It's school budget time again!

Every year at this time the conversation around school districts turns to the school district budget. Most of you have probably read the newspaper or watched the evening news and know that schools in New York State, and around the country, are feeling the impact of this historic economic crisis.

The Watervliet City School District is not immune to this crisis but we are fortunate to be in a far better fiscal position than many of the districts in New York State and our neighboring school districts.

As I have stated many times in the past, over the last four years our district has emerged from our own fiscal crisis. In many ways, facing that crisis has prepared us for what is upon us today. Solid leadership from our Board of Education and conservative and cautious business practices adopted by this administration have placed us in a position to continue to stay true to our mission of “Every Student, Every Day!” without layoffs, elimination of programs or a substantial tax increase.

Our budget mission is always to balance the ever-expanding educational needs of our students with our community’s values and their ability to pay. This year, much like last year, our budget goals are to maintain all current academic and extra curricular programs, maintain all current faculty and staff and continue to keep our class sizes as small as possible. We plan to achieve this goal without burdening our local taxpayers with a large tax increase in these difficult economic times.

In my five years as Superintendent, we have added many new programs, implemented many initiatives and expanded our student offerings. This year, it is financially prudent to limit new initiatives to those that we deem absolutely paramount to improving academic achievement.

We greatly appreciate the support that the citizens of Watervliet have shown our district over the last few years; soundly approving four school budgets in four years and overwhelmingly approving the two, much needed capital projects that have been placed before you. This year, the district will, once again, propose a sound, responsible and balanced budget that will continue to meet the needs of the students of the Watervliet City School District.

More information on our budget process is available on the district’s website. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about our school’s budget.