ALLEGANY, N.Y. — A budget presentation by Allegany-Limestone Central School District administrators revealed an anticipated budget that will have less than a 2 percent increase as well as a decrease in the tax levy for the 2016-17 school year.

Superintendent Dr. Karen Geelan told the school board and audience the anticipated budget will also support 100 percent of the programs and services currently maintained by the school district.

“One number I would like everyone to look at is 1.72 percent, that’s the budget to budget increase for now, which is less than the 2 percent increase from last year,” Geelan said. “When you can do that in budgeting, that’s a very good thing and we’re very happy with that.”

She also noted the expected tax levy decrease of minus 2.5 percent is also good news for the district.

“If you remember, the last two years, we’ve had decreases in our taxes,” Geelan said. “That is because there is an awful lot of work, we’re being very careful about our spending.”

Geelan said more good news is that the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) number, which reduced the school district’s state aid in the past, currently stands at zero.

“We’re expecting it will be zero (the amount of state aid reduced) — if the GEA is eliminated that is good,” she said.

Prior to Geelan’s comments, the building principals, as well as department heads for professional development, athletics and technology presented their budgets.

Kim Moore, elementary principal, spoke first and said next year’s budget sustains some of the initiatives implemented this year including the writing program and math module. A new budget item will be science camp as well as a first-grade field trip to an area zoo. She said the budget this year at $2.6 million will be reduced to $2.4 million, a 6.22 percent decrease.

At the middle school, Principal Cory Pecorella said the school expects to implement an alternate seating program in a pilot classroom. The program will install two-person seats, bean bags and couches in one of the classes.

“We figured we’ll try it to see how it works,” Pecorella said. “We want the school to be one of the schools in the area with innovative thinking and innovative-type classrooms.”

The school will also set in place a National Junior Honor Society, Pecorella said. “We do a lot to help students who are struggling, but we don’t do a lot that recognizes the high-achieving students.”

At the adjoining high school, Principal Dean Mesi said staffing will be the same on campus. He said programs that will be maintained include the county government internship program for seniors. Also to continue is the Jamestown Community College (JCC) distance learning program for psychology. New programs are the heterogeneous setting for the English Language Arts class. The class will be comprised of students who are struggling as well as high-performing students. He said the JCC English literature class will be returned, and new JCC programs will include 3D computer animation, as well as computer programming.  

Mesi said new equipment that will be purchased include a linear air track and a projectile launcher for physics; a human torso model for anatomy and physiology; real frogs and insects for dissections in the biology lab; a euphonium for the music department; and equipment for the digital electronics course and the fitness room. He said the budget this year is $2.6 million and will drop to $2.5 million next year, a 4.15 percent decrease.

Athletic director Jon Luce said the department’s budget will increase due to the increased salary for the coaching staff as well as the need for new equipment for programs such as football and girls’ track. These items jumped the budget from $202,990 to $219,840, a 8.30 percent increase. Luce said the district will continue to combine current sports programs with other schools.

“We’re going to continue to offer all the sports we currently have, we’re not looking at cutting any teams, or adding any,” he said. “The numbers seem to support that, so we’re not going to make any changes.”

Dave Taylor, professional development director, said the continued support of curriculum and assessment requirements have impacted his budget. They include collaboration at grade levels, teacher training and further implementation of modules and associated materials. He said the budget will increase from $124,040 to $199,990 next year.

The board also heard from Kevin Straub, technology director, who did not provide a budget figure, but noted he continues to provide support to staff and teachers to make “sure they have the equipment needed.”

Following the reports, Geelan said the district will hold a budget forum at 6 p.m. April 5 in Room 42 of the middle school/high school building. A budget presentation will also be held at 6:30 p.m. May 3 at the high school, as well as the budget vote and board election on May 17. Geelan said petitions for two open board seats are due April 18 at the district office.

In other matters, the board approved the retirement resignation of long-time elementary teacher Dennis Smith, effective July 1; and approved the hiring of language teacher Kelly Kent to a  full-time teaching position from the preferred eligibility list at a salary of $43,602.