JD J–D Journal by the Jamesville-DeWitt School District for its residents Volume 16, No. 2 WINTER/SPRING EDITION March/April 2013 Basics of budget building - still not easy By Alice Kendrick, District Superintendent 2013-2014 budget development process Please attend: Our number one goal Each May the community has an opportunity to vote on the operational budget for the Budget Forum at Jamesville-DeWitt coming school year. The process of developing that budget begins months prior to that continues to be a qual- as we review our needs, trends, cost drivers, and sources of revenue. Each step of the ity education for every process becomes more challenging as these variables change, some fairly dramatically. When: student, using our fi nite You will see below the budget calendar for the remainder of the year. 7:00 PM resources prudently to The district would like to engage the community by inviting you to a forum on the bud- February 25 ensure a comprehensive get development process to discuss the specifi c needs, trends, cost drivers, and revenue program at every level. sources that are impacting the budget and solicit your thoughts and recommendations. The forum is scheduled for February 25, 2013 at 7:00 PM in the high school large group The process of attaining Where: room. We urge you to come to the forum and be a part of the deliberations. Our ability High School/ this goal continues to to continue to provide the high-quality education all have grown to expect at James- challenge us as the state ville-DeWitt is dependent upon making the right decisions in a challenging environment. Large Group places more demands on Please be a part of the process. Room schools, while limiting resources to meet those budget for next year. You mandates that consume demands. Over the last 2013-14 Budget Calendar may have seen the public- valuable resources. A four years, we have DATE ACTION Feb. 25 Public Budget Forum at High School ity in January concerning letter or email to our reduced non-instruc- Overview of Budget Process & Challenges the large increases in aid state legislators from tional staff and limited March 4 Board Meeting at Jamesville Elementary proposed by the gover- you concerning these non-instructional spend- Expense Plan for Instructional Budget nor. The increase in aid matters could really help ing wherever we could to (K-12 and Special Ed) over last year is not only our students and local March 11 Board Meeting at District Offi ce drive resources into the Revenue & Tax Levy lower than publicized, it tax payers. Legislator instructional program. March 18 Public Budget Forum at High School is less than we received in contact information is We have made modifi - Budget Plan Review and Discussion previous years. This again on the district website at cations in instructional April 8 Board Meeting at Middle School creates a gap for us to jamesvilledewitt.org. programs and staffi ng, Adopt Budget to Present to Voters May 13 Board Meeting at District Offi ce eliminate by either reduc- The district will con- reducing the budget in Budget Hearing ing expenses or increasing tinue the process of areas that we thought May 21 Annual Budget Vote at High revenue. budget development, would have the least The State could miti- balancing all of these negative impact. We have increased. from $9.7 million in gen- gate part of this problem factors. done this while overhead During this same period eral aid from the state to by allocating state aid dol- Your involvement and costs such insurance, we have actually seen a a projected $8.3 million lars more equitably across participation is wel- state retirement costs, decrease in state aid for in general state aid in the state while ceasing the comed and appreci- utilities, and fuel have operations. We have gone the governor’s proposed enactment of additional ated. The sun’s set on another Broadway- quality musical by the Jamesville- DeWitt High School Music Department. The classic Fiddler on the Roof was staged Feb. 7, Feb. 9 and, thanks to Mother Nature, Feb. 10. The production featured more than 120 students on stage, behind the scenes, and in the pit orchestra. And the hits just keep on coming: The combined grades 7-12 choruses will present concert versions of selections from Jekyll &Hyde, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. on April 19. Tickets go on sale soon! Photos by Marlon Levy-Faigen SCHOOL NEWSLETTER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION Jamesville-DeWitt Schools U.S. Postage DEWITT, NY 13214 PAID i n s i d e Syracuse, NY 13220 Permit No. 1869 From the Superintendent .......... 3 Building News ..................... 4-5 Sports Calendar ...................... 6 District Calendar ..................... 7 POSTAL CUSTOMER Sports Shorts ......................... 8 ECRWSS JD J-D Journal Page 2 On Board Facilities updates The Board regarding bus garage, Virginia Murphy, President 5230 Leverett Lane Fayetteville, NY 13066 capital project and 446-1724 Dennis E. Resetarits, technology infrastructure M.D., Vice President On December 12th, we this summer is boiler 6935 Kassonta Drive experienced a fi re that replacement and HVAC Jamesville, NY 13078 682-5769 destroyed a significant work at the Middle portion of the bus ga- School and Tecumseh Julie Comanici rage. Thankfully, no one Elementary, the instal- 27 Ely Drive was hurt. Although we lation of new lights in Fayetteville, NY 13066 experienced major dam- the Moses DeWitt gymna- 446-5460 age, the building was not sium, and repair of the Jack McLoughlin a total loss. A large part infrastructure around 215 Haddonfi eld Drive of the building must be the Middle School pool. DeWitt, NY 13214 demolished and rebuilt. We have also begun 446-6026 The demolition will take a signifi cant upgrade to Susan Petrosillo place in late February, our technology infra- 6960 Colonial Drive early March. The plans to structure. J-D was one of Fayetteville, NY 13066 rebuild must be approved the fi rst districts to use The community has been enjoying the new facility at 446-0876 a wireless network. It is by the State Education the high school. The main athletic fi eld has been im- Mark Schulman Department, so that will, proved by the new bleachers, press box, concrete and now so old, it cannot sup- 5056 Yellow Wood Pkwy. unfortunately, add a de- asphalt pavement, and landscaping. This completed port current function. Jamesville, NY 13078 lay. We hope the plans the fi rst phase of our capital project, which is now Our hard wire network is 446-5056 will be approved this entering its fi nal phase. suffering from the same spring so we can begin condition. The wiring for Thomas C. Taylor 115 Woodberry Lane the reconstruction. We tion trailer and bus stor- patience, fl exibility, and the project is underway Fayetteville, NY 13066 anticipate the bulk of the age/washing bay. Despite commitment to get the or already completed 449-9470 work being completed this the challenging working job done in a compromised in all five buildings. summer. conditions, all depart- environment. The plan calls for the Jill Walsh In the meantime, the ment functions have been The capital project, installation of the new 6727 Serah Lane Jamesville, NY 13078 maintenance department, ongoing. Our hard-work- approved by the voters in wireless network next 498-4996 which was completely de- ing and dedicated main- October 2010 is entering summer. Both networks stroyed, is working out tenance staff should be its fi nal phase. The work should be ready for use Samuel C. Young of a temporary construc- commended for their that will be completed in September 2013. 206 Newfi eld Road DeWitt, NY 13214 449-0113 Private transportation requests due by April 1 New York State Education Law Section 365(2) requires that a written request be made to a school district when transportation of a student to a non-public, private, or parochial school is required. This written request must be made annually and should be received by the school district no later than April 1st for transportation for the next school year. You can obtain an application from the non-public school in which your child is enrolled. If you have questions, please call the transportation department at 445-8388. Meetings The Board of Education Kindergarten registration, September 2013 meets every fi rst and third Even though we are barely half way through the school year, we have begun the process of planning Monday of the month at 7 for next year. An important part of our planning is determining how many kindergarten students we will p.m. during the school year. enroll in each of our elementary schools for September 2013. If you have a child you plan to enroll in See the calendars on pages kindergarten next year, we request that you register the child now. The registration forms are available 1 and 7 for details. The Board welcomes your par- on the district website at jamesvilledewitt.org. They should be submitted to the registrar in the district ticipation and comments offi ce. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the offi ce at 445-8300. throughout the year. WHEN THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL Mmhhh...is there school today? During the winter months, there is Radio Write the Board always the possibility that school may be cancelled due to weather WNTQ, WAQX, WKRL District Offi ce conditions. If a decision is made to cancel school, several local WSEN,WFBL, WTLA P.O. Box 606 radio and television stations will be contacted by school officials. Edinger Drive The decision to cancel school or to delay the opening of school WAER, WTKW, WZUN DeWitt, NY 13214 will be made by 6:30 a.m.