Schalmont budget with no tax hike gets OK

The Schalmont Board of Education on Monday adopted a $41.8 million budget with no increase in the tax levy.

The spending plan eliminates 24 full-time equivalent positions including 10 teachers, 11 support staff and three administrators, mostly through the closure of Mariaville and Woestina elementary schools at the end of the 2011-2012 school year, according to Superintendent Valerie Kelsey.

“The closing of schools provided efficiency so we could have those staff reductions without hurting our programs,” she said.

In February, the board voted to close both schools because of declining enrollment and rising costs, which is saving about $1.3 million — the bulk of the $2 million in budget reductions. Students in kindergarten through grade four will attend the sole remaining elementary school, Jefferson, beginning this fall. Fifth-graders will be housed at the middle school/high school campus.

Kelsey said the community has been “wonderful” in its support in the transition. The Woestina PTO on Monday put on a dinner for the board.

Woestina’s current principal, Shari Lontrato, will become the new director of pupil personnel services next year.

Field trips, athletic uniforms and both the middle school summer and elementary literacy summer school were added back to the budget after the district received additional $230,000 in building and BOCES aid from the state, according to Kelsey.

The average class size would not be substantially affected by the changes, ranging from about an average of 20 in the early grades to 25 or 26 in fifth and sixth grades, according to Kelsey.

Regarding next year’s budget process, Kelsey said she has asked all three of the district’s bargaining units — teachers, administrators and support staff to consider pay freezes for the 2012-13 year. Schalmont’s contract with the teachers expired two years ago and the other two unions; agreements expire at the end of June.

The final tax rates will be set in June. Kelsey said the district wanted no increase in the tax levy because of the concerns from the community.

“As a board, we tried to be mindful of our mission to provide a quality education for Schalmont students and to also recognize the economic challenges facing our district and our taxpayers. I believe this budget accomplishes those goals,” said Board of Education President Kevin Thompson in a statement.

Voting will take place on May 17 between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the foyer of the Schalmont High School new gym.