The Ballston Spa school board held a public hearing on Wednesday, May 2, to allow comment on the proposed $62.2 million budget. No residents spoke up at the hearing, but Assistant Superintendent of Business Brian Sirianni discussed the budget process and identified the areas of increased spending.
In developing the budget, several important initiatives were addressed, said Sirianni. He said first was addressing safety and security needs, as well as facility maintenance. Included in this budget is funding for new security camera systems in all school buildings and staff to occupy front-desk stations at the main entrance to each building. Two custodial positions have been added, along with additional cleaning equipment.
A second initiative, said Sirianni, is addressing the drop-out rate in the district. A new BOCES program will provide instruction to at-risk students in a specialized setting.
The district has also included an additional staff member to assist in the required data collection and analysis for state and federal programs.
Funding has been provided to add a guidance counselor at the high school, four teaching positions to address possible enrollment increases and students with special needs, and a part-time position to supervise community and district events held on district grounds. Plans call for an expanded eighth-grade social studies curriculum and physical education curriculum, completed surveys of at-risk behaviors, and two new jobs that will minimize repair time for computers.
`Like all school districts across the country, Ballston Spa’s budget is primarily composed of costs associated with teaching and support staff,` said Sirianni. `The largest factor in the budget increase is related to current and proposed staff.`
Residents will also vote on several other propositions, including the purchase of school buses and vehicles to fund the 10-year bus replacement plan. The district has developed a plan in which buses are replaced about every 10 years. This year, voters are asked to approve up to $916,000 in spending with about 73 percent of that cost being reimbursed by the state.
Another proposition would authorize the district to spend a maximum of $568,000 to renovate and reconstruct various buildings. These capital improvements are general rehabilitation projects that this year will likely include security upgrades, gym renovations, window replacements and stairwell repairs.
The last two propositions allow the district to contribute money to the Ballston Spa Public Library and Ballston Spa Area Recreation Commission to assist in offsetting maintenance and operating costs. District residents will vote for two seats on the school board. Incumbents Kathy Jarvis and Pat Leanza are running unopposed.
Sirianni said that Ballston Spa Central School District has benefited greatly this year from Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s new program, which incorporates new factors into how state aid is calculated.
`These new factors, particularly those associated with student poverty, are projected to result in a significant increase in state aid for the district,` he said. In comparison to other local districts, Ballston Spa ranks No. 1 with the percentage of students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade who are eligible for free or reduced lunch, at 23 percent. Sirianni said for the 2008-2009 budget, the increase is about 9 percent or approximately $1.3 million.
Sirianni provided estimated tax rates, saying that his numbers were estimates only, since final tax assessments and equalization rates will not be completed until August 2007. Based on the tentative rates supplied May 1, Sirianni said the towns of Milton and Ballston could expect to see an increase of 3.6 percent, translating to 69 cents, while Charlton would see an increase of 9.4 percent; $2.15. The town of Malta may actually see a decrease by 7 percent or 15 cents.
Voting will take place on Tuesday, May 15, between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. at the Malta Town Hall (for Malta residents) and at Ballston Spa High School (for Milton, Ballston and Charlton residents). Both sites will have student artwork and projects on display. “
