Niskayuna voters approve $77.19 million budget for 2011-12 by margin of 61% to 39%
Niskayuna Central School District voters approved a $77.19 million budget for the 2011-12 school year. The final vote total was 2,007 yes votes to 1,298 no votes for a margin of 61 percent to 39 percent. Voters also approved a bus purchase proposition by a count of 1,952 yes votes to 1,343 no votes. John Buhrmaster and Deborah Oriola were elected to serve three-year terms on the Board of Education. Read More

Residents of Niskayuna Central School District will vote on the 2011-12 school budget on Tuesday, May 17. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. at Niskayuna High School.

Please note: The annual school budget vote will take place in the band/orchestra room adjacent to the new West Entrance to the high school.

Details about next year's proposed school budget will be posted here. A copy of the 2011-12 budget edition of the Your Schools district newsletter will also be mailed to community members prior to vote. The newsletter can also be downloaded here.

Public Budget Notice (PDF)

Recommended 2011-12 Budget (PDF) / 3-Part Budget (PDF) / Revenues (PDF)

Budget Reduction List (PDF) /  Budget Restoration List (PDF) - (presented at April 5 Board of Education meeting)

Possible 2011-12 Budget Reductions (presented at March 1 Board of Education meeting)

2011 Board of Education meeting schedule / budget development calendar

53 Frequently asked budget questions from Community Budget Survey

Latest budget headlines

Board of Education Petition Information (PDF)

General Voting Information
On the third Tuesday of each May, residents from across New York State go to the polls to vote on the annual school district budget and to elect members of the Board of Education. We encourage all district residents to exercise their right to vote.

In early May, Niskayuna residents can expect to receive in the mail a copy of the district’s Your Schools newsletter that provides details about the budget that residents will vote on. If you do not receive a copy of the newsletter please contact the District Office at 377-4666, ext. 50707 to request that one be mailed to you.

Voter Eligibility
You are eligible to vote if your are a United States citizen, 18 years or older, and a resident of the Niskayuna Central School District for at least 30 days prior to the annual vote date.

Where and When to Vote
Residents may cast their votes at Niskayuna High School from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17, 2011. The high school is the only polling site in the district.

Reserved parking spaces will be available opposite the West Entrance for voters. Short term parking will also be available in the student parking lot to the right of the campus access road from the Balltown Road entrance.

Absentee Ballots
Applications for absentee ballots are available at the district office and will be issued upon request to residents who are unable to vote in person for reasons of illness or disability or will be out of town on the date of the vote. Applications may be requested by May 10 if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter. Applications requested in person will be provided through 4 p.m. on May 16. All completed ballots must be returned to the District Office by 4 p.m. on May 17.

Wednesday, April 6
Board of Education unanimously adopts budget for 2011-12 school year
At its April 5 meeting, the Niskayuna Board of Education unanimously adopted a $77.2 million budget for 2011-12. The budget calls for a 0.97 percent spending increase over the current year, which marks the lowest budget-to-budget increase in at least 25 years. Under the proposed budget, 29.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions would also be eliminated. The expenditure amount, coupled with changes in revenues, would generate an estimated tax levy increase of 3.95 percent. District residents will now vote on the proposed budget at the annual budget vote on May 17. Read More

Thursday, March 31
Niskayuna to have $258,799 in state education aid restored
With the passage of the state budget, Niskayuna school district officials have been informed that $258,799 in state education aid funding will be restored for the 2011-12 school year, bringing the total state aid up to $20.69 million. The $20.69 million received in state aid represents a reduction of $1.2 million from last year. Read More

Wednesday, March 30
Niskayuna administrators, principals, directors, district office staff voluntarily agree to freeze salaries for 2011-12 school year
Niskayuna school district administrators, principals, directors, managers and district office staff members have voluntarily agreed to freeze salaries for the 2011-12 school year, resulting in a savings of approximately $87,000 to the district. Read More

Thursday, March 10
Niskayuna Board of Education asks bargaining units to accept a salary freeze for 2011-12 school year
In an effort to close a projected $6 million gap between revenues and expenditures in the 2011-12 budget, the Niskayuna Board of Education has formally asked the district’s bargaining units to accept a salary freeze for the upcoming school year. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kevin Baughman met formally with the leaders of the bargaining units on Wednesday, March 9, asking for the wage freeze. Read More

From the Superintendent and Board of Education President - Tuesday, March 8
Important District Letter to Parents and Community Members Regarding the 2011-2012 School Budget
As our district administration and school board work to develop our budget for the 2011-2012 school year, we are facing extraordinary difficulties that are important to share with you. A combination of declining state and federal revenues coupled with spikes in certain costs, has created a significant challenge for our school district: to preserve the quality and depth of programs and services during difficult financial times. Read the full letter from Superintendent of Schools Dr Kevin Baughman and Board of Education President Jeanne Sosnow. Read Letter

Superintendents Legislative Committee - Wednesday, March 9
Superintendents Legislative Committee Releases 2011 Position Paper
The Superintendents Legislative Committee, which represents 47 school districts in the Questar III and Capital Region BOCES region, has released its regional legislative position paper entitled: "New York is at a crossroads... and so are its public schools." The position paper addresses the Governor's proposed Executive Budget and its state aid cuts to education. View PDF of Position Paper

Monday, Feb. 28
Council of Superintendents Releases Analysis of Governor's State Budget Plan
The New York State Council of School Superintendents has released its summary and analysis of the 2011-2012 NYS executive budget proposed by Governor Cuomo. The report is entitled: "Rhetoric vs. Reality." View Report (PDF)

EdVANTAGE Blog - Saturday, Feb. 5
What is the Real Story? New York State is a High Educational Performer
In his speeches, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said New York is first in per pupil spending, but 34th in performance, based on the proportion of adults with a high school diploma, according to the Census. Of course, any one measure grossly oversimplifies reality. Actually, we do far better. According to the latest surveys and analysis conducted by Education Week, while the nation earns a "C" for its educational policy and performance, New York maintains a grade of "B" (84.7), second only to Maryland among the 50 states and D.C. Link to Blog

NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIAL - Thursday, Feb. 3
Cuomo Budget Cuts to Education 'Too Much'
Gov. Andrew Cuomo was right (in his executive budget presentation February 2) when he said New York cannot allow special interests and inertia to keep driving up state spending. He was right that painful cuts must be made to close a $10 billion deficit in the state’s projected $96 billion operating budget. But Mr. Cuomo’s refusal to consider any new taxes, or even extend a surcharge on the state’s highest earners, means that his budget — his first — is harsher than it needs to be with the heaviest burden borne by some of the most vulnerable citizens. We are particularly concerned about his deep cuts in education spending... Read Editorial

TIMES UNION - Thursday, Feb. 3
$1.5B less slams schools; More buildings to close, fewer teachers forecast as Cuomo budget plan reduces state aid
The bad new educators and parents have been dreading came on Tuesday. But the real effect of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to trim $1.5 billion in state school aid won't be felt for months. A second year of slashing to stave off the state's insolvency will bring teacher cuts, school closings and even a possible district merger to the Capital Region. Link to full Times Union Article / PDF version

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District Tax Rate
The Board of Education adopted the current school property tax rate for 2010-11 in August.