In May 2006, more than 5,800 Bethlehem residents turned out to vote on the school budget. With 3,473 votes cast against it, the district’s budget was defeated for the first time in 20 years.
On Tuesday, May 15, residents will again decide the fate of the budget.
The $77.16 million budget for the 2007-2008 school year includes money for two new middle school teachers; two new high school deans; two house leaders; three custodians; one technology specialist; one payroll clerk; and an additional $684,000 in special education staffing. The budget raises taxes 3.98 percent for residents of Bethlehem and 0.19 percent for those in New Scotland.
According to a calculator on the district Web site, a Bethlehem resident with a home valued at $200,000 and with a basic STAR exemption will pay $2,891.51 in school tax under the new budget.
I would hope the community feels this budget merits their support and gives them really more for their tax dollars, said Superintendent Les Loomis.
School officials said a townwide reassessment that left Bethlehem residents feeling financially pinched was the No. 1 reason the budget was defeated last year. After the initial defeat, district supporters rallied their forces and the second budget was easily approved in June.
Angie Randles, co-president of the Slingerlands PTA, said the group is taking nothing for granted this time around.
`We are making plans to get out the vote,` Randles said.
Those plans include having students design posters, which will be distributed throughout town. Palm cards will also be handed out at different events prior to the vote, and lawn signs are likely to sprout up over the next several days.
`A lot of people told me last year they would have voted ‘Yes’ but did not come out to vote the first time around,` said Randles. `I do feel that people will come out this year.`
Members of the school board, led by president Stuart Lyman, have tried to improve communication between the community and the district in light of last year’s budget defeat by televising meetings on the public access channel; holding monthly community conversations with the superintendent; regularly updating the district’s Web site’ and creating a 40-member citizens budget committee to assist the district in crafting this year’s budget.
`I think our budget and our spending is right in line,` said Lyman. `We are educating kids, and our overall spending says we are doing it as well as any other district in the state.`
In an informational handout sent to the community reminding them to vote, the district lists several factors for the 3.98 percent tax increase.
Debt service related to ongoing school construction, energy costs, regulatory expenses, computer replacement, social security costs, and salaries for staff are among the reasons.
The new budget is $4.7 million more than last year’s, with $1.77 million going to salary increases for staff. Salary contracts districtwide are up 4.5 percent, with teacher salary contracts increasing 5 percent.
`The key to the quality of education here is our teachers,` said Loomis.
Lyman said if you factor in annual STEP, or Secondary Teacher Education Project, increases and givebacks in health insurance, the actual salary increase for teachers is around 3.5 percent.
Spending per pupil in the Bethlehem district is $13,944, compared to the state average of $16,044 per pupil.
Other highlights of this year’s budget include restoring funding for varsity hockey, gymnastics and cheerleading, as well as for field trips and non-league athletic trips.
`I think it was really hard on those sports to fund-raise, and everybody at the BCAA (Bethlehem Community Athletic Association) is very happy the funding is back in the budget,` said Theresa Barrowman, president of the association.
A school bus purchase proposition defeated in last year’s budget vote is back this year. If approved, the proposition will allow the district to purchase 15 new buses for an amount not to exceed $1.134 million. Five of those buses will transport students to and from the new Eagle Elementary School. Construction on the new school off Van Dyke Road is expected to be complete by the beginning of the 2007 school year.
`This year’s budget moves programs ahead and accomplishes major goals,` said Loomis.
Four candidates are also running for two open seats on the school board to replace outgoing board president Stuart Lyman and board member Richard Svenson.
Duane Bowman, Diane Giacone Stever, Lisa Allendorph and Laura Bierman are the candidates. The top two vote getters will each serve a three-year term on the board beginning in July.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, May 15, at the Bethlehem Middle School on Kenwood Avenue.“
