April 4, 2012 The Byram Hills Board of Education (BOE) has adopted the proposed Administration's budget of $80,423,562 for the 2012-2013 calendar school year. The adopted budget represents a 2.2 percent increase over last year's budget, but is within the two percent tax levy cap of a 1.7 percent increase.
Hundreds of hands devoted hundreds of hours preparing the details of the budget, according to Greg Carlson, Assistant Superintendent. The budget is the result of a coordinated effort of the Byram Hills School District, which consists of the Board of Education; the administrative team of superintendent, deputy and assistant superintendents; building administrators; department chairs; and faculty and support staff, said Carlson.
Superintendent Jackie Taylor said Byram Hills is, fortunately, in an unusual position, compared to other districts in Westchester County; their budget is within the state mandated tax levy cap of two percent, with no reductions of student programs and services.
The budget process presented by Carlson revealed conservative financing to manage the cash flow and to replenish reserves, as reported on the property tax report card. The adjusted restricted, assigned unrestricted and adjusted unrestricted fund balances total $20,291,264.
The majority of the reserved fund balances are approximately $13.8 million, which includes reserves for tax certiorari, unemployment, insurance and retirement contributions. Under the state allowances, four percent of the budget may be placed in unrestricted reserves; this is equivalent to approximately $3.2 million. The assigned, appropriate fund balance by the BOE is approximately $2.2 million, which will be returned next year to reduce taxes.
Tax certiorari proceedings are initiated by taxpayers who challenge property tax assessments, determined by a local assessment review board. Property tax reductions may be awarded for prior years of over-assessment; accordingly, school districts reserve money to be used for refunds in property tax, with interest.
According to the demographer's report, the district's enrollment will drop 1.4 percent from its current enrollment of 2,652 students to a projected enrollment of 2,615 students next year.
The taxpayers of North Castle comprise 86% of the school district. The estimated tax rate for North Castle residents is 0.68% increase. Residents from New Castle, Bedford and Mt. Pleasant make up the remaining 14% of the school district, with respectively a 0.19%, 12.82%, and 8.04% increase in tax rate per $1000 of assessed value.
Ira Schulman, 13-year member of the BOE who currently serves as President, said seven individuals who are members of the Board of Education are responsible for the administration of the school budget, which is an $80 million-a-year business. Schulman said they were able to generate a well-prepared budget, thanks to the board members' diligence, patience and stamina in sorting through a lot of material.
The budget will be proposed to voters on May 15, 2012 from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at H.C. Crittenden Middle School.
Byram Hills School Budget Proposed
March 12, 2012
Byram Hills Superintendent Jackie Taylor said, "Our patience, resilience and wisdom have been challenged in terms of the state tax levy cap and the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) for teachers and administrators." With the help of a collaborative effort from the administration, Taylor proposed the 2012 -2013 school budget of $80,423,562.
The figure represents a 2.2 percent budget-to-budget increase from last year. The proposed budget is a 1.7 percent tax-levy increase, which is a different calculation from the budget-to-budget increase. "The tax levy is the amount of taxes we secure from the community from their property taxes," explained Taylor. A 1.7 percent tax levy is below the two-percent budget cap mandated by Governor Cuomo for all New York State public schools.
Taylor said the past four-year budget-to-budget increases averaged 1.7 percent. The budget-to-budget increases came in as follows: four years ago: 2.8 percent, three years ago: 2.2 percent increase, two years ago: one percent increase, and last year: .8 percent increase.
The most important factor in the budget is enrollment, said Assistant Superintendent Bill Donohue. There has been a small, but steady decline in overall enrollment in the district during the period from 2008 through the projected 2015 - 2016 school year. Although enrollment has declined in the elementary schools, middle school enrollment has remained the same, and high school enrollment is expected to continue increasing. High school enrollment is projected to level off by 2013 -2014, and a decline is not anticipated until 2015 - 2016.
The highest percentage of the budget is represented by the district's salaries, health care and state-mandated pensions. The enrollment reductions have led to staff reductions, but no program cuts have been made, said Donohue. He added, "The programs that have been implemented since 1997 are key to why Byram Hills has become one of the best, if not the best, district in the state."
At Coman Hill Elementary School, two second grade teachers and an aide have been eliminated, which represents a savings of almost $350,000. Two fifth grade teachers from Wampus Elementary School have been eliminated, providing savings of about $240,000. Elementary school classes in physical education have reduced a .4 staff position, which will result in savings of about $35,000. A program aimed at restructuring special-help math classes will eliminate an additional $93,000 at Wampus. These funds will be allocated to a reading specialist at a .2 staff position for $27,000. This year, seven teachers will be retiring, saving an additional $300,000. All staff costs include salaries, as well as medical and pension benefits. The staffing cuts total just over $1 million. Other differences from last year’s budget include special projects, such as the Wampus roof cost of $161,000, $50,000 reduced from garage equipment, the MTA tax savings of $130,000 and the reduction of debt service at $68,000. The staffing and other reductions add up to $1,497,117. Donohue said these are not all the changes, but they represent the most significant examples of this year's budget cuts.
There will also be some enrollment increases, and one new teacher will be hired at Coman Hill at a cost of $140,000 for salary, benefits and pension. A new program is currently being proposed at the high school that would address the medical needs of students who cannot be placed in regular classrooms. This program necessitates the initial cost of $210,000: a special education teacher at a cost of $105,000 and a psychologist at about the same cost. Donohue said that in the long run this will save money because in the past, these students needed to leave the high school. Typically, the cost of outside special education programs has been an expensive component of the budget. The total staffing increase is $414,265.
Not surprisingly, health insurance costs are increasing and will amount to almost $750,000. The employee retirement system mandated by the state for civil service employees-- not for teachers but for civil service staff--will increase by $460,000. The teachers' retirement system, including contributions to the pension, is also mandated by the state and will increase by $200,000. Another mandated expense is worker's compensation insurance, which increased by $83,000. The mandated increases and the increased costs of staffing total about $1.9 million.
In a collaborative effort to present the school budget, the intention of the Administrators and Board of Education (BOE) is that the "kindergartens coming in get the same education and opportunities that our graduating seniors get, while being fiscally responsible," said Board of Education Robin Glat. The BOE's goal is to maintain the quality of Byram Hills' educational programs and facilities as they evaluate the districts' enrollment projections, staffing needs, and compliances to all the state and federal mandates. The revenues, expenditures, debt services and evaluation of the facilities will be taken into consideration as the BOE reviews the five-year trend analysis.
Glat said the budget will be reviewed in greater detail during the Board of Education's budget hearings on March 13th and March 20th. The public is invited to make suggestions and discuss in greater detail the proposed budget at these meetings. After the meetings have concluded, the BOE will no longer be able to consider any requests to change the budget; however, they will continue to answer questions pertaining to the subject. The budget will be adopted on April 3rd, and the community vote on the budget will be held at H.C. Crittenden Middle School on May 15th.
Assistant Superintendent for Finance Management Greg Carlson said legally the budget is required to be presented in three components: administrative, program and capital. The program component includes teaching, support and costs associated with providing an education to a student. The program component is 69.1 percent of the budget, with an overall increase of 2.4 percent budget-to-budget. The cost of $22 million represents teaching costs; this amount represents the largest percentage of the $55,593,988 amount of the program component. It is a 1.3 percent decrease from last year's budget, as a result of teaching-staff reductions and retirements. The administrative component includes central and building administration, representing 12.1 percent of the total budget and a 3.7 percent increase. The $15,064,777 capital component represents 18.7 percent of the budget. This is an overall decrease of .8 percent from last year’s budget. The capital component is comprised of the following: debt service ($5,248,000 - a slight decrease), bus purchases, transfer to capital, and operations required for maintenance associated with operating the district's buildings.
Carlson said there is a transfer to capital of $1.26 million for the bus garage project, which will be funded over a four-year period. The plan for next year is the installation of a manual bus wash station and additional site work at the transportation department. If any funds remain due to a soft construction market, the savings would offset future costs. There are also plans to address energy savings, improve parking and renovate office space in the garage project. The other transfer to capital is replacing the boiler at Wampus Elementary School and district energy projects with an estimated cost of $325,000.
Board of Education President Ira Schulman said, "As odd as it may sound, a state law forbids the BOE from encouraging members of the community to vote one way or the other on the budget. This process is our obligation to provide information to the community and explain the reason for the choices that are being made."
Taylor explained that the mission of the collaborative effort is to put our kids' goals first by acknowledging their curiosity, innovation and expression of themselves.
High School Principal Chris Bosari and Jackie Taylor meet with several high school seniors every year to obtain feedback about the students’ experiences in our schools; she emphasized that their responses are candid. Taylor said, "We want the support of our community. We want Byram Hills to be a place where our community feels their dollars are valued, along with excellent education for their children."
Byram Hills School Budget
Updated January 19, 2012 Four years ago, Dr. Jacquelyn Taylor became Superintendent of the Byram Hills School District. Taylor announced her retirement at the end of this school year and Deputy Superintendent Dr. William Donohue has been appointed to replace her.
Taylor's tenure as Superintendent occurred during a national economic crisis and the 2012-13 school budget will reflect the continued economic trend.
The Board of Education Budget Hearing 1 was presented at the January 10, 2012 meeting. Taylor said the administration's budget committee uses a Five-Year Fiscal Trend Analysis (LINK) to forecast the next five years of where the district will be, if no further changes are made and the budget is merely rolled over.
Greg Carlson, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Management Services, said in all the years that a five-year trend analysis has been used, we have always been able to recommend a budget that is lower than indicated by the trend analysis. The fiscal trend analysis shows a budget of $81,483,045 for 2012-13, with a 3.6 percent variance from the 2011-12 budgets. "Last year at this time," Carlson said, "we had projected a three percent increase and it came in at a .8 percent increase. This year it will be no different because we are seeing more than a 3 percent increase again, as projected from the trend analysis."
Taylor said that in the past three years there has been a staff reduction of .75 administrators, 13.3 teachers, 23 teacher aids, four monitors and one clerical position. Over the same three years, the district's enrollment has declined by 165 students; accordingly, the current enrollment is 2,652. The demographer’s report projects that the enrollment is trending downward and in the years 2016-17, the enrollment is projected to be 2357 students.
All building principals were asked to reduce their building budgets by five percent. Reductions have also been made in overtime expenses by the building maintenance department.
Based on the five-year trend analysis, the appropriations of the districts' salaries and benefits represent 75.5 percent of total budget costs. This demonstrates a moderate budget-to-budget increase from 74.3 percent of last year's budget. In the trend analysis, the districts' salaries represent 52.3% of the budget at $42,601,336. Carlson explained that the employee benefits are mandated and are made up of two pension systems of employees’ and teachers' retirement, as well as health insurance. Benefits comprise 23.2% of the total budget; this percentage is equivalent to $18,893,965.
"The cooperation among the salaried employees and the district allows the numbers to be as good as they are. The Byram Hills Administration Association (BHAA) has agreed to a contractual increase of .95 percent, the lowest in Westchester County. The Byram Hills CSEA union members have agreed to an increase of 1.5 percent, also among the lowest increases negotiated in the county," emphasized Taylor. The Byram Hills Teachers Association’s (BHTA) contracts are currently under negotiation. Taylor added that the negotiations are difficult, as always, but she expects a fair settlement to be reached.
Carlson explained, "At Byram Hills we have a relatively high debt service because of our newer buildings. The other side of the coin is that we don't have the maintenance costs of older buildings."Our debt service is principal and interest costs payments of several bonds. The debt is paid down by money from a General Fund that taxes are levied against, and in addition to the General Fund, there is money paid from the Debt Service Fund (on Chart 11 of the five-year trend analysis). The Debt Service Fund is money that has been saved over time and is used to offset the yearly debt cost. By 2015-16, the trend analysis shows the Debt Service Fund balance will be exhausted, which will inevitably impact the General Fund.
“At this time, the trend analysis doesn't take into account any adjustments of using other reserves to offset the loss of the funding source from the Debt Service Fund," said Carlson. He added that the trend analysis doesn't show it, but beyond the 2016-17 school year there is a significant decline of almost $2 million dollars in debt service.
The fiscal trend operating budget revenues are comprised of 87.5 percent from real property taxes. An additional 4.2 percent comes from pilot money: These are payments made by a few private North Castle companies in lieu of taxes. Another 3.7 percent has been projected as state aid, and there is a small percentage of interest earned and insurance reimbursement that balance the bottom line, according to Carlson.
Taylor said there is a need for mandate relief on the state level. The Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents projects that the New York State school budgets are estimated to have between 17 and 20 percent devoted to mandates. “The public education mandates are outdated and require the state legislators and our governor to review them,” said Taylor.
The 2010 -11 Putnam/Westchester Contract Analysis has maintained that the Byram Hills cost per pupil is in the third quartile of 46 schools, demonstrated by the latest cost of $26,327 reported per pupil for the 2010-11 school year.
Taylor stressed, "Keeping people in this community is important to us and support from our community is a part of our success." She has repeatedly emphasized the importance of offering kindergarteners the same programs that our twelfth graders are afforded.
The budget will be developed, presented and discussed in detail over the next several months. The next Board of Education meeting to address the administration's proposed budget will be held on March 6, 2012. Board of Education President Ira Schulman said recommendations and input by community members are welcome, but are restricted to Budget Hearings 11 and 111, which will be discussed on March 13 & 20, 2012. Comment
Ira Schulman and his Home on the School Board By Alice Levine
Dec. 17, 2011 Ira Schulman has been a dedicated, enthusiastic member of the Byram Hills Board of Education for 13 years.
He is currently serving his fourth term as President of the School
Board, while his two children have already graduated from Byram Hills
High School.
Schulman has always been a fierce proponent of the public education system, which has been an important motivator in his decision to remain on the Board, even after his children started college. He said, “The most important thing we can do for our kids is give them the best possible public education. I feel extremely fortunate that my children received an excellent education at Byram Hills, and I strive as a member of the School Board to insure that our district remains at the top. I'm also a big believer in every child's right to a great public education. At Byram Hills, we also have a very strong Special Education department, and we're very proud of it."
The time commitment required of a School Board member can be significant. In Schulman’s case, his years of experience have helped him get it down to a science. "The number of hours can vary, but the most hours required begin with our work on the school budget, starting in January. It can often mean seven hours a week for an experienced member, to as much as 10 to 15 hours a week for a new member. Having spent almost one quarter of my life on the Board, I generally know what to expect," Schulman said.
When discussing the most important skills for a School Board member, Schulman emphasized, “A member of the Board should have the ability to listen carefully, speak clearly, and work collegially with other members to achieve consensus. He or she should also have a strong belief in the importance of public education. Everything else tends to come with experience."
With the retirement of Superintendent Dr. Jackie Taylor and the promotion of Dr. Bill Donahue, former Assistant Superintendent, to Superintendent comes a new chapter for the School Board. Schulman anticipates a very smooth transition. "Bill Donahue is bright, thoughtful and very articulate. He is truly an exemplar of everything that is right about public education. We will greatly miss Jackie Taylor, who is a paragon of respectful dialogue, but Bill is the perfect choice to provide a seamless transition."
Probably the most publicized topic of concern for the district is the 2% mandatory budget cap on public schools mandated by Governor Cuomo. While Schulman is obviously concerned about the mandate, he feels it is too early to know just what effect it will have on our school district. He commented," First of all, it's important to remember that it doesn't mean we just take last year's budget and add 2%. None of us has enough information on the budget cap yet to know the extent to which it will affect things; however, I can make the commitment that it will not impact class size at any of our schools."
With that in mind, Schulman feels one of the most important goals of the School Board this year is fully understanding the provisions of the budget cap and its impact on our schools. However, priorities for the Board can change rather quickly. “You never know what may be lurking around the corner. You have to be ready to shift your priorities and respond to something that has suddenly become a pressing issue,” Schulman stressed.
So what keeps Schulman excited and always challenged? “I love the constant challenge of delivering excellent education within budgetary confines. We have such a supportive community here at Byram Hills. I want to make sure that we continue to be recognized as one of the top school districts in New York State.”
"We are also so fortunate to provide access to ongoing programs for professional development of teachers. Our teachers do this on their own time, which demonstrates their commitment to constantly advancing themselves as professionals. Jackie Taylor has always been a strong advocate of providing additional training to teachers and administrators. We are so grateful to her for making these programs a priority. In turn, our district reaps the benefits of well-trained, accomplished teachers and administrators, who are always at the top of their game," Schulman said.
Clearly, he has enjoyed many accomplishments in his 13 years on the School Board. Schulman feels that perhaps his greatest achievement with fellow Board members was successfully completing two major expansion programs and renovation of the athletic fields at all the schools. The renovations were completed on time and under budget. "One of the reasons I initially ran for the School Board in 1999 was to offer my experience as an attorney specializing in construction law. This definitely came in handy during our expansion programs," he said.
While there are always challenges and conflicts that arise while serving as a member of the Board, Schulman feels that every member who has served and is currently serving has been both fair and always willing to put the community's and children's best interests first. "We've been so lucky to always have smart, committed and open-minded people on the Byram Hills School Board. We may disagree, but we always leave the meetings on a good note. That makes a big difference. Maybe Congress can learn a lesson from us," he joked.
And finally, what has been Schulman’s favorite experience on the School Board? “I have to say that one of my greatest thrills was having the privilege of speaking at both my son’s and daughter’s graduations, and handing them their diplomas. They were very special moments for me."
For more information on the Byram Hills School Board, visit byramhills.org./boe.cfm
Byram Hills Board Announces New Superintendent Oct. 26, 2011
At its meeting last night, the Byram Hills Board of Education announced the appointment of Deputy Superintendent Dr. William Donohue to replace Superintendent Dr. Jackie Taylor who will retire next June.
Dr. Donohue has been a member of the Byram Hills school community for
more than 20 years; he first joined as director of guidance (K-12) in
1990,
became principal of the high school in 1997 and was appointed assistant superintendent – later deputy superintendent – in 2008.
A key member of the district’s administrative team, Dr. Donohue has worked closely with Dr. Taylor for the past three years. “Bill Donohue is an excellent choice to lead Byram Hills on its continuous journey toward excellence,” said Dr. Taylor. “He is a magnificent leader with great intellect,
(L to R) Supervisor Jack Lombardi, Dr. Bill Donahue, Dr. Robert Pavlica and John Chambers (at the time Superintendent of Byram Hills school district). )in an undated photograph at Byram Hills High School.
and he has profound commitment and dedication to Byram Hills. I couldn’t be happier.”
Dr. Donohue’s appointment comes as part of a thoughtful and carefully executed succession plan developed by the board of education over the past decade.
“The board of education is thrilled to appoint Dr. Donohue as its next superintendent,” said school board President Ira Schulman. “Dr. Donohue is a highly respected leader, and a thoughtful, articulate advocate for public education. We look forward to our partnership and maintaining the excellent education for all students provided by Byram Hills.”
As high school principal, Dr. Donohue witnessed the biggest enrollment expansion in the district’s history and was involved in two major construction projects to accommodate it. He oversaw the development of a full elective program, increasing options in every department and creating full opportunities in the Arts for the first time. He also increased the school’s AP options by 100 percent.
Longtime community resident and parent of five Byram Hills graduates, Chris Huguenot considers Dr. Donohue’s appointment as nothing short of “phenomenal.” Mrs. Huguenot has known Dr. Donohue since he first came to Byram Hills. “There’s no finer man in the district,” she said.
“The students of the district have always been the cornerstone of any decision he’s ever made. He’s at his best when the students and families have needed him the most,” she said.
Dr. Donohue has a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Maryland, a graduate degree in counseling from George Washington University, another in administration from Harvard, and a doctorate in administration from Columbia. He is a member of the elite Headmasters Association, which limits memberships to 25 public school principals.
“I look at this promotion as both humbling and challenging,” Dr. Donohue said on his appointment. “It will certainly be my primary goal to maintain the academic excellence and strong leadership that have been the hallmark of the district and to help it face the economic challenges that are so apparent today.”
Click the diploma for more information
Byram Hills 2011-12 budget appropriation and revenue. Source: byramhills.org
Byram Hills School Budget Schedule
Jan. 4, 2012 Administrators' Budget Panel and Budget Hearing I January 10, 2012 at 7:30PM Building principals will provide information on the budget building process. The Board will solicit comments from the public on budget concerns.
Presentation of the Administration's Proposed Budget March 6, 2012 The superintendent will present the administration's proposed budget to the Board and the public. This is an informational meeting. Board and public comment on the proposed budget begin at Budget Hearings II and III.
Budget Hearings II and III March 13 and 20, 2012 District administrators will make brief presentations, and respond to questions from the Board and the public on specific budget items. This is the appropriate time to request changes to the proposed budget.
Budget Hearing IV (Budget Workshop) March 27, 2012 At this meeting, the Board will ask additional questions and consider additions and/or deletions to the budget. New requests cannot be considered at this time, but public comment on agenda items is welcome. The recommended budget will be finalized at this meeting.
Adoption of Budget by the Board of Education April 3, 2012 The Board formally adopts the budget for submission to the voters on May 17, 2012.
April 4, 2012 (1) Property Tax Report Card submitted to SED and distributed to local newspaper of general circulation.
April 23, 2012 (2) Budget Statement and required attachments available at each school building.
Budget Hearing V May 1, 2012 (3) This is a state-mandated meeting at which the Board will present its budget and respond to questions. This meeting will be informational only; changes in the budget may not be made at this time.
May 7, 2012 (4) Budget Notice must be mailed to eligible voters.
Budget Vote May 15, 2012 6:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. H.C. Crittenden Middle School
Byram Hills Superintendent Announces Retirement
Oct. 11, 2011 At its public meeting on October 11, 2011, the Board of Education accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Jacquelyn Taylor, effective June 30, 2012. In thanking Dr. Taylor for her 15 years of exemplary service to the students and community of Byram Hills, the Board expressed appreciation for the ample notice she provided, with the aim of assuring successful succession planning.
Careful planning for leadership succession has been an important priority for the Byram Hills School District. The Board of Education has had succession planning as a Board goal for numerous years and has spent considerable time researching successful succession planning approaches and learning the regional market for administrative leadership positions. The current administrative leadership team represents some of the most effective and successful educators in our region as a result of successful succession planning goals.
Dr. Taylor, in her letter to the Board, noted the success of the district over several years in the areas of student achievement, college readiness and placement, fine arts, athletics, community engagement, extra curricular activities, retention of excellent faculty, maintenance of excellent facilities and effective financial planning. Dr. Taylor identified the commitment to a continuous improvement philosophy as one of the important ideals in Byram Hills’ desire to be a great school community for student learning. In addition, she noted the quality of the District’s leadership team as a key partner in the development of an ongoing system of excellence.
Turning to the next steps in succession planning, the Board has consulted with numerous sources, including the Westchester Putnam School Boards Association and the New York State Council of School Superintendents and will plan consultations within the district. An announcement will be made at the next Board meeting regarding future plans.
Dr. Taylor expressed sincere thanks for the opportunity to serve the Byram Hills community and noted joy and satisfaction at having worked with a distinguished faculty and administrative team in curriculum planning and assessment, dedication to professional development, initiatives in character education, differentiated instruction, cultural proficiency, technology integration, financial planning and strategic improvement projects. She also thanked the Board of Education members, past and present, for their confidence in her leadership and their dedication to the ideals of a public education. In addition, she noted the work with the PTSA, Boosters and the Byram Hills Education Foundation as remarkable partnerships and celebrated the respectful dialogue that has been a hallmark of success for the Byram Hills educational community. After 40 years in education, Dr. Taylor moves forward in the next step of her continued life learning which has been inspired by the students, teachers and administrators of Byram Hills.
Speaking for his fellow Trustees, Board President Ira Schulman said, “Jackie Taylor is an exemplary superintendent who has earned the respect and admiration of the entire Byram Hills community and her peers. She will be deeply missed. We look forward to our important work with Jackie this year and the Board of Education will continue to seek her advice and insight as we proceed with the selection of the next educational leader for our district.”
The district is seeking a committee of 30-35 parents and community members. The application deadline for participation is January 1, 2012. Please see below the dates and times for the four scheduled meetings, as well as the Budget Information Committee Details and the application for membership on the committee.
The meeting dates and times for the committee are: • Tues. Jan. 17, 2012, 7-9 p.m. • Tues. Feb. 28, 2012, 5-7 p.m. • Thurs. April 19, 2012, 5-7 p.m. • Tue. May 8, 2012, 7-9 p.m.
