Bishop Leecroft Clarke presents to Jamestown School Board, April 19, 2022

The Jamestown School Board approved the 2022-23 School District Budget at its meeting Tuesday night.

The $93,893,354 budget, which has no tax levy increase, now goes before voters for approval at the polls on Tuesday, May 17.

Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker said there are three big themes in the budget with the first one being learning loss recovery, “Our kids have suffered a great harm over the course of the past two years with this Pandemic and all the things that came with it, both in academics, this is why we have things that addresses learning loss – additional teachers, AIS teachers, additional staff for students, social workers, counselors are also there.”

Whitaker said the addition of those staff also help with mental health support for students. The budget adds a total of 40 new student support staff.

The third theme of the budget, Whitaker said, is the ability to add those positions with no property tax increase, “Connected to that with our reserve funds, we are trying to maintain that tax impact reduction across the next five to ten years. So with those reserves, our aim is to smooth out any future dips in state aid so we don’t have to go to the taxpayers and increase taxes in order to get needed equipment or capital project repairs or anything in the future.”

A group of citizens led by Bishop Leecroft Clarke who had previously spoke before the school board on the need for a Community Navigator for the African-American community were in attendance Tuesday night.

Clarke said there were three emerging facts when studying data about demographics and education in Jamestown, “The first one is, 72% of our student population are from low-income families. It’s telling us something. The second thing is, the drop-out rate for Jamestown High School is twice that, in terms of percentage, double compared to New York State. And more notable, students of color have a higher drop out rate.”

He said the third fact is that students of color had a lower success rate for passing Regents exams. Clarke and the citizen group thanked the board for including that navigator position in budget.

A public hearing on the budget will be held at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 10 at the Jamestown High School Auditorium.

The School Board also recognized former Jamestown School Superintendent Dr. Bret Apthorpe with the unveiling of his photograph in the Board of Education Board Room. Dr. Apthorpe retired from the district at the end of the 2019-2020 school year.

Kevin Whitaker

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown School Board has found the district’s next superintendent.

On Monday night during a remote board meeting, the board approved the appointment of Kevin Whitaker to serve as the next superintendent, replacing Bret Apthorpe, who will be retiring at the end of this month.

Whitaker is currently the Assistant Superintendent for School Improvement & Accountability for the Geneva City Schools in the Finger Lakes region. He’s worked in education for nearly 30 years, starting first as a teacher in Albany and Rochester. He’s also worked as a principal and assistant superintendent and also has experience in staff development and as a national-level consultant.

“I am very pleased with our selection of Dr. Whitaker as our new superintendent,” said Jamestown School Board President Paul Abbott. “Dr. Whitaker’s extensive qualifications and experience will be an asset to our district. We had an extremely deep pool of knowledgeable, accomplished candidates ensuring that we have an exceptional superintendent to be at the helm when our district schools re-open their doors. I would like to thank my entire board for the countless hours dedicated to the selection process, and the New York Leadership Group for their experience and talent in bringing so many impressive candidates for our consideration. I would also like to thank community members for their input and patience during the superintendent search and selection process.”

“I am deeply honored to have been selected as the Jamestown Public Schools superintendent,” said Whitaker. “As a new member of this community, I am eager to become a part of all of the wonderful and diverse aspects of Jamestown and of JPS. Jamestown is a community with a rich athletic and music tradition. I look forward to attending and supporting all of our student activities. For many years, I have been passionate about the unique benefits of small city school districts and especially about serving all students in small city school districts. For me, this is a long-awaited opportunity to engage with the board of education, parents, students, teachers, paraprofessionals, maintenance and custodial personnel, clerical, administrators and community members as well as the diverse and unique populations, interests, supporters and successes of Jamestown. I very much look forward to building lasting relationships and serving the needs of all children.”

Whitaker will officially assume his superintendent duties on July 1.

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.

Governor Andrew Cuomo holds daily Coronavirus press briefing in the Red Room on April 12. (Darren McGee- Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)

ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday that summer school will be conducted through distance learning this year to help reduce the risk of spread.  Meal programs and child care services for essential employees will continue.

The governor said school districts must also develop a plan for students with disabilities who participate in extended summer school year programs over the summer to ensure they receive instruction.

The state will make a determination on the fall semester and issue guidelines in June so schools and colleges can start to plan for a number of scenarios.

K-12 schools and colleges will submit plans for approval to the state in July.

Locally, Jamestown School Superintendent Bret Apthorpe told WRFA this week that the district is already starting to develop its plan.

•  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

Each school principal will notify students and families about end of year close out procedures including the return of school property such as textbooks, calculators, library books, novels and athletic uniforms. Principals will also share information about procedures to collect students’ belongings in lockers or classrooms.

If you have any questions on school closure procedures for your child’s school, please contact your school principal for more information.

Jamestown School Superintendent Bret Apthorpe said last week the district will be crunching the latest information regarding state school aid for next years budget, and will begin finalizing a proposed spending plan that can be put before the public for a vote on June 9.

The board has scheduled four separate special meeting this week, each involving the board going into an executive session to discuss the superintendent search. An executive session means the meeting will be closed to the public.

Each meeting will take place at 6 p.m. and will be held on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week. Because of the coronavirus state of emergency and New York on Pause executive order, each meeting will take place via teleconference.

While the agendas for this week’s meetings doesn’t give specifics regarding where the school board is at in its superintendent search, it is likely that they will begin the interviewing process for prospective superintendent candidates, given there are multiple meetings scheduled for the week.

At the start of this year, current Superintendent Bret Apthorpe announced he would b retiring at the end of the current school year. Since then, the school board has been working to identify his replacement. Since his announcement, the coronavirus has led to the district – along with all others in New York State – to cancel on-site classes and instead resort to teaching off-site through video and teleconference.

Apthorpe has also stated that despite his announced retirement, he would be willing to work in the district even after the current school year ends on June 30, if requested by the school board.

“As I have been saying since the beginning of school building closure, we have ‘hoped for the best, but planned for the worst,'” Superintendent Bret Apthorpe said in a media release sent out on Friday afternoon. “Prior to the Governor’s [announcement] our district administration anticipated this and enacted our Continuing Instruction Plan for students and families to ensure remote learning continues through the end of the school year. Our school buildings may be closed, but learning is still in session through the rest of the school year in the Jamestown Public Schools.”

“I am very proud of JPS staff, families and students who have really come together during this difficult time. We really are a school family who cares about each other,” Apthorpe added.

The district understands that there are other questions about the school building closure through the end of the school year. As more details are released, the district will add to its frequently asked questions section of the website (www.jpsny.org/faqs) and inform the JPS community. For the latest updates, please visit www.jpsny.org. Send any questions you may have to questions @ jpsny.org.

• AUDIO ALSO AVAILABLE AT SOUNDCLOUD

Jamestown Public Schools Superintendent Bret Apthorpe talks with WRFA’s Jason Sample to give an update on how the school district is doing during the novel coronavirus pandemic and also share details about the district’s recently released continuing education plan.

Dr. Bret Apthorpe, Jamestown Public Schools superintendent