Future of Duanesburg Schools

YOUR INVOLVEMENT IS VALUED

Where are we now?

At the January 24, 2012, Long-Term Planning Forum, residents learned that in a few years the district will likely be out of money mostly due to declining revenue and rising expenses.

The forum was held to let residents know about the financial state of the district, present possible future options and collect feedback. Based on forum attendees’ input, the district is moving forward to collect as much information as possible about consolidation/merger and shared service options with area districts.

At this point, Duanesburg is applying for three separate feasibility grants. One grant is with all Schenectady County School Districts to collect cost-savings data about sharing central office services. Another grant is with the Schoharie, Middleburgh, Berne-Knox-Westerlo, Jefferson and Cobleskill-Richmondville School Districts. This grant, if awarded, would fund the lion’s share of a study that researches the feasibility of shared services, such as transportation, academics, staffing, special education, central office responsibilities, etc., as well as a potential consolidation among the districts included in the study. The third feasibility grant is with the Mohonasen and Schalmont School Districts to also study shared services and consolidation options.

All three grants will be submitted in mid-March. District officials are expected to learn some time in July whether or not they will be awarded any or all of the grants.

Budget Challenges

JANUARY 2012

The Duanesburg Central School District, like many small, rural districts, is facing budgetary challenges. The district’s expenses are rising (e.g., additional mandates, health insurance premiums) and revenues are declining (e.g., reduced state aid, a new statewide tax levy 'cap'). As the 2012-13 budget process gets underway, the district faces a $1.35 million deficit.

Each budget season, all programs and services are reviewed to find where savings can be found. For the past few years, the district has made so many cuts that the proposed budgets have actually been less than previous years. What does this mean for next year? A bare bones budget needs to be cut once again. Yet, cutting $1 million from non-mandated programs and services would decimate the district’s educational program. [BUDGET NEWS]

At the same time, the board has, in recent years, used a substantial amount of its fund balance reserve to balance the budget and avoid even deeper cuts. This trend, however, can’t continue. In fact, if the district continues to operate in this manner, it will simply be out of money in a few short years.

To that end, a public Long-Term Planning Forum was held on Tuesday, Jan. 24, where residents heard more about the financial state of the district, what’s at stake for our students and community and had the opportunity to participate in small-group discussions about the future of the Duanesburg School District.

LONG-TERM PLANNING FORUM MATERIALS, NEWS

> Long-Term Planning Forum Question & Answer document 
> Unfunded School District Mandate List
> Jan. 24 Forum Small-Group Discussion Summary
> Nearly 150 attend forum, provide input
> Long-Term Planning Forum presentation

FUTURE OF DUANESBURG NEWS
> Jan. 2012: Board agrees to apply for feasibility grant with other districts

> Dec. 2011: Duanesburg, Schalmont hold joint board workshop