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Soon voters will get a chance to weigh in on a $56 million spending plan approved by the Victor School Board on March 29. If the budget passes, more than four teachers and five teacher aides would lose their job and several programs would be restructured or eliminated. A public hearing is scheduled for May 3 and voters will decide on whether or not to accept the proposed spending plan on May 17.
The proposed budget will increase spending by about $1 million over the current year. If passed, the property tax levy will increase by $740,831 to $35 million, but district officials said property tax rates would stay flat at the current level of $16.33 per $1,000 assessed value.
“As we began the budget process we had a gap of $4.4 million between revenues and expenses,” said Victor School Superintendent Dawn Santiago-Marullo. After the state budget was finalized and state aid confirmed, school officials were able to narrow that gap to $2.1 million.
“We did that by using money received from the Jobs bill, $850,000, and $875,000 from reserves,” she said. The Jobs bill, signed into law in August, designated $26 billion to help save the jobs of teachers and state workers nationwide.
That, combined with spending cuts and layoffs, closed the gap completely.
If the budget passes, the number of electives available in the high school will be reduced, and class sizes across the board will increase slightly. Total spending on employee benefits will increase by $1,460,550, and salaries will go up another $172,059. Other expenses, including BOCES costs, equipment, supplies and contractual obligations would be reduced by about $560,000.
“I appreciate the long-standing support we have from our residents,” said Santiago-Marullo, who believes the proposed budget will provide students with a quality education and at the same time will respect the community’s ability to support their schools.
“This budget holds the current tax rate flat while providing the children of the district with a good education,” she said.
The district has the third-largest percentage enrollment growth in the state, and anticipates adding between 80 and 90 more students in September 2011.
STAFFING CHANGES
Reduced to part-time Three teacher aide positions at the universal pre-kindergarten level, one band teacher position at the Junior High level, Senior High science and English staffing relating to the Alternative High School, school resource officer, and district-level mentors for new teachers.
Eliminated One Primary School supplemental support services coordinator position, a part-time teaching assistant in the Primary School computer lab, one Junior High club advisor, part-time staffing for GED program, the equivalent of one full time teaching position across departments, and one Senior High counselor.
Added One special educator for the state-mandated program for 18-21 year-olds.
SECTIONS
Eliminated One first and second grade section, and one multi-age section, due to a drop in enrollment.
Added Two third grade and one fifth grade classrooms.
PROGRAMS
Eliminated GED program, due to declining enrollment. Alternative High School has been eliminated as a stand-alone program and redesigned to complement the grade 9 and 10 BOOST program for at risk students.
Soon voters will get a chance to weigh in on a $56 million spending plan approved by the Victor School Board on March 29. If the budget passes, more than four teachers and five teacher aides would lose their job and several programs would be restructured or eliminated. A public hearing is scheduled for May 3 and voters will decide on whether or not to accept the proposed spending plan on May 17.
The proposed budget will increase spending by about $1 million over the current year. If passed, the property tax levy will increase by $740,831 to $35 million, but district officials said property tax rates would stay flat at the current level of $16.33 per $1,000 assessed value.
“As we began the budget process we had a gap of $4.4 million between revenues and expenses,” said Victor School Superintendent Dawn Santiago-Marullo. After the state budget was finalized and state aid confirmed, school officials were able to narrow that gap to $2.1 million.
“We did that by using money received from the Jobs bill, $850,000, and $875,000 from reserves,” she said. The Jobs bill, signed into law in August, designated $26 billion to help save the jobs of teachers and state workers nationwide.
That, combined with spending cuts and layoffs, closed the gap completely.
If the budget passes, the number of electives available in the high school will be reduced, and class sizes across the board will increase slightly. Total spending on employee benefits will increase by $1,460,550, and salaries will go up another $172,059. Other expenses, including BOCES costs, equipment, supplies and contractual obligations would be reduced by about $560,000.
“I appreciate the long-standing support we have from our residents,” said Santiago-Marullo, who believes the proposed budget will provide students with a quality education and at the same time will respect the community’s ability to support their schools.
“This budget holds the current tax rate flat while providing the children of the district with a good education,” she said.
The district has the third-largest percentage enrollment growth in the state, and anticipates adding between 80 and 90 more students in September 2011.
STAFFING CHANGES
Reduced to part-time Three teacher aide positions at the universal pre-kindergarten level, one band teacher position at the Junior High level, Senior High science and English staffing relating to the Alternative High School, school resource officer, and district-level mentors for new teachers.
Eliminated One Primary School supplemental support services coordinator position, a part-time teaching assistant in the Primary School computer lab, one Junior High club advisor, part-time staffing for GED program, the equivalent of one full time teaching position across departments, and one Senior High counselor.
Added One special educator for the state-mandated program for 18-21 year-olds.
SECTIONS
Eliminated One first and second grade section, and one multi-age section, due to a drop in enrollment.
Added Two third grade and one fifth grade classrooms.
PROGRAMS
Eliminated GED program, due to declining enrollment. Alternative High School has been eliminated as a stand-alone program and redesigned to complement the grade 9 and 10 BOOST program for at risk students.
