At its April 8, board of education meeting, the board of education approved a spending plan for the 2025-26 school year. Voters will decide on the proposed budget on Tuesday, May 20.
If approved, the proposed $116,121,281 spending plan will continue all existing services and programs and offer $2.45 million in new investments, resulting in the creation of 20.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions.
The proposed budget will enhance district-wide safety and security, strengthen academic services and programs, expand the district’s special education continuum and provide additional support for students, teachers, staff and community.
In addition to the proposed budget, residents will vote to elect three members to the Board of Education and to approve the purchase of nine school buses as part of the district’s ongoing Bus Replacement Plan, for a total of $1,685,931.
The proposed budget addresses the diverse needs of students while minimizing its financial impact on taxpayers. It calls for a 2.29% increase in the tax levy for next year – well below the district’s legal limit of 3.58%, as defined by New York’s tax levy cap legislation. Because the tax levy increase remains below the district’s legal limit, a simple majority of voters (50% + 1) is needed to pass the budget.
The proposal also aligns with the district’s 2025-26 budget priorities, shaped by community input gathered through this year’s ThoughtExchange prompt. Based on that feedback, new investments for the upcoming school year will include:
Enhanced safety and security across all campuses
The district will restore its School Resource Officer (SRO) program by hiring one full-time SRO and strengthen overall security by hiring a part-time contractual security director to lead a district-wide security team. Staffing additions will include one full-time SRO at the high school, five full-time security monitors (one at each elementary school), and two full-time security monitors at the high school – converted from existing supervising clerical assistant (SCA) positions.
Increased academic program support
The district will add a full-time director of science and technology to oversee these programs, as well as one full-time Teacher on Special Assignment at each elementary school (5 FTE total) for instructional support. Other enhancements include a 0.6 FTE increase in occupational and physical therapy staffing, one full-time social-emotional elementary teacher and the adoption of a new elementary-level English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum.
Expanded special education offerings
The district will add two self-contained communication classrooms – one at the elementary level and one at Van Antwerp Middle School – to educate students within their home community. In addition, 1.2 full-time high school special education teachers will be added to support co-teaching and resource room programs.
Additional staff at Iroquois Middle School
As part of the next phase of the middle school reconfiguration, Iroquois will house all seventh and eighth grade students next year. To support this transition, the district will add a full-time school counselor to assist students and guide them through the high school entrance process, as well as one full-time cleaner to help maintain the expanded facility.
Continued K-5 Summer Learning Academy
The district will continue the K-5 Summer Learning Academy, originally funded through now-concluded federal COVID relief, to provide additional academic support for elementary students during the summer months.
Support for Distraction-Free Schools
To align with Governor Kathy Hochul’s K-12 initiative, the district will allocate funding to implement strategies that reduce learning disruptions caused by student cell phone use during the school day. District leaders will continue to engage students, staff and the community on the best solution for our district that aligns with state guidance.
Improved faculty, staff and community support
The district will hire a full-time coordinator of professional learning and community education to oversee professional development for staff and enrichment programs for the community. Two additional days of staffing will also be added to the communications office to enhance the delivery of essential district- and school-level updates.
Additional investments in operations and technology
Operational improvements include the addition of a full-time, district-wide grounds worker to maintain athletic fields and outdoor facilities. The transportation department will receive technology upgrades, including mounted tablets for bus drivers and geo-based alert systems, to improve safety and route efficiency.
The community is invited to attend a budget hearing on May 6, at 6 p.m., in the District Office Board Room, 1430 Balltown Road, Niskayuna.