Proposed Scarsdale School Budget Preserves Educational Program for 2014-15

The proposed Scarsdale school budget for 2014-15 has been released–- squeaking in just under the tax cap with a tax levy increase of 4.084% only .012% under the adjusted allowable levy of 4.096%. The proposed $148,321,876 budget represents a 3.07% increase over the 2013-14 budget of $143,899,713. The budget will mean a 3.93% tax increase for Scarsdale residents and a bump of 1.59% for those in the Mamaroneck strip.

The new budget maintains small class sizes, adding 8 teachers to the district staff – five at the elementary school level and three at the high school. Though elementary school enrollment is only expected to rise by 31 students, there are currently five sections over the maximum class size and the modest increase in the student population necessitates additional staff. Three of the new sections will be added at the Fox Meadow School. The budget limits class size in grades K-2 to 22 students with maximum class size of 24 students in grades 4 and 5. At the high school, the three additional teachers will be in the social studies, science and math departments – where, without these new hires, 15.7% of classes in those subjects would be above the maximum class size of 25 students. Though the in the past the budget has provided for two unassigned teachers to be placed when enrollments finalize during the summer months, there are no unassigned positions in this budget.

Much of the budget growth stems from mandated costs that are beyond the district's control. Of the $4.42mm increase, $956,721 is for an increases in the contribution to the teacher and employee's retirement budget and another $882,906 is for the district's self-insured health plan. Since the state ruled that the district had to liquidate the health insurance reserve, consultants recommended that the district increase this budget by 6.0% as a cushion against unexpected claims.

Another large mandated increase is $401,871 in the special education budget for contractual school services for payments to neighboring districts, BOCES and private and residential facilities for students who can benefit from out-of-district placements.

Not all the increases are due to benefits and special education. Residents will see improvements in facilities from the $815,000 addition to the budget for facilities. Here are the projects that will be funded in 2014-15:

Fox Meadow: new playground fence and an upgrade to the fire alarm system
Greenacres: Relocation of the office to improve school security and replacement of the condensate system for the boiler.
Heathcote: new fence at Innes Road and at the playground, exterior painting of the school
Quaker Ridge: Replacement of concrete pad beneath the oil tank
Middle School: Replacement of exterior stairway from Cooper House for safety reasons
High School: Renovation of two new science labs for Chemistry and Physics classes to accommodate student enrollment. Carpet replacement in eight classrooms and asbestos removal.

An additional $325,000 has been budgeted for district-wide roof repairs.

In addition to these new projects, the district will upgrade their technology infrastructure. On the list are:

The installation of wireless access to all five elementary school
Expansion of Chrome Books to the fourth grade
Expansion of mobile technology to sixth grade
Upgrade to technology equipment in the digital art classrooms at SHS

Several items that were under consideration for elimination were maintained in the budget. Security personnel at the high school and middle school and at Greenacres field on evenings and weekends will continue to be funded. Though the Teen Center had asked for a larger allocation, the budget includes a $65,000 contribution from the School Board to the center. The Center for Innovation, whose funding had been reduced to $25,000 in 2013-14 will see an increase to $50,000 in 2014-15.

The Board is now considering major upgrades to district facilities that will be funded through bonds, if approved by the community. Rather than pay for large-scale renovations through the operating budget and increase the tax rate, the Board will continue to fund these projects by issuing debt which spreads the cost of these projects over many years.

Board President Suzanne Seiden said that this budget would be adjusted over the next few weeks as better estimates of actual costs and surpluses from the 2013-14 become available. In addition, the Board may decide to lease three school buses rather that purchase two news buses that are included in the budget at a cost of $104,913 which could yield additional savings.

You can view the proposed budget here and watch video on demand of the budget presentation here.

The community will vote on the budget on Tuesday May 20 from 7 am to 9 pm at Scarsdale Middle School.