The agenda was abbreviated for the April 7 workshop meeting, with the majority focusing on discussion about the 2021-2022 budget.
As part of his superintendent’s report, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Giani announced that as part of Women’s History Month in March, New York State Senator Alexis Weik recognized COMPASS Unity Coalition’s Project Coordinator Lynette Murphy for her endless efforts and dedication to COMPASS Unity and the South Country community.
Dr. Giani also announced that there have been, in total, 100 faculty and staff and 277 students who have tested positive for COVID-19 this school year. Additionally, there are no faculty and staff but there are five students who are currently in quarantine.
Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Management Services Christine Costa presented the sixth of a series of budget presentations, which provided an expense and revenue update based on additional state funding. During the report, Ms. Costa reviewed the fund balance, district reserves, state aid, funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund’s Coronavirus and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the current budget gap, multi-year funding options and the budget moving forward. With federal funding, additional state aid and a use of appropriated reserves and fund balance, the district was able to bridge a $14.9 million gap. Ms. Costa also outlined a comparison of a 5% and 10% override of the tax levy limit. At this time in the budget process, the projected budget totaling $145,451,282 carries a tax levy limit of $64,349,842 (a 0.81% increase over the 2020-2021 school year). The current program-driven budget also includes staff reductions based on declining enrollment, five contingent positions, preservation of elementary class sizes, no change in fine and performing arts or interscholastic athletic programs and continued K-12 intervention programs and expanded support for K-5 summer programming due to pandemic “loss of learning.”
A Budget Hearing is scheduled for May 5, 2021 and the Budget Vote and Trustee Election will be held on May 18, 2021.