Upcoming Budget Vote
Dear Clarkstown School Community Member:
We are pleased to inform you that despite all the challenges that have been presented during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the District is able to provide a 2020-21 budget that meets the needs of all students in a fiscally responsible manner.
Following are the key highlights of the budget:
- The first proposition on the ballot is for the annual budget. The proposed annual School Tax levy increase is 1.4% which is less than the NYS CPI increase of 1.81%. The 2020-21 budget maintains current staffing and programming.
- The second proposition on the ballot is to establish a capital reserve fund ("Capital Reserve Fund 2020"). This authorizes the district to create a savings account in which potential future budget surpluses could be used for building alterations or construction. This proposition does not request any additional taxes from the community.
- Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Building Closures since March 13, the District has been able to save $3.5 million which will be used to offset expenses in 2020-21 and minimize the tax increase.
- The 2020-21 budget also allocates funds from District Reserves to lower tax impact and cover anticipated New York State Aid reductions during the 2020-21 school year.
- The District has created a Reduce, Pause, Resume fiscal management program to be implemented for 2020-21 as an additional strategy to reduce spending to cover anticipated New York State Aid reductions during the 2020-21 school year. Details of this program are available on the Budget section of the District website.
The benefits to our students and the Clarkstown community resulting from voters approving past budgets are evident. In recent years, the District has implemented Teachers College Reading and Writing, K-8, providing equity across our schools for all students with literacy instruction. In 2019-20, the Yale RULER Social Emotional approach was implemented for faculty and staff with plans for students to be immersed with this important concept in 2020-21. Professional development was also provided this past year for Co-Taught Instruction, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The District has also made significant improvements to our facilities and infrastructure.
Clarkstown High School North and Clarkstown High School South were recognized as Top Schools in New York State and in the United States by U.S. News and World Report. In the same week as this honor, both high schools were named Recognition Schools by the New York State Department of Education, placing both schools among an honored group representing only 13% of all schools in our state.
The District continues to move forward with a focus on making gains with the four goals of Academics, Social Emotional Learning, Capacity Building and Safety while actively engaging in developing our plans for re-opening.
Additional information on the budget proposal, including a sample ballot, is available on the Budget section of the District website.
Ballots, with postage paid return envelopes, are being mailed to all registered voters early next week. Ballots must be received to the District Clerk by 5 p.m. on June 9, 2020.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Tamara Bierker
Board of Education President
Martin D. Cox, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools