Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District residents will vote May 17 on a proposed $63.7 million 2022-23 budget that focuses on preserving and enhancing student programming, supporting students’ mental health and moving forward the district’s four strategic plan focus areas of wellness; curriculum and programs; diversity, equity and inclusion; and family and community engagement.
Compared to the current school year, the adopted New York state budget includes an increase of about $2.6 million in state aid for J-D. With the additional state aid, the district is proposing to increase spending on curriculum resources, staff professional development, student supports and technology resources for students and staff. Highlights include the following.
- Districtwide psychologist and expansion of Onondaga County Department of Mental Health partnership: Both would continue the district’s efforts to support students’ mental health, including establishing a mental health clinic at J-D High School, replicating the model in place at J-D Middle School.
- Middle school late bus: This bus would run after the existing 3:20 p.m. late bus. This would allow more students to connect with their school community if transportation has been a barrier for their participation in activities. Students who are connected to their school typically are more successful academically and social-emotionally.
- School supplies: Each elementary school would provide necessary school supplies for all pre-K to grade 4 students, eliminating the need for supply lists and ensuring an equitable experience for all students.
- Middle and high school technology purchases: As construction nears completion at both schools, the district must outfit the new and renovated spaces with appropriate technology, including white boards and new computers and equipment for career and technical education in general and for specific courses, such as broadcast journalism and photography, so students are better prepared for college or to enter the workforce.
- Professional development: The district recognizes the need for more staff professional development to further staff members’ understanding of, and practices in, inclusiveness and cultural responsiveness. The district is proposing to continue its partnership with New York University’s Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools (Metro Center) to help provide this professional learning.
- Staff recruitment: The district would add to its current recruiting efforts by working with external partnerships to identify qualified, diverse candidates.
The district’s $63,733,991 budget proposal would increase spending by 5.9%, or $3,554,338, compared to the 2021-22 school year. Funding would come from four areas: state aid ($18,233,015), the tax levy ($43,271,142) and other revenue ($2,229,834) from such items as sales tax and interest income.
The tax levy is the total amount of money collected from district property owners to support the budget. The proposed tax levy is at the district’s limit, or cap, which is an increase of $1,092,603, or 2.59%, compared to the current school year’s tax levy. Because the proposal is at the district’s tax levy limit, a simple majority of voters would need to approve the budget for it to pass. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 17 at J-D High School.
The tax levy is just one factor, along with assessment rates and equalization rates, that figures into determining the tax rate, which is used to calculate what each property owner ultimately pays in school taxes. It is anticipated that the majority of property owners would see a tax rate increase less than the tax levy increase, although those rates will not be set until summer by local municipalities.