P O R T J E R V I S C I T Y S C H O O L D I S T R I C T BUDGET EDITION

2 Three-part Budget

4 Board Candidates5 District Using

$1,080,000 from Fund Balance

6 Budget Notice

BUDGET 2018-19

BUDGET VOTE AT-A-GLANCE

▪ Proposed Budget $72,249,842

▪ Budget Increase $2,032,001

▪ Estimated* Tax Levy Increase 1.9%

▪ Also on the Ballot BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTIONS Three seats are up for election. Each seat carries a three-year term.

What’sInside

Budget Vote & School Board Election set for May 15Budget promotes education, stays under tax cap

The proposed 2018-2019 budget for the Port Jervis City School District includes continued support for student programs, improved safety, increased technology, and emphasis on planning for the future. The recommended budget is below the 2% tax cap with a 1.9% levy to levy increase.

If approved by the voters on May 15, the $72.2 million budget would add two security guards for a total of four guards district-wide – one full time guard for each building. This budget supports an increase in the number of students attending the Orange-Ulster

BOCES Career and Technical program. The District is continuing our partnership with Teacher’s College at Columbia University and our K-8 reading and writing program. Computer and technology opportunities within the classroom are of great importance and are evident in this budget. There will also be an addition to our IT support staff. The District will be purchasing and implementing a new website. Our Public Information Specialist is presently researching websites through visits to other Districts who have recently updated their websites.

In planning for the future, curriculum mapping across all subject areas and grade levels will be taking place. Summer School will be enhanced with the addition of staff to support a project-based format, with the goal of increasing student engagement, communication and collaboration skills. An after-school enrichment program is also being recommended for the elementary schools to foster the above goals.

This proposed budget ensures that students are at the center of all that we do in the Port Jervis City School District.

4 PORT JERVIS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT2

The proposed budget represents a 2.9% increase over last year’s budget and a 1.9% projected increase on the tax levy.

What happens if the budget is not approved?

Under Contingency Budget, the district would have to reduce the budget by $529,243.

If a proposed budget is defeated by voters, Board of Education members in all New York State school districts have options for a re-vote or adoption of a contingency budget. Under tax levy limit law, Port Jervis Schools would eliminate equipment purchases and reduce administrative initiatives. Fees would be enacted for all community organizations who use school fields and buildings.

Three-part Budget Comparison2017-2018 2018-2019

ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

General Support 860,596 957,158

Building Administration 3,409,609 3,347,172

Employee Benefits 1,574,740 1,556,240

TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET 5,844,945 5,860,570

PROGRAM BUDGET

Regular Instruction 18,202,987 18,638,400

Special Education 14,897,214 15,834,563

Instructional Support 4,272,293 4,790,082

Pupil Activities 981,594 1,008,366

Transportation 4,120,408 4,047,222

Employee Benefits 12,503,584 12,954,032

TOTAL PROGRAM BUDGET 54,978,080 57,272,665

CAPITAL BUDGET

Operations & Maintenance 4,442,676 4,255,170

Debt and Legal 3,524,701 3,467,970

Employee Benefits 1,427,439 1,393,467

TOTAL CAPITAL BUDGET 9,394,816 9,116,607

GRAND TOTAL 70,217,841 72,249,842

After School Programs Engaging students in the learning process is paramount.

Our learning community is dedicated to continue to foster a student-centered learning environment by incorporating project-based and hands-on learning activities. Additionally, there is evident momentum in our District to continue to utilize STEAM/STREAM (Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Art, and Math) in lesson and unit planning to further this ideal. To realize our collective goal of providing an engaging learning experience, the Port Jervis City School

District will begin an After School Enrichment Program in ASK and HBE throughout the 2018-2019 school year.

The After School Enrichment Program will include authentic learning and problem solving activities using virtual reality equipment, coding programs, Ozobots, Legos, and our district’s technology. This program will provide our students with an entertaining and enjoyable means to also develop interpersonal skills, including the essential communication and collaboration skill sets.

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Summer SchoolPort Jervis City School District teachers

provide our students with outstanding educational opportunities throughout the school year. After a thorough review of how our programming can be improved to support this ideal during our Summer School program, several areas of enhancement will take place for the 2018 session. For instance, recognizing that students benefit from a project-based format, our students in our elementary program will receive instruction in the areas of ELA and Math, however, the format will include students completing projects and collaborative assignments to achieve our desired results. Additionally, the concept of STREAM coaches will be integrated into each grade-level to infuse the effective use of technology, robotics, coding, and problem-solving, all while coupling the ELA and Math skills needed for continued academic growth.

To further enhance our targeted approach to the individual needs and strengths of our students, the faculty and administration will be afforded time prior to the start of Summer School to plan and prepare targeted instruction and projects for the students on their roster based on a review of the academic and assessment data. This will allow the teachers to have a comprehensive approach to the learning process, improving the effectiveness of the Summer School program.

BUDGET 2018-19

Moving Forward with Curriculum MappingAs a means of ensuring our students

are receiving a comprehensive, aligned education from kindergarten through graduation, our teachers will begin the formal process of curriculum mapping in the summer of 2018. While curriculum maps can come in many forms, our teachers will be using an online platform for the development of these maps. The most basic of maps include the topics to be covered in a grade-level or course, as well as the applicable Learning Standards. The maps our teachers will create will also include links to websites, video clips, documents, and assessments.

Constructing the maps in this format will allow the teachers to have all resources at their disposal in one location. In addition to the inherent benefits of the mapping process for reviewing the learning targets and resources, the maps will be utilized throughout the year for informal and formal reviews of assessment and progress data to allow our teachers to continue to hone in on the most effective means of assisting our students to achieve all that is possible by continuously updating and improving the maps.

64BUDGET 2018-19

Three of the nine seats on the Board of Education are up for election. Six district residents are running to fill these seats.

Noeleen Casey-TomasiNoeleen Casey-Tomasi is running for a second term. She previously served on the Board of Education from 2013 to 2015. She is a former ASK PTA officer, and currently a MS and HS PTSA member, and member of the Future Buildings Committee. She is a Teacher’s Aide at

The ARC of Orange County. Casey-Tomasi and her husband Peter are the proud parents of three children who are in 7th, 10th, and 11th grades in the Port Jervis City School District.

PLATFORM: “I want to make sure the community gets the very best superintendent available. I am confident that the correct superintendent will provide our district with strong leadership supporting our staff and students and addressing our future building needs. I believe in transparency and accountability from everyone.”

Theresa CreeganTheresa (Tippy) Creegan is running for her first term. She is currently the Deputy Town Clerk of Deerpark, a position she has held since 2010. Creegan and her husband Patrick are Port Jervis High School graduates and the proud parents of a Port Jervis High School graduate (‘10) and a

child in the 9th grade in the Port Jervis High School.

PLATFORM: “As a parent of a child in the district, I am not only concerned about taxes and raising our graduation rate, but I am also concerned about communication and safety issues. Our district has wonderful teachers and staff. We need to work together to make things even better for our children.”

Deborah Lasch – IncumbentDeborah Lasch is running for her 4th term. She is currently on the Board of Education and has previously served from 1999 to 2005. She served as Board President for 3 years. Lasch worked at Bon Secours Hospital for 15 years and has been working at Orange Regional for

5 years as a Credentialing Specialist. Lasch and her husband David are Port Jervis High School graduates and are the proud parents of three Port Jervis High School graduates (’99, ’01, ’10).

PLATFORM: “I believe in public education and want to continue as a part of the team working towards our goal of excellence in education. I feel that our children are our greatest assets and we need to give them the best tools to achieve success.”

Valerie Maginsky – IncumbentValerie Maginsky is running for a second consecutive term. In her first term, she served as City Liaison, Policy Committee Member, OCSBA Alternate, NYSSBA Representative and Area 9 Resolution Committee Member. She is currently the Executive Director of the Port

Jervis Community Development Agency. Maginsky is a Port Jervis High School graduate and is the proud mother of three Port Jervis High School graduates (’96, ’97, ’99).

PLATFORM: “Having learned the BOE basics in my first term, I am eager to continue to improve educational outcomes for our students. Additionally, security, transparent communications, maintaining fiscal stability, determining a solution for our Middle School while continuing to seek a superintendent are also high on my list of priorities.”

Reyes M. Torres Jr.Reyes Torres is running for a second term. He previously served on the Port Jervis City School District Board of Education from 2012 to 2015. He has been a Production Print Specialist for Konica Minolta Business Solutions for 28 years. Torres and his wife Gina are the proud parents

of two children who are in 1st and 9th grades in the Port Jervis City School District. PLATFORM: “To be a voice and advocate for the children of the Port Jervis City School District.”

Linda J. Van HornLinda Van Horn is running for her first term. She is retired from the Port Jervis City School District where she worked for 12 years as the Financial Administrative Aide for (CSE) Pupil Personnel Serves and is also retired from Kolmar Labs where she worked for 20 years.

Van Horn is a Port Jervis High School graduate and the proud mother of four Port Jervis High School graduates (’84, ’84, ’93, ’96).

PLATFORM: “I have very good financial skills that would be an asset to the district. I am proud of my city and school, and am thankful for the opportunity to work for the district. I want to serve because it is the right thing to do.”

Board of Education Candidates

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PORT JERVIS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICTPort News

POLLING LOCATIONS More voter information is available at www.pjschools.org

VOTE Tuesday, May 15

POLLS OPEN 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voter InformationQuestions?

Call the District Clerk at

858-3100, Ext. 15511

REGISTRATION Registration simply involves signing the form indicating that you are 18 or older, a U.S. citizen, and will have lived in the district for at least 30 days immediately prior to election day.

If you are registered to vote in general elections, you are automatically eligible to vote in school elections.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Registered voters may vote by absentee ballot if they are unable to get to the polls on May 15.

The application for an absentee ballot can be obtained from the District Clerk. Absentee ballots must reach the District Office no later than 5 p.m. on election day.

Where do I vote?The polling stations for the District Budget Vote & School Board Election are not the same as the general election polling locations. Port Jervis School District residents can cast their votes May 15, at - Port Jervis Middle School, Port Jervis High School and Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School.Listed below are the designated areas for the school election districts.

School Election District #1: Port Jervis Middle School Gymnasium, 118 E. Main Street, Port Jervis Designated Area: City of Port Jervis General Election District No. 1; City of Port Jervis Wards 1, 2, 3, 4

School Election District #2: Port Jervis High School Gymnasium #2, 10 Route 209, Port Jervis Designated Area: Town of Deerpark General Election Districts No. 3, 4, 5, 7; Section of the Town of Forestburgh General Election District No. 1* (Rio)

School Election District #3: Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School, 929 Route 209, Cuddebackville Designated Area: Town of Deerpark General Election Districts No. 1, 2, and 6; Section of the Town of Mamakating General Election District No. 4;* Section of the Town of Forestburgh General Election District No. 1 (Oakland Valley),* Section of the Town of Mount Hope General Election Districts No. 3 & 4*

*Section is located within the Port Jervis School District.

What is fund balance? How is it being used to REDUCE my taxes?The District is applying $1,080,000 from its fund balance to the 2018-19 budget to reduce

taxes. This transfer maintains the tax levy at the prior year level. Fund balance is created when a district is able to generate a surplus either by receiving more

revenue than expected and/or by spending less than budgeted.The district’s fund balance spending plan was developed to apply money from its reserve funds

annually to help reduce the tax burden while maintaining long-term financial stability. Some districts have chosen to deplete their fund balance to fill budget shortfalls created by lagging state aid and unfunded mandated costs. The more prudent approach taken by Port Jervis has helped it to weather the current economic crisis much better than other districts that are facing school closures, program cuts, and massive layoffs.

PORT JERVIS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICTPort News6 BUDGET 2018-19

NON-PROFITUS POSTAGE

PAIDPORT JERVIS, NYPERMIT NO. 20

12771

Port Jervis CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

9 Thompson StreetPort Jervis, NY 12771

RESIDENT

PORT JERVIS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

www.pjschools.org

BOARD OF EDUCATIONJudith Amato, PresidentTanya Parker-Hughes, Vice PresidentBrian Dewey Deborah LaschValerie MaginskyCathy SadaghianiFlorence SantiniRobert Witherow

Interim SuperintendentRuth Zuclich

School District Budget Notice Overall Budget Proposal

The annual budget vote for the 2018-19 fiscal year by the qualified voters of the Port Jervis City School District, Orange County, New York, will be held at Port Jervis City School District Schools in said District on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., prevailing time in the Port Jervis City School District, at which the polls will be open to vote by voting machine. Polling Locations are: Port Jervis High School, Port Jervis Middle School, and Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School. For more information, call Kristen Lopez in the District Office at 858-3100, Ext. 15511.

The School District Budget Notice (on left) is mandated by state law. School districts must present their costs in three prescribed components. The budget document, which contains a summary report of tax exemptions, is available at: District Business Office 9 Thompson Street, Port Jervis, NY 12771, and in the main office of each school building.If you have any questions or need more information, please call the Business Office at 858-3100, Ext. 15531. Additional budget information is available at community budget meetings and on the District web site, www.pjschools.org

Basic School Tax Relief (STAR) exemption is authorized by Section 425 of the Real Property Tax Law. Port Jervis City School District is comprised of four towns and one city. STAR Exemption amounts are different for each one. Actual savings is dependent on assessments and equalizations on rates which are not available before July 1.*

Budget proposed for 2018-2019 school year

$1,067* Estimated Basic STAR Exemption Savings

Budget Adopted for the 2017-18

School Year

Budget Proposed for the 2018-19

School Year

Contingency Budget for the 2018-19 School

Year*

Total Budgeted Amount, Not Including Separate Propositions $70,217,841 $72,249,842 $71,720,599

Increase/Decrease for the 2018-2019 School Year $2,032,001 $1,502,758

Percentage Increase/Decrease in Proposed Budget 2.89% 2.14%

Change in the Consumer Price Index 2.13%

A. Proposed Tax Levy to Support the Total Budgeted Amount $27,902,987 $28,432,230

B. Levy to Support Library Debt, if Applicable $0 $0

C. Levy for Non-Excludable Propositions, if Applicable ** $0 $0

D. Total Tax Cap Reserve Amount Used to Reduce Current Year Levy $0 $0

E. Total Proposed School Year Tax Levy (A + B + C - D) $27,902,987 $28,432,230 $27,902,987

F. Permissible Exclusions to the School Tax Levy Limit $96,974

G. School Tax Levy Limit, Excluding Levy for Permissible Exclusions $27,806,013 $28,432,230

H. Total Proposed Tax Levy for School Purposes, Excluding Permissible Exclusions and Levy for Library Debt, Plus Prior Year Tax Cap Reserve (E - B - F + D)

$27,806,013 $28,432,230

I. Difference: (G – H); (Negative Value Requires 60.0% Voter Approval – See Note Below Regarding Separate Propositions) ** $0 $0

Administrative component $5,844,945 $5,860,570 $5,794,507

Program component $54,978,080 $57,272,665 $56,907,985

Capital component $9,394,816 $9,116,607 $9,018,107

The 2018-2019 contingency budget will require elimination of equipment purchases as well as reductions in administrative initiatives and staff. A contingent budget would require $529,243 in budget reductions.

Produced in cooperation with the Capital Region BOCES Communications service.