Nisky’ schools to host budget forums

As of Friday, December 2, 2011 -2:11 p.m.

NISKAYUNA — There is a series of community forums planned leading up to the formation of the Niskayuna Central School District’s 2012-13 budget.

A total of six community budget forums are planned from December to February, all focusing on different areas. The series begins on Tuesday, Dec. 6, with a session on class sizes, combination classes and class rotations.

Budget forums schedule

All forums will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Van Antwerp Middle School auditorium.

Dec. 6: Class size, combination classes, and class rotations

Dec. 20: Administration & Previous budget reductions

Jan. 10: Special Education and support services

Jan. 24: Program and course offerings & Extracurricular activities

Feb. 7: Community use of facilities

Feb. 28: Outsourcing & Shared services

First forum materials

To download discussion materials for the first meeting click here

Community Budget Survey

Click the web address to take the district's survey https://www.surve...>

Each forum is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. prior to the start of every Board of Education at the Van Antwerp Middle School auditorium. Each forum will start with an introduction for the focused topic. Time will be set aside for community members to provide input and ask questions.

Superintendent Susan Salvaggio said based on current projections, the district is faced with making $3.5 million in budget reductions to live within its means and the state mandated tax cap.

“The only way to bridge a gap of that magnitude is to look closely at these major areas in partnership with our community,” Salvaggio said in a statement. “We look forward to difficult, but necessary conversations on these important issues.”

Salvaggio said outsourcing certain areas of district operations should be discussed, because evaluating all options is necessary to create a fiscally responsible budget while preserving as many programs and services as possible. She pointed to areas like transportation, buildings and grounds maintenance and the school lunch program.

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