Spending plan provides funding for student support services and security
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (April 10, 2018) – The City School District of New Rochelle administration tonight presented Superintendent Dr. Brian Osborne’s 2018-19 proposed budget to the Board of Education.
The proposed $272,804,093 spending plan includes additional supports to foster the emotional health and social well-being of students. It also includes funds for additional safety measures that will be recommended by the Task Force on Reducing Violence in the Lives of Children and Youth and from a security assessment being conducted by the global firm Guidepost Solutions.
“This budget achieves its goals of addressing the emotional and social needs of students and maintaining the high-quality educational programs that make the district a great place to learn and to grow, while also remaining fiscally responsible,” Osborne said.
The preliminary budget includes a spending increase of $13,181,605, or 5.08 percent, over the current school year’s budget. The spending increase includes $3 million for debt service, which will be almost entirely offset by state building aid. Without the added debt service, the spending increase would be 3.92 percent.
The spending plan would increase the amount of money to be raised through taxes by 3.89 percent. That increase exceeds the state tax cap, which is 2.231 percent for New Rochelle. That means the budget will need 60 percent of the voters to approve the measure, rather than a simple majority.
The total proposed taxes to be collected by the school district will be $212,400,779, or 77.76 percent of the proposed budget. In addition, $47,416,327 will come from state aid and $12,986,987 will come from other sources.
Preliminary plans include additional social workers, psychologists and guidance counselors as well as several teachers. Other proposed additions include a middle-school social studies chair to bring the department leadership in line with that of other subjects, an elementary grade level literature and academic intervention educator, and more equipment for the Science Research Program at New Rochelle High School.
Among the additions are three special education teaching positions – one each in the high school and two middle schools.
The additions are proposed in a school system that educates almost 11,000 students while staffed with about 250 fewer employees than a decade ago.
“This budget is about increasing the necessary resources for the school district to reach the next level in providing a quality to education to each and every student,” said Assistant Superintendent for Business and Administration Jeffrey White. “It is also about resourcing improvements to safety and security.”
“The district has again provided the residents of New Rochelle an excellent value proposition for educating its students,” said Dr. Osborne. “The proposed budget delivers a low tax impact, fiscally responsible spending plan that is also educationally sound.”
The Board is expected to adopt a budget on April 17. A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m., May 1 at the New Rochelle High School Library. There the public will have the opportunity to comment on the spending plan. A final budget will be put before voters on May 15.
For more information about the 2018-19 Proposed Budget, visit a designated page on the district website.
A second proposition presented with the budget will set up a capital reserve fund that will not impact taxpayers. The fund will be established to receive the District’s share of the City of New Rochelle’s Fair Share Mitigation Fund, which is comprised of mandatory contributions from developers. The reserve fund will be used for construction and renovation costs.
About the City School District of New Rochelle
With nearly 11,000 students in 10 schools, the City School District of New Rochelle, through an active partnership amongst community, parents, staff and students, provides a high-quality and challenging education for every child, in a safe, nurturing environment that embraces rich diversity and drives success.
