Beaver River Central School

Annual Budget 2013 – 2014

Dear Parents and Residents of the Beaver River Central School District:

Beaver River continues to provide a quality education for our students. The Beaver River School Report Card shows that we continue to meet or exceed achievement scores on the NYS Grades 3-8 Assessments and Regents Exams compared to other districts in the Jefferson-Lewis BOCES consortium and similar school dis-tricts throughout New York State. On this year’s School Report Card we have an excellent graduation rate for schools in Lewis County. Our students are well prepared for higher education at quality two and four-year colleges and universities or trade schools. Our performing arts programs are top notch. Our sports teams are competitive and 65-70% of our students participate in athletics. In addition, we offer our students excellent technology opportunities with video conferencing and distance learning. We were very honored to once again be recognized by Business First as the 71st best school in Upstate NYS out of 433 schools based on NYS testing results: We received recognition in the following areas: #38 Social Studies, #63, Science; # 79 Math; # 140 English: We ranked #13 for achievement, #20 for teacher experi-ence, #41 for cost effectiveness, and #50 for administrative efficiency out of 433 upstate schools. Each year we offer a proposed budget for the spending plan to provide resources to meet the needs of our students. We are grateful to the community for supporting the budget in order to maintain the high quality programs we offer at Beaver River. After many difficult budget years, I am pleased to report to you, that our efforts to have Beaver River re-classified as a high needs rural school district have paid off. This occurred in October 2011, however it did not impact us financially for the 2012 -2013 budget. We now see the financial gain on this by a marked re-duction on the GEA, Gap Elimination Adjustment, made from the January 2013 State Aid runs presented to the newer runs posted in March, 2013 with an increase in aid of $400,000. With that said, over a 4 year peri-od, as a District, we have lost almost $5 million in State Aid. Despite this, Beaver River still is not funded at the amount of aid we received in the 2008 – 2009 school year. We began the budget process in November, 2012 and have worked continuously to bring a viable spending plan to the District residents. Staff and administrators were asked to be frugal with their budgets which were then reviewed by the Board. The proposed 2013 – 2014 budget is a spending plan for $16,524,385. This is $93,067 or 0.57% above the current budget. This proposed budget is approximately $96,934 more than required to meet contingency budget caps. On the revenue side of the budget we estimate receiving $9,208,440 for the 2013 – 2014 school year or a 9.4% increase in State aid over last year. The local tax levy is proposed to increase by $94,991 or 2%. New York State will continue to offer the Basic and Enhanced STAR program which reduces the amount of taxes property owners pay. Due to the number of children in second grade we will need to add a teacher next year. We anticipate addi-tional staff vacancies, two other elementary teachers, a librarian, and a bus driver due to retirements. We would like to reinstate a Technology/Driver-Ed position from a lay-off that occurred three years ago. To meet our strategic goals, the Board of Education plans to start prekindergarten with two sections morning and after-noon for 18 children in each section per teacher and teaching assistant. We would like to purchase three school buses ($314,031) and bond the purchase of school buses with voter approval on proposition two. The State Education Department (SED) reimburses school districts for the pur-chases of school buses over a 5 year period at a rate 86% rate for the purchase, interest and bonding costs. The cost for the first year is $23,000 per bus compared to the usual $100,000 for buses purchased outright.

On Proposition Three, the Croghan Free Library has requested an increase in their annual funding from $20,000 to $30,000.

On Monday, May 13, you are invited to attend a Meet the Candidate Forum and Budget Hearing at 7:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium, sponsored by the students in the Grade 12 Participation in Government class. Ms. Deanna Hoch, Mr. Brian LaChausse and Jacquelyn Prashaw are running for a 5 year term on the Board of Edu-cation for a trustee seat vacated by Mr. Bobby Cobb. The annual budget vote and election of one trustee to fill a vacancy on the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 from 1:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Three people have turned in peti-tions to run for one seat on the Board of Education. Deanna Hoch, Brian LaChausse and Jacquelyn Prashaw for the seat vacated by Mr. Bobby Cobb. On behalf of the Beaver River Board of Education, we appreciate your continued support. We hope to see you at the budget hearing on Monday, May 13 and also for the budget vote and election of a trustee on Tuesday, May 21. We are committed to providing academic excellence for our students, working in partnership with you. Sincerely, Leueen Smithling Superintendent of Schools

SCHOOL BOARD VACANCIES The Beaver River Board of Education is a seven-member board whose terms last five years. Terms rotate so that a third of the board is elected each year. Candidate Profiles : To succeed Bobby Cobb: Mr. Brian LaChausse has lived on the Cutoff Road in Beaver Falls for the past 14 years and has a daughter, Autumn that attends Beaver River. Brian is a 1994 graduate of BRCS and the Howard G. Sackets Center and a 1996 graduate of Alfred State College. Brian is currently employed as store manager and kitchen designer at Far-ney's Home and Building Center in Carthage, NY. Brian also serves on the Beaver Falls Water District Board and has coached T-shirt softball. Brian feels that BRCS has provided him with a very solid education and life learning experience, and he hopes it can do the same for the next generation of students. Brian looks forward to upholding the long tradition at BRCS of being a great place for our children to learn. Mrs. Jacquelyn Prashaw and her husband currently live on the Number Four Road with their daughter, Bethany, who is in grade 10. Jackie is a lifelong resident of Lewis County and a resident of the Beaver River district for the past 29 years. Jackie along with her husband own Rusty P’s and the recently opened Deli Llama in Beaver Falls. Jackie is also vice president of the Lewis County Humane Society. As a member of the Board, her goal is to help provide students with the best learning environment possible within a reasonable, practical budget.

Mrs. Deanna Hoch and her husband, Chris lives on State Route 812 in Croghan. Deanna is the mother of five

children who have all attended Beaver River. Deanna has volunteered at school for the past five years and has

been a parent Representative for the Committee of Special Education for the past four years. This year, Deanna

has started substituting at Beaver River as a Teaching Assistant. Deanna is also involved in the Croghan Volun-

teer Fire Departments Women’s Auxillary. Deanna likes to go hunting, sewing, scrapbooking and hanging out

with her family.

Dear Beaver River Central School Community: Five years have passed since I was elected to the Beaver River School Board. During those five years I have learned a lot. I’ve seen how much this school means, not only to me, but also to the community. During the last five years I have seen this school loose nearly Five Million Dollars. We as the Board knew that we

had to make some changes to keep this school from doing what so many others had to. Merge or close. So I, along with the rest of the Board had to make some very difficult decisions. No one liked what we had to do. There were many sleepless nights, Board meeting, Staff meetings, phone calls and meeting with concerned people from our community. Not once during this period did the Staff, Kids (SOS) or the Board give up. Today the school is coming back stronger than ever. We have started hiring back teachers, moving some part time, back to full time. Five years ago I made the statement “We have teachers here that truly care about these kids”. Well it shows. Beaver River is ranked one of the top schools in the North Country. As a Board member I am very proud of that. With this said, it comes very hard for me to do what I feel I need to do. Step down from the School Board. I will not be running for re-election. I really didn’t get what I feel was enough time with my daughter before she went off to college. Now my son is going to Universality of Buffalo. This time I would like to get it right. I will still stay involved with the Compact Committee on our building project and still attend some School Board meeting. I would, in time, like to run again. Thank you for all of your support. Thank You, Bobby Cobb

WHO CAN VOTE ON THE BUDGET?

Residents of the Beaver River Central School District who have resided in the district for the past 30 days, are a citizen of the United States and are at least 18 years of age, may vote on the budget and election of school board members on May 21, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the auditorium. District residents who need an absentee ballot must obtain an application from the District Clerk, Shauna Rice. Once completed applications are returned to the District Office an absentee ballot will be issued. The ballot must be returned by 5:00 p.m. on May 21, 2013 in order for the vote to be counted.

THE 2013 – 2014 PROPOSED BUDGET SPENDING PLAN

At the budget vote on May 21, 2013 district residents vote on the spending plan for the next school year which consists of three parts: instruction, administrative and capital budgets. Here is how your educational dollars are spent to educate the children at Beaver River Central School: The Program (Instructional) Budget includes all salaries and benefits for teachers, supervisors who spend a

majority of their time performing teaching duties, as well as operating expenses for the instructional and trans-portation departments. This includes all teachers, teacher assistants and aides, guidance counselors, librar-ies, BOCES services, district transportation, in-service training for staff, computer technology, distance learn-ing, audio visual, interscholastic athletics, and all extra-curricular programs.

The Program (Instructional) Budget equals $11,361,683 or 68.76% of the 2013 – 2014 budget.

The Administrative Budget includes salaries and benefits for all certified school administrators, expenditures associated with the district’s central administrative offices, including the school board, superintendent, and business office. This also includes district office support, clerical staff, central printing, district newsletter, BO-CES data processing, software expenses, curriculum development, tax collection and legal services.

The Administrative Budget equals $1,573,025 or 9.52% of the 2013 – 2014 budget.

The Capital Budget includes funds for the principle and interest payments on debt service, and all operational, cleaning and maintenance costs for district facilities including salaries and benefits, service contracts, sup-plies and utility costs.

The Capital Budget equals $3,589,677 or 21.7% of the 2013 – 2014 budget.

DETAILS OF PROPOSED EXPENDITURES 2013-14 Change from

Budget 2012-13

SALARIES - INSTRUCTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATION:

Salaries for 55 teachers, Superintendent, 3 administrators, .5 librarian, $4,475,811 $77,483

2 guidance counselors, psychologist, coaches, activity advisors, substitute

teachers, and adult education courses.

SALARIES - OTHER PERSONNEL:

Salaries for 9 secretaries, 3 accounting personnel, 3 maintenance staff, 1,753,742 (191,138)

8 custodians, 10 teaching assistants, 1 teacher's aide, 8 part-time monitors,

1 nurse, 17 part-time transportation personnel, 2 bus mechanics, transportation

and maintenance supervisor, board clerk, tax collector, computer coordinator,

census taker and school business manager.

FRINGE BENEFITS: 3,481,982 461,982

Retirement payments for instructional and other school related personnel,

social security, workmen's compensation, unemployment, disability, hospital,

medical and dental insurance.

SUPPORT COSTS: 269,250 48,128

Cost of equipment, supplies, and contractual expenses for Board of

Education, central and business offices, auditing, treasurer, tax collector,

legal services, newsletter, association dues and refund of tax-es.

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PLANT: 629,206 (119,524)

Cost of equipment, supplies, contractual and utilities needed to maintain

buildings and grounds.

INSURANCE COSTS: 65,500 3,828

INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS: 738,325 50,684

All equipment, supplies, contractual expenses, textbooks for instruction,

programs for students with disabilities, library, computer, attendance,

guidance, health, diagnostic, psychological, co-curricular activities and

inter-scholastic athletics.

B.O.C.E.S. COSTS: 2,683,295 (208,723)

State aid planning, cooperative purchasing, negotiations, data processing,

administration, rental, curriculum development, inservice, occupational

education, speech, gifted and talented, students with disabilities and

audiovisual.

TRANSPORTATION: 368,764 (38,227)

Cost of operating and maintaining the bus fleet, insurance, parts,

gasoline and bus radios.

DEBT SERVICES, AND INTERFUND TRANSFERS: 2,058,510 8,574

Special aid fund and cafeteria transfers, short term and construction debt.

TOTAL 16,524,385 93,067

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED BUDGET

ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES

2012-13 2013-14 Change

General support $2,188,181 $2,157,402 ($30,779)

Instruction 8,169,051 7,882,637 ($286,414)

Pupil transportation 1,002,150 941,854 ($60,296)

Community services - census 2,000 2,000 $0

Undistributed (fringe benefits & debt service) 5,069,936 5,540,492 $470,556

Reserves - repairs and insurance 0 0 $0

TOTAL EXPENDITURES $16,431,318 $16,524,385 $93,067

ESTIMATED REVENUES

Charges for services & tax penalties $178,309 $180,812 $2,503

Use of money and property 11,800 11,000 ($800)

Sale of supplies and miscellaneous receipts 106,130 169,600 $63,470

State aid 8,668,348 9,208,440 $540,092

Federal aid 10,000 10,000 $0

Interfund Transfers 0 0 $0

TOTAL REVENUES $8,974,587 $9,579,852 $605,265

Plus est. Fund Balance 2,707,189 2,100,000 ($607,189)

Plus est. Real Property Tax 4,749,542 4,844,533 $94,991

.

TOTAL $16,431,318 $16,524,385 $93,067

ESTIMATED TAX RATE BY TOWN FOR EACH $1,000 OF ASSESSED VALUATION

2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Change from

TOWN (Actual) (Actual) (Est. **) 2012-13

Town of Croghan 15.14 15.44 15.75 0.31

Town of New Bremen 10.90 11.12 11.34 0.22

Town of Watson 10.90 11.12 11.34 0.22

* Rates are subject to change due to June 30 final expenditure figures, updated equalization rates and current

assessments from the Lewis County Real Property Tax Service. 2012-13 equalization rates and assessments

were used in the 2013-14 estimates.

THE EDUCATIONAL DOLLAR AT BEAVER RIVER

How is it spent? Where does it come from?

(cents) (cents)

Pupil services 47.7 State/Federal aid 56.75

Employee benefits 21.1 Local proper-ty tax 29.32

General support 13.1 Miscellane-ous 1.20

Pupil transportation 5.7 Fund Balance 12.71

Debt service, transfers 12.5

100.0 100.0

ANNUAL DISTRICT BUDGET HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION

The Annual Budget Hearing will be held on Monday, May 13, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. in the Auditorium. The budget

will be presented and members of the Board of Education and the Administration will answer questions.

Voting on the school district budget of $16,524,385, bonding of (3) school buses $314,031, one Board

position, and the will be held from 1:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in the auditorium.

Candidates running for one seat on the Board of Education are:

Deanna Hoch, Brian LaChausse and Jacquelyn Prashaw for the seat vacated by Bobby Cobb

REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING ARE:

1. 18 years of age,

2. U.S. citizen, and

3. Legal district resident for thirty days preceding the date of the vote.

BUDGET HISTORY

% Change Prior Year

% Change Prior Year

2004-05 13,186,185 +1.45% 2009-10 16,724,006 +3.31%

2005-06 13,997,720 +6.15% 2010-11 16,951,500 +1.36%

2006-07 14,591,425 +4.24% 2011-12 16,323,787 -3.70%

2007-08 15,490,000 +6.16% 2012-13 16,524,385 +0.66%

2008-09 16,187,545 +4.50% 2013-14 16,524,385 +0.57%

FUND BALANCE APPLIED TO REDUCE TAXES

% Change Prior Year

% Change Prior Year

6/04 1,500,000 0.00% 6/09 2,016,210 +34.41%

6/05 1,500,000 0.00% 6/10 3,250,000 +61.19%

6/06 1,500,000 0.00% 6/11 3,000,000 -7.69%

6/07 1,550,000 3.33% 6/12 2,707,189 -9.76%

6/08 1,500,000 -3.22% 6/13 2,100,000 -22.43%

LOCAL REVENUES FROM TAXATION

% Change Prior Year

% Change Prior Year

2004-05 3,416,840 +9.39% 2009-10 4,305,144 0.00%

2005-06 3,680,455 +7.72% 2010-11 4,477,321 +4.00%

2006-07 3,837,455 +4.27% 2011-12 4,656,414 +4.00%

2007-08 4,090,900 +6.60% 2012-13 4,749,542 +2.00%

2008-09 4,305,144 +5.24% 2013-14 4,844,533 +2.00%

**Please note that a copy of the statement of proposed District budget for fiscal year 2013-14, itemizing the estimated

amount of money required to fund each school purpose included in that budget, and the tax exemption report for fiscal

year 2012-13, may be reviewed by any District resident at the School business office in Beaver Falls, New York during

regular business hours.