The document provides an overview of the preliminary budget for the North Colonie Central Schools. It identifies returns on educational investments, reviews the current financial picture at the national, state and local levels, and examines the impact of Governor Cuomo's proposed budget. It also discusses educational mandates, the tax levy cap, and the district's approach to developing the 2012-13 budget. Upcoming budget meetings are scheduled in March with a vote by the Board of Education on March 29.
2. Agenda
Identify returns on educational investment
Provide an overview of current state, local
and national financial picture
Review Governor Cuomo’s proposed budget
and its impact on North Colonie
Identify educational mandates and their
impacts
Review impact of tax levy cap
Explain approach in developing 2012-13
budget
Preliminary budget highlights
3. Our Mission
All students are provided the opportunity
and necessary support to engage in
relevant, challenging work which
contributes to their academic and social
growth and development.
All staff, teachers, and administrators are
part of a larger learning community
working together to build collective capacity
in order to provide a high-quality, relevant,
equitable education for all.
4. The Twin Pillars
We continue to rest our success on
the twin pillars:
Outstanding Student Achievement
Tradition of Fiscal Prudence
5. Returns on Our Investments
For academic performance, North Colonie ranked
14th out of 459 upstate school districts in New
York State by the Buffalo Business First and
Western New York State Business Council
North Colonie is one of only four upstate districts in
New York State to have 50% or more of its students
achieving superior marks (above 85%) on 11
different Regents exams (2010 data)
6. Returns on Investment
7 National Merit Finalists in the graduating
class of 2012, more than any Suburban
Council High School
Shaker Senior Angela Wang is one of 40
national finalists in the Intel Science Talent
Search who will be traveling to Washington
D.C. to meet the President
7. Returns on Investment
The Siena College Transition Program was
established to provide students with
disabilities a college experience.
Teachers K-12 have worked diligently to
incorporate hands-on, authentic learning
experiences in science.
Teachers have incorporated technology to
support teaching and learning through
multi-media projects and research that
develops critical thinking.
8. Returns on Investment
North Colonie was recognized nationally as
a “Best Community for Music Education.”
Twenty of our advanced high school art
students had their work selected for
exhibition in the Annual Juried Exhibit held
at the Sage Albany campus.
Our pre-engineering students completed a
capstone project and successfully
presented projects to a panel of architects,
engineers, and R.P.I. professors.
9. Returns on Investment
Shaker Junior High School students scored
at or near the top of the Suburban Council
on percent achieving proficiency on NYS
ELA and math assessments.
Elementary teachers have worked
throughout the year to develop curricula
and refine their teaching skills to align with
the Common Core Learning Standards.
10. Returns on Investment
The District Energy Committee identified
cost savings and reduced overall energy
usage thus mitigating rises in energy costs.
D.O.T. bus safety inspections resulted in
97.4% of our buses passing.
Food Service won a New York State
Education Department Best Practices
Award for Promoting Healthy
Choices/Nutritional Education.
11. National, State & Local Picture
Although there are some signs at the national level
for optimism, we are still feeling the impact of the
recession
Unemployment has decreased slightly nationally
The Capital Region is better positioned economically
compared to the rest of the nation
The financial markets are improving
States, municipalities and local governments
continue to struggle
Local school districts continue to struggle
economically and look toward significant reductions
in staffing and programs
12. National, State & Local Picture
Projected budget deficit that the Executive
Budget proposal needs to close:
2012-13: $3.5 billion
2013-14: $3.6 billion
2014-15: $5.0 billion
2015-16: $4.2 billion
Total projected four year deficit = $16.3 billion
13. Governor’s Education Budget
Proposal
Gov. Cuomo
proposed an
$805 million General
Support to
statewide high-needs
increase (4%) $250 $290
districts
in aid from last million million Expense &
Enrollment-
year. based aid
The $805 programs
$265 Performance
million is grants
million
broken into
three
components
14. Breakdown of State Aid
North Colonie is only eligible for expense
and enrollment-based aid programs (i.e.
Transportation, Special Education, Text
Book aid, etc)
North Colonie is slated to lose $52,000 in
state aid from 2011-12.
15. District State Aid Trends
8 M
19 $1 8.
18.5
18
17.5 8M
$1 6.
7M
17 4M $1 6.
$1 6.
16.5 M State Aid
$ 16.1
16
15.5
15
14.5
2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
16. Causes for future concern
Fund Balance continues to decrease
In 2013-14, annexation aid begins to decline (10% a
year for 10 years)
Tax levy cap is in effect through at least 2016-17
school year. Thereafter, it remains in effect only so
long as rent control laws are in place.
In 2011-12, district received highest Brick and Mortar
assessment in county – can’t expect that to happen
every year
Governor’s and New York State Education
Department’s plan for state aid and educational
mandates are unknown
17. Causes for Cautious Optimism
Difficult decisions have been made
Maplewood Elementary
TRS rates have remained flat
Health Insurance rates have trended lower than
expected
NCTA contract agreement resulted in cost savings for
district
Possible growth in assessments
Fiscal Responsibility
Prudent use of fund balance
High credit rating in borrowing rate
Refinancing debt
19. Educational Mandates
Dignity for All Students Act
Regents Reform Agenda
Implementation of Common Core Learning Standards
K—12 English Language Arts
K—12 Mathematics
Changing State Assessments and proficiency
requirements
Response to Intervention
Enhanced Graduation Requirements
Annual Professional Performance Review
Video & presentation from January 19 presentation
available on district website
20. New Financial Mandate – Tax Levy
Cap
NYS has a property tax levy cap, not a 2% cap
The law creates a multi-step formula to determine
“tax levy limit”
Sets a higher threshold for voter approval of budgets
if proposed tax levy increase exceeds the “tax levy
limit” plus exclusions
The actual allowable tax levy increase will vary by
district
The tax levy calculation limits the school district levy,
not the individual tax bill of resident taxpayers
Voters are approving the budget (spending plan) not
the tax levy
The education community still has questions
regarding some details of the tax levy cap calculation
21. The North Colonie Budget Process
Began in May after the vote on 2011-12
budget
Started process early, holding two
community budget forums in November
and January
As job openings have occurred, we have
tried to achieve savings via attrition
Board committees have met throughout
year to discuss important topics that impact
the budget, including new state mandates,
curriculum, facilities planning, and finances.
22. Approach to Developing Budget
Guiding Principles
Limit the impact of reductions on students and
programs as much as possible
Where possible, look for gains via attrition
Keep constituent groups informed
To greatest extent possible, maintain current
educational program and limit reductions for 2012-13
school year
Immediately begin planning for more profound, yet
educationally sound, structural changes for 2013-14
school year and beyond
Achieve educational and fiscal sustainability by
achieving savings and making “targeted
reinvestments.”
23. Preliminary Budget Highlights
Targeted Reinvestments
Pursue a “mission-focused” budget.
Align spending and restructuring to the
mission.
Use savings gained from attrition to fund
educational priorities.
Reduce and redirect spending to honor
mission-focused priorities.
24. Preliminary Budget Highlights
Building student capacity
Increase support staff at the elementary level for
students who are struggling with meeting
proficiency in reading and mathematics
Increase supplemental supports for students at the
junior high level who are struggling with meeting
grade level expectations
Building professional capacity
Support teachers with the curricular and
instructional shifts required for the successful
implementation of the Common Core Learning
Standards
25. Upcoming Meeting Schedule
March 8 Equipment, Maintenance, Interfund
Transfers
March 12 New Programs & Initiatives, Summer
Curriculum, Debt Service, Enrollment
March 15 Fund Balance, Revenue (including
updated Tax Levy Cap), Contingency
Budget, Further Discussion
March 19 Staffing Changes
March 22 Staffing Changes (If Necessary)
March 29 Voting by Board of Education
* All meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the SHS Media Center
unless otherwise noted.
26. How to stay informed
Budget & Finance page on district
website contains many resources
Past presentations and videos from
earlier this year
Detailed information on tax levy cap
Relevant budget news articles from
around the area
Timeline of events for the remainder of
budget season
27. How to stay informed
Follow along online – participate in
the budget process from home via
the live-stream feed
Frequent Superintendent budget
videos on Facebook during budget
season
Full budget meeting recaps available
on district website