The extension comes after several districts in the state said they had challenges with sending ballots to out voters on time. But that doesn’t appear to be a problem locally in Chautauqua County, where County Board of Elections Commissioner Norman Green said there were no problems or delays getting ballots out to residents.

“While most all of the rest of NYS is scrambling and absolutely FAILING to pull off a vote by mail election for school votes this Tuesday, our county school district clerks with support from our Board of Elections staff are getting the job done on time and in the most cost effective way. So Chautauqua County proud of the people I work with at my office and at the schools,” Green wrote on his Facebook page over the weekend.

While the deadline for mail-in ballots has been extended for a week, if any ballots are hand-delivered to a respective school district, they still must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9.

For Jamestown Public Schools, residents are asked to vote on an $88.3 million “pandemic” budget that includes no property tax increase. The total spending is nearly $2.7 million less than the current year’s spending plan and includes the temporary elimination of the Success Academy and P-Tech programs, seven layoffs, the elimination of all field trips, and the holding off on hiring 40 new employees – including 23 teachers.

The austere spending plan is due to the state saying all schools in New York could see as much as a 20% reduction in state aid due to a downturn in the economy caused by COVID-19.

More details on the budget are provided on the school website.

The James Prendergast Library will also be part of the upcoming school district budget vote, with a proposition asking the public to approve the creation of a $350,000 library funding district, with money being raised through a property tax that would be added to the School Tax bill.

WRFA spoke with library executive director Annie Greene last week about the proposition. She noted the money is needed to help offset the library’s ongoing funding challenges, especially since the city of Jamestown significantly cut local aid to the library in recent years.

As of Monday, June 1, over 600 people have signed an online petition calling for the P-Tech program at Jamestown Public Schools to remain open during the 2020-21 academic year.

JAMESTOWN – A group of families from the Jamestown Public Schools district are asking for community support in expressing concern for the closure of two programs as part of next year’s school budget.

Earlier this month it was announced the Jamestown School board approved a 2020-21 “pandemic budget” for next year which – among other things – called for the temporary closure of both the Success Academy program and the P-Tech program. Jamestown School Superintendent Bret Apthorpe had acknowledged both programs were very successful in helping to improve student achievement and performance, but also said that due to a projected cut in state aid, the district had no choice but to remove those programs for next year.

However, a group of parents are hoping the district can still find a way in the 11th hour to bring the programs back.

“I understand that this is a tough time for so many, but for these kids and so many more losing their education will profoundly and drastically change their futures,” explained Alexis Macri, one of the parents whose child is involved with P-Tech. “We (P-Tech/success academy families) are reaching out to gain support for these amazing programs, hoping to get financial help from government aid so that we can let these kids continue on the great path they are on.”

The families that want to see the programs restored are now asking the public to join them in asking the district to make them a top priority, should more school aid come in from the state than what is projected in next year’s budget. An online petition has also been set up specifically asking for the public to support re-instating the P-Tech program. As of Monday morning, over 600 people had signed on to the petition.

The school board will hold a budget hearing on Monday at 6 p.m.  The hearing will be held remotely and the public can access the
Budget Hearing at www.jpsny.org/budgethearing. There are also directions on this page for community members who would like to participate in the live broadcast Budget Hearing with questions or comments.

The public can also email questions or comments in advance to the BOE @ jpsny.org by noon on Monday to have them read during the Budget Hearing.

A comparison between expenses and revenue for both this school year and next school year for the Jamestown Public School District, under the proposed 2020-21 school budget.

JAMESTOWN – The public hearing for the Jamestown Public Schools’ 2020-21 proposed budget will be held remotely on Monday, June 1 at 6 p.m.

On May 19 the Jamestown School Board unanimously approved the $88.3 million budget that includes no property tax increase.

The total spending is nearly $2.7 million less than the current year’s spending plan and includes the temporary elimination of the Success Academy and P-Tech programs, seven layoffs, the elimination of all field trips, and the holding off on hiring 40 new employees – including 23 teachers.

The austere spending plan is due to the state saying all schools in New York could see as much as a 20% reduction in state aid due to a downturn in the economy caused by COVID-19.

More details on the budget are provided on the school website.

• RELATED: WRFA BUDGET INTERVIEW WITH JPS SUPERINTENDENT BRET APTHORPE

The public can access the Budget Hearing at JPSNY.org/BudgetHearing. There are also directions on this page for community members who would like to participate in the live broadcast Budget Hearing with questions or comments. The public can also email questions or comments in advance to the BOE @ jpsny.org by noon on June 1 to have them read during the Budget Hearing. Any questions? Please email BOE @ jpsny.org.

The budget vote is being done by absentee ballot with the deadline for submission be 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 9. There are two propositions on the ballot.

• The first proposition is for the JPS Proposed 2020-21 Budget not to exceed $88,313,671, which includes NO tax increase.
• The second proposition is the Prendergast Library Association asking the public to approve a tax levy of $350,000 for the purpose of funding the library.

In addition to the June 1 budget hearing, School Superintendent Bret Apthorpe will be holding his next weekly Facebook Live update on Friday, May 29 at 10 a.m. to update and answer questions for students and parents. Join the conversation at Facebook.com/JamestownPublicSchools/.

During its weekly update sent out on Friday, May 22, the district reported that its Food Service Department served 10,600 meals on Thursday alone for the Memorial Day Weekend. Since school buildings have closed, they have served 146,000 school meals. School meal pick up for JPS students is available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Jefferson, Persell and Washington Middle Schools and Jamestown High School. Our meal pick up service is not available on Saturday or Sunday. Please bring extra bags on Fridays to pick up weekend meals. Weekly menus are posted at jpsny.org/meals.

For details about Learning at Home during COVID-19, visit the district’s Continuing Instruction Plan at JPSNY.org/ContinuingInstruction. If a student or parent needs technical support for their iPad or Chromebook device, please send an email to techsupport @ jpsny.org or call 716-483-4242.

Also, Jamestown community childcare program still has spaces available. Priority will be given to parents who work in healthcare, public safety, and first responders. If you have a child age 3 to 11 and are in need of childcare, please reach out to childcare @ jpsny.org and/or call 716-203-1539 for information. Please be ready to provide proof of employment when registering.

•  AUDIO ALSO AVAILABLE ON SOUNDCLOUD

Jamestown Public Schools Superintendent Bret Apthorpe joins us to discuss the impact COVID-19 has on the district’s $88.3 million, 2020-21 School Budget, which was approved by the Jamestown School Board on Tuesday, May 19.

Dr. Bret Apthorpe, Jamestown Public Schools superintendent

• AUDIO ALSO AVAILABLE AT SOUNDCLOUD

WRFA’s Jason Sample talks with School Superintendent Bret Apthorpe to get an update on how Jamestown Public Schools is coping with the COVID-19 State of Emergency and also get an update on the school budget process.

Dr. Bret Apthorpe, Jamestown Public Schools superintendent

During the meeting the board reviewed a preliminary spending plan for next school year, being mindful of the current COVID-19 pandemic underway and the economic impact it will likely have on state funding.

So far, the only information the district has is that the district will receive a 0.63% total increase in State Aid, based on the Governor’s executive budget, released in January. Still, the preliminary spending plan put forward by the board’s finance committee is based on the assumption that there will be an overall 2% increase in state aid, based on past history of the final budget coming in higher than the initial executive proposal.

It also assumes there will be no increase to the 2020-21 property tax levy.

As a result, the proposed spending plan would total nearly $91.2 million dollars – about a $482,000 increase from the current year’s budget.

• VIEW BUDGET PRESENTATION

The board is hopeful updated state aid numbers will be provided prior to mid April, when the school board will have to finalize a budget to put before the voters for a public vote in May.

• AUDIO ALSO AVAILABLE VIA SOUNDCLOUD

WRFA’s Jason Sample talks with Jamestown Public Schools Superintendent Bret Apthorpe about the Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposed budget and its impact on the school district. In addition, Apthorpe provides an update on several other issues involving the school district – including the search for the a new Jamestown High School Principal, the Success Academy, and a new community portal that allows the community to offer input into various issues affecting the district.

Dr. Bret Apthorpe, Jamestown Public Schools superintendent