENSES:  $198.9 M
REVENUE:    $198.1 M
PROJECTED GAP:  $ 800,000
     
FOOD SERVICE
& CENTRAL SERVICES
DOWNLOAD PDF
02.06.19 FOOD SERV FUND BAL:  $1.9 M
FACILITIES & CENTRAL SERV: 4% OF BUDGET ($9.9 M)
PROPOSED INC 2019-20
     
CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION
DOWNLOAD PDF
03.14.19 35%  OF BUDGET ($77,350,00 M)
PROPOSED INC 2019-20:  $7,877,000 
   
DEBT SERVICE & BENEFITS
DOWNLOAD PDF
 03.20.19 26% OF BUDGET ($57 M)
ANTICIPATED CHANGES 2019-2020:
DEBT SERVICE (INCREASE)
MEDICAL INSURANCE RATES (INCREASE)
TRS (DECREASE 1.76%)
ERS (INCREASE .8%) 
PUPIL PERSONNEL SERVICES
DOWNLOAD PDF
 03.25.19 22% of BUDGET ($49 MILLION)
PROPOSED INCREASE:  $5.6 MILLION

     
DISTRICT SUPPORT SERVICES
DOWNLOAD PDF
 03.25.19 10% OF BUDGET ($21.2 MILLION)
PROPOSED INCREASE:  $3.5 MILLION


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