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Contingency
budget adopted by District invests in strong academic programs
The Board of
Education, at its June 4 meeting, adopted a contingency budget of
$188,764,267, which maintains, expands and adds strong academic
programs. The budget is $770,000 less than the total budget which
voters defeated in May; it represents a 5.46 percent tax levy increase.
The Board
decided to forego a second public budget vote and adopt the contingency
budget, which allows the District to begin planning and implementing
programs and improvement strategies for next year. A contingency budget
is essentially a state-mandated cap on district spending. Districts can
adopt a contingency budget after a proposed budget is defeated once, and
must adopt one if a budget is defeated twice.
“This new
budget meets the educational needs of our community and allows the
District to begin implementing improvement strategies across the board,”
said Teneka Frost, Board president.
Strong educational plan
The
budget includes funding for the District to continue to promote student
achievement, while tackling challenges such as test scores and
graduation rates.
“From day one, the 2007-2008 budget was built on academic goals, which
means that it supports programs and strategies that we know work, as
well as research-based program expansions and new initiatives that will
help the District aggressively respond to areas where it must
significantly improve,” said Superintendent Eva Joseph.
Reading and writing
The District plans to build upon a general trend of achievement gains
represented in recently released English Language Arts test scores.
After a thorough review of its literacy programs, the District will soon
implement a new comprehensive elementary literacy program district-wide
that will strengthen literacy instruction, classroom resources and
professional development to increase students’ reading and writing
skills.
In addition, the budget funds the expansion of the Writing Workshop from
Teachers College at Columbia University to all elementary schools,
giving all students access to these strategies to build solid writing
skills.
Increasing graduation rates and guidance
The
budget funds the expansion of faculty and course offerings at Harriet
Gibbons High School, a proactive approach to preparing ninth-graders for
success in high school. This will allow more students access to a small
learning environment in a year considered critical to student success.
At the middle-school level, additional guidance staff will provide
essential services and support to all students.
The budget also includes funding to develop research-based middle and
high school programs that target a significantly increased graduation
rate and the elimination of the achievement gap.
Strong foundation and student supports
The
budget funds the continuation of full-day Pre-kindergarten and
Kindergarten – a crucial time for children to build an educational
foundation.
Under the
adopted budget, class sizes would remain small – an average of 19
students. This satisfies the District’s goal of small class sizes, and
allows for more student-teacher interaction and more individualized
academic support.
The budget
also includes funding to continue extended day programs at five District
elementary schools –Arbor Hill Elementary School, Giffen Memorial
Elementary School, Philip Schuyler Achievement Academy, Sheridan
Preparatory Academy and North Albany Academy – that were subject to
elimination due to the loss of a federal grant.
Enriching and challenging curriculum
The
budget funds an expansion of Albany High School’s prestigious
International Baccalaureate Program, giving more students access to this
rigorous curriculum that prepares students to live, learn and work in a
rapidly changing and globalized world.
It also funds the continuation of the elementary foreign language
program, allowing students to develop these important skills from an
early age. Music and art programs will also continue, including
instrumental music for students beginning in third grade.
Safe, modern schools
The
budget provides funding for the District to continue to maintain safe
and orderly schools.
Additional security equipment will be purchased, and security personnel
will undergo additional training so they may better assist students and
contribute to a safe environment. Also security personnel will be
increased to provide additional coverage at Abrookin Vocational
Technical Center, North Albany Academy, William S. Hackett Middle School
and Albany High School.
The budget also includes debt service payments to keep the facilities
project – the modernization of the District’s PreK-8 program facilities
– moving forward.
2007-08 School Budget
Update
May 30, 2007
Pending official notification of the status of New
Covenant Charter School, the Board of Education will meet in a special
session on Monday, June 4, to consider putting a revised 2007-08 budget
before voters.
The Board did not act on a 2007-08 budget at its meeting
on Tuesday, May 29 because of the level of uncertainty associated with
the potential closing of New Covenant Charter School. Whether or not the
school closes will greatly affect the proposed budget and accompanying
tax levy and increase.
At this point, the Board's options are to adopt a
revised budget to put before voters or to adopt a contingency budget by
June 30.
The Board decided it was prudent to refrain from making
a decision until June 4 based largely on two factors:
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If New Covenant makes an official determination to
close, the district would be in a position to put a budget before
voters with a tax levy that is reduced significantly from the
initial proposed budget.
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If a revised budget is approved by voters, the
district can avoid the restrictions of a contingency budget, namely
restrictions on the purchase of student supplies and a stipulation
that it must charge community groups to use school buildings.
"This episode underscores the severe challenges in terms
of budget and academic program planning presented by the oversaturation
of charter schools in Albany and the funding mechanism for them,"
Superintendent Eva Joseph said. "Still, the budget that is ultimately in
place will support a quality academic experience for all students in the
district next year."
***
2007-08 School Budget
Update
May 18, 2007
There was an error in the formula provided by the New York
State Education Department to the City School District of
Albany used to calculate its 2007-08 contingent budget. As a result,
voters had inaccurate information about the contingency level for the
budget vote on May 15.
On Tuesday, May 29, the Board of Education will consider three
options: to present the same budget for a re-vote, to present a revised
budget for vote, or adopt a contingency budget.
Essentially, a contingency budget is a state-mandated cap on spending
that can be adopted if a proposed school budget is defeated once, but
must be imposed if defeated twice.
In the meantime, the School District will review its contingent
budget calculations based on the correct formula to ensure accuracy and
clarity in the process moving forward.
***
2007-08 School Budget
Update
May 15, 2007
Albany voters turned
down the proposed 2007-08
budget Tuesday, May 15, by a tally of 2,699 to
2,345, with 5,044 votes cast. Under State education
law, the district now has the options of
submitting a revised budget for a re-vote,
submitting the same budget for a re-vote, or
adopting a contingency budget. The Board of
Education will discuss these options at its meeting
on Thursday, May 17 at 7 p.m. at Pine Hills
Elementary School.
***
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