While there is an overall increase in the proposed 2024-25 budget of 6.89%, or $7,346,231, most of these increases involve mandated and contractual obligations. These obligations include the higher costs of employee benefits (up $2,684,503) and an increase in debt service costs (up $3,210,682).
Changes to the annual budget in staffing and program areas are based on recommendations from instructional and building leaders and department supervisors. For 2024-25, these departmental recommendations included $833,557 in additions to the budget and $1,571,903 in budget reductions. The impact is a net reduction of $738,356 in new spending in these areas in the proposed budget.
The proposed changes include the following:
Classroom Instruction
- Add 3.0 FTE special education teachers to expand the continuum of services for students
- Reduce 5.7 FTE teaching positions in math, science and social studies at the high school based on enrollment (reduced through attrition following retirements)
- Reduce 1.0 FTE world language position at the high school/middle school based on enrollment (reduced through attrition following retirement)
- Reduce 1.0 FTE elementary teacher based on enrollment (reduced through attrition following retirement)
- Increase the supply budget for physical education
Student Support Services & Student Opportunities
- Add funding to meet NYS obligations for providing services to post-grad students with disabilities
- Reduce costs associated with regular-season athletics ticket sales; there will be no cost to attend future regular-season athletics contests
- Add professional development funding for Multi-Tier Systems of Support (MTSS)
- Add new athletics opportunities for girls (flag football and wrestling)
- Add Bocce to unified sports options for students with and without disabilities
- Replace aging gymnastics equipment (vault, uneven bars)
- Add two audiometer machines for hearing screenings by school nurse
- Increase funds for elementary building school supplies
- Add student club opportunities at the middle school (running club and computer club)
- Reduce 5.0 FTE aides to students with disabilities based on students’ needs (these are positions that are currently unfilled)
- Reduce services provided by Saratoga Center for the Family based on decreasing demand
- Embed Transition Services/School to Work coordination for high school students with disabilities as a district-based services, eliminating the need for an outside consultant
Technology, Transportation, Facilities & Human Resources
- Replace sign at front of high school (Delaware Ave. side)
- Digitalize employee records to improve efficiency, recordkeeping
- Reduce 1.0 FTE telematics specialist in the transportation department
- Reduce 1.0 FTE senior systems administrator in the technology department
- Reduce COVID emergency supplies
- Install Avigilon door alert system at BCMS (this is a separate capital outlay project; more information about the door alert system can be found here)