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Mrinalini Rajwar, Director of Technology
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BUDGET NEWSThe Board of Education adopted a proposed budget of $ 60,170,350 for the 2008-09 school year at their meeting of April 10. The budget supports a continuation of the district's programs and services at existing levels. It does not reflect any new programs for next year. Factors that contributed to the budget increase included contractual obligations with regard to salaries and benefits, fuel and utility costs, special education tuition costs, and debt service associated with the current construction project. Without the influence of the increase in debt payments, our proposed budget increase would have been approximately 6.75%. Covering our debt payment schedule for next year will require an additional 1.5% budget increase.
In an effort to contain the growth in spending to the greatest extent possible, the original budget proposal was reduced during the March budget work sessions to the point where, for the first time in a number of years, some staffing reductions were required. Any further reductions would have compromised the Board's goals of providing programs and services that meet state and local standards and maintaining class sizes at regionally comparable levels.
Fortunately, additional state aid for our construction project will offset the tax impact of the debt service increase. We are also planning to use money from our fund balance and from the state aid increase generated by the recently adopted state budget to offset the tax impact of the budget. As a result, we estimate that the average tax rate increase for the two villages combined will be about 6.29%, which is lower than last year's average increase by a factor of 2.4%. The actual tax rate increase for Tarrytown residents is expected to be about 9.31%. In Sleepy Hollow, the tax rate increase is expected to be about 3.26%. The lower rate for Sleepy Hollow residents is due to a successful appeal of the equalization rate for the Town of Mt. Pleasant. Since property in the towns represented in our school district is not assessed at full value, the equalization rate is a figure provided by the state that is applied against the assessed value of property in an effort to approximate its full value.
We are pleased that the proposed budget, while representing extra restraint in spending this year, will continue to support regionally comparable class sizes and a range of programs and services that are in keeping with both state and local standards for quality schools. For answers to common questions and a look at the proposed budget, please click here. ( Posted 4/12/08)If the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, the completed application must be received by the Clerk of the District no later than 4:00PM on May 13, 2008. If the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter, the completed application Must be received by the Clerk of the District no later than 4:00PM on May 19, 2008.
Middle School/High School PTSA Meeting CanceledThe Middle School/High School PTSA Meeting scheduled for Monday, May 12th has been canceled. New date TBD.Can you tarantella? The 9th grade global students can and with flair! Their mastery of the popular Renaissance dance was a spectacular sight of swirls and turns, accompanied by 14th century instruments and Italian tunes. The 9th graders visited Caramoor and participated in a day of Renaissance experiences: from falconry to an impromptu enactment of Don Giovanni, many of whom took part in the play, costumes and all. As they are currently studying the Renaissance, our visit to Caramoor on April 29th and May 5th was a perfect opportunity to become true "Renaissance men and women", at least for a day. "Un ringraziamento speciale" to the Foundation's Arts' Council's generous support, which allowed all our students to participate. Fare-thee-well fair mistresses and good sirs! (Posted 5/8/08)
Do you like clothes? Are you into fashion? Well why not come out this Friday, May 9th at 7:00pm to Washington Irving's School Auditorium and join the African American Heritage Club for an evening of elegance. All proceeds will go towards our trip to Egypt, 2009. Doors will open at 6:30pm. Tickets are $5.00 in advance and $7.00 at the door. For tickets contact Dr.Cheryl Burton at 332-6278, cburton@tufsd.org and/or Ms. Carty at, gcarty@tufsd.org. Hope to see you there. (Posted 5/6/08)
The students of Ms. Cristella's second grade class left a green footprint this Earth Day! The avid readers collectively read over 100 non-fiction books in an effort to save the rainforest. In return, Scholastic Inc, in affiliation with the International Rainforest Alliance, sponsored 100 acres of the Choco Forest in Ecuador under Ms. Cristella's class name. The Choco Forest is home to more than 9,000 species of endangered plants, animals, and amazing natural resources. The class can now be found online under the Classrooms Care Green Hall of Fame. The second grade students hope they inspire the greater community to do their part to make a difference and protect the sacred rainforest. As one student so aptly pointed out, "EVERY day is Earth Day!" (Posted 5/7/08)
On Saturday, April 5th, the Morse School Green Committee held its first "Gently Used" Clothing Sale, which was a great success!
A lot of beautiful clothing was donated by district families, many of whom came to replenish their families' wardrobes with "new to you" clothing. At $10 per bag of clothing it was a great bargain. The sale raised over $1400.00, which will be used to support the Green Committee's efforts to create a student garden at Morse. We would like to thank all of the staff and families who helped with this project, especially Kristen Restivo and Elisabeth Hickey who planned the event. A special thank you also goes to Rachelle Gebler, EPTA President, who did much of the labor involved in the sale and organized members of the EPTA to help with copying, distribution of flyers, and other necessary tasks. Without everyone's help, we would not have been so successful. Thank you!!! (Posted 5/7/08)
Thanks to the generosity of Cablevision, eight of Sleepy Hollow's greatest minds, along with Ms. Hunsberger and Ms. Langston, had the good fortune of hearing former Vice-President and Nobel prize winner, Al Gore speak at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, May 2nd. Gore's talk was part of the Radio City Speaker Series that features prominent politicians and media figures sharing thoughts and opinions on today's political landscape. Sleepy Hollow students were able to make connections with ideas discussed in the Advanced Placement Government and Politics class, and were inspired to take action politically and socially in the future. (Posted 5/6/08)
