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Message from the Board of Education

Dear Community Members:

This Budget Booklet outlines for you the 2018-2019 spending plan for Schroon Lake Central School. Your school board and administration have prepared a
budget that offers a program of study and extra-curricular activities that strives to meet the needs and interests of all our students.
We continue to provide academic and practical programs designed to prepare our graduates with the necessary foundations for further study at the college level or to go on to training in technical studies. For those who decide to immediately enter the job market, our students have basic preparation for success in the employment they choose.

In light of the recent national attention to school security issues, be assured that your board of education is looking at all of the ways we can enhance and improve on the safety of our students and staff. With your continued support, we will work diligently to provide the best possible education for our students in a safe and nurturing atmosphere. Please attend our monthly meetings or watch them via streaming on our Facebook page. We welcome your opinion and suggestions.
The budget hearing is on May 3, 2018 at 7:00 PM. The budget and school board member vote will be on May 15, from 12:00 to 8:00 PM. Come vote! Come to a board meeting! Come visit your school!

Sincerely,
Robert W. Claus
BOE President

Highlights from the Superintendent of Schools

Dear Community Members,

It has been a busy year at SLCS. Our student population has increased by about 50 students (25 % ) over the last two years to a current Pre-K through 12 population of 252 students. Our school has been enriched by the diversity and the energy of these new students. Our faculty and staff have responded well to the new challenges and they are working hard to meet the needs of every single student.

As we plan for the 2018-2019 school year and a possible further increase in enroll­ment, we realize that we must be fiscally responsible while planning a menu of ser­vices that will keep our students academically challenged, socially and emotionally supported, challenged with extra-curricular activities, and safe.
Our approved budget meets our goals:

  • Our budget stays within our state mandated tax cap limit of 1 %.
  • Our total budget increases $215,775, but $176,000 of this do to unavoidable increases in health care costs.
  • We will use $200,000 of fund balance this year to purchase three buses without having to take out a loan.
  • We will use $500,000 of our fund balance to balance the budget.
  • Our tax rates are estimated at $8.47 for the Towns of Schroon and Chester and $7.29 for the Town of North Hudson, the lowest rates of any K-12 district in our BOCES.

The successes of our students would not be possible without the financial support of our community members. This booklet represents the thoughtful work of our out­standing Board of Education as they created a fiscally responsible budget that pro­vides excellent educational programs for our students. While we understand that the cost to our district tax payers is significant, we hope you feel that the money is being well spent.

As we conclude the current school year, we look forward to the challenges of 2018-2019. Please keep in mind that SLCS has awesome students, faculty, and staff who work hard and achieve great things. SLCS remains the social focal point of the com­munity with many programs that benefit all tax payers. The school is well main­tained and in great shape and will house our students comfortably for years to come. If you want to learn more about the great things going on at SLCS, please check out our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/schroonlakeschool.

Thank you again for your support. Please contact me at 518-532-7164 if you have any questions or comments.

Regards,
Stephen Gratto – Superintendent of Schools