Jamestown Public School

Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker said he was very pleased with the results, “It was a resounding yes from our community on all counts from the budget to all the propositions to the Capital project, which is something that’s very good to see. It means our community has stepped up and said ‘this is what we want to happen.'”

Jamestown Public School district voters also chose Nina Karbacka and Frank Galeazzo to serve on the Jamestown Board of Education. Karbacka, who was re-elected to a third term on the board, says she was delighted, “I am delighted to continue to work for the Jamestown children. And I am delighted with the overwhelming response to our budget. We have a great budget, a great capital project coming up, and I’m glad to see the community support.”

Galeazzo thanked Gina Sink and Krysta Rives for running for the board and thanked those who came out to vote as well, “As far as what’s next, we’ll get to work once I get sworn in on the Board and start to do whatever support I can do to give to the school district and the kids of the school district to ensure they get the best education possible. And Jamestown has been doing that for quite awhile, so I hope to continue that with everyone else.” Galeazzo replaces Board Member Dan Johnson, who decided not to run for another term.

The Board of Education reorganization meeting is July 1st.

The Jamestown High School P-T-S-A will hold a “Meet The Candidates Night” at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 13th in the Board of Education Room in the JPS Administration Building. It’ll be livestreamed at jpsny.org/election.

Community members who would like to attend the forum in person need to reserve a space by calling 483-4420 by noon on May 13th. Questions for the candidates can also be emailed to jaunita.m.walter@jpsny.org no later than May 12th.

The 2021-22 Budget Vote, Capital Improvement Project votes and Board of Education election will be held on Tuesday, May 18 from noon to 9 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School, Jefferson Middle School, and Washington Middle School.

On Tuesday the vote for the $86.2 million spending plan, which included no tax increase over the current year, was 419 in favor to just 63 against.

Voters also approved the creation of a $2 million capital reserve fund by a vote of 427 to 61. And the establishment of a Student Ex Officio Board of Education member was also approved 430 to 87.

For the board of education race, incumbents Nina Karbacka and Daniel Johnson were both re-elected to the school board, holding off challenger Brianne Fadale.

In addition to the budget plan – which includes no tax increase – voters will also act on two propositions along with selecting two candidates to serve on the school board.

In a recent interview with WRFA, school superintendent Bret Apthorpe said the proposed budget doesn’t include any major overhauls to programming, but does set the stage for big things to come in the 2019-20 school year.

“The board has really looked at a multi-year picture. Their goal is improving student achievement and they recognize the symbiotic relationship between fiscal health and instructional health,” Apthorpe said. “So what this budget really allows us to do is give us some space financially, while we’re working with our community partners on three big initiatives for 2019-20 the following year.”

Those three initiatives include developing a success academy at Rogers school, a summer literacy program for students in grades K through 4, and adjusting program to help better meet the needs of local manufacturers and trades, which are having a hard time finding skilled employees.

Apthorpe also said that the primary focus of the 2018-19 budget is to address the district’s debt, which takes up more than 10 percent of the budget. Ideally, he says the debt service should be closer to three percent of total spending.

In addition to the budget, voters will also act on a proposition to establish a $2 million capital reserve fund that will be used to help pay the local share of future capital projects.

“I call it a community fund because voters have to approve its creation and also have to approve the release of the money when the time comes,” Apthorpe said. “The setup of this fund is by us putting in $2 million in cash, we’ll be eligible for $98 million of aid [from New York State]. So in a sense, for the next ten years we could do $100 million of repair and maintenance to our school buildings and not have to borrow.”

A second proposition deals with allowing a senior from the high school to serve as a non-voting member of the school board.

Voters will also elect two Board of Education members, each to serve three-year terms beginning on July 1, 2018.

There are three candidates on the ballot: newcomer Brianne Fadale along with incumbent board members Daniel Johnson and Nina Karbacka.

The polls in the Jamestown School district will be open from noon to 9 p.m..

Jamestown School Superintendent Bret Apthorpe during the 2018-19 JPS Budget Hearing on Tuesday, May 8.

JAMESTOWN – No one offered comments or questions Tuesday Night during the Jamestown School Board’s public hearing regarding the proposed 2018-19 budget.

The hearing, which was held at Persell Middle School auditorium, provided details on the district’s proposed $86.23 million spending plan, which includes no tax increase and which was unanimously approved by the school board last month.

District Finance Director Vern Connors went over the basis details of the spending plan as well as the two propositions that will also appear on the ballot.

Attendance for the hearing was light and included mostly school staff members and the media, along with the school board.

School superintendent Bret Apthorpe said he hoped the light attendance was due to the public having a good understanding of the proposed spending plan.

“I hope it’s because we’ve been very intentional about communicating with the public from the get-go of this process,” Apthorpe told WRFA following the hearing. “An important part of the board’s goals in this budget development was including the community so hopefully people didn’t come because it was going to be a rerun of what they’ve already heard.”

The proposed budget has a few new positions added, but doesn’t include any major overhaul to programming. Instead, Apthorpe and his staff have said the proposed budget is intended to set the stage for bigger changes that will be coming in the 2019-2020 school year.

“We’ve worked conscientiously with the community to create three initiatives for the 2019-20 school year. One involves creating a Success Academy at the former Rogers school. Another involves a summer literacy program for all of our K through 4 students in the city. And lastly, modernizing our student programming at the high school to align with local labor needs,” Apthorpe said.

Apthorpe also said the main goal of the 2018-19 budget is also to provide better financial stability, and that involves tackling some of the district’s debt.

“What this budget is doing is taking a big swing at the debt service. The district pays $10.5 million a year to debt and that makes us very susceptible to fluctuations in aid because if aid lowers, we still owe that money. That’s how Jamestown was forced to lay off 100 positions in the past 10 years, so this budget takes a big swing at lowering our debt service,” Apthorpe said.

The budget vote and School Board Elections will be held on Tuesday, May 15 from noon to 9 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School, Jefferson Middle School and Washington Middle School for registered voters.

The Budget is available to the public at JamestownPublicSchools.org and hard copies are available in the Superintendent’s Office at 197 Martin Road, in each Jamestown school’s main office and at the James Prendergast Library.

Voters will also elect two Board of Education members, each to serve three-year terms beginning on July 1, 2018.

There are three candidates on the ballot: Brianne Fadale, Daniel Johnson and Nina Karbacka.

The public is encouraged to attend.

Last month the Jamestown School Board unanimously approved the $86.23 million spending plan, which includes no tax increase. The total spending for the 2018-19 budget would see an increase of just over $1 million –about 1.18 percent more than the current year.

The 2018-19 Proposed Budget is also available to the public at www.jamestownpublicschools.org and hard copies are available in the Superintendent’s Office at 197 Martin Road, in each Jamestown school’s main office and at the James Prendergast Library.

The budget vote and School Board Elections will be held on Tuesday, May 15 from noon to 9 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School, Jefferson Middle School and Washington Middle School for registered voters.

Voters will also elect two Board of Education members, each to serve three-year terms beginning on July 1, 2018.

There are three candidates on the ballot: Brianne Fadale, Daniel Johnson and Nina Karbacka.

L to R: Brianne Fadale, Dan Johnson, and Nina Karbacka

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown School District is announcing that three candidates are running for the two Jamestown School Board seats that are up for a vote during the school election on May 15.

The three candidates are incumbent board members Nina Karbacka and Dan Johnson, along with newcomer Brianne Fadale.

According to the district, Fadale is seeking her first term on the Board of Education. She is currently a Staff Development Specialist with Erie 2 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES and had previously served as a special education teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, as well as the girls’ modified soccer coach and an assistant basketball coach at Persell Middle School.

Johnson, who is seeking his third term on the Board of Education, spent 22 years with the Jamestown Police Department, retiring in 2010, and is currently the Senior Investigator with the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office.

Karbacka is seeking her second term on the Board of Education. Before retiring, Karbacka taught music in the Jamestown Schools for 40 years. She has also been nominated vice president in the New York State Association of Small City School Districts.

The Board of Education Elections and School Budget Vote will be held on May 15th from noon to 9 p.m. at Jefferson and Washington Middle Schools and Lincoln Elementary School for all registered voters.

For any information on the School Board Elections, or where to vote, please call Jaunita Walter at 483-4420.

One proposition focuses on creating a $2 million Capital Reserve Fund, while the other would establish the position of a student ex officio member of the School Board.

PROPOSITION #1: Establishment of Capital Reserve Fund

Jamestown School Superintendent Bret Apthorpe during the April 17, 2018 school board meeting.

School superintendent Bret Apthorpe says the Capital Reserve Fund would help the district pay for future capital projects.  Currently, New York State funds up to 98 percent of school capital projects in Jamestown, with the remaining two percent covered locally.  If the $2 million capital reserve fund is approved by voters, the district could plan for up to $100 million in future capital improvements without having to build the local cost into future budgets.

“Roofs have to be replaced. Parking lots have to repaired. Technology has to be introduced to schools. Those are inevitable costs for every school and by approving this reserve, we’re going to be able to protect the local tax payer. The local tax payer will not have to pay any money toward that work,” Apthorpe told WRFA following the school board’s April 17 meeting.

The $2 million for the reserve fund would come out of surplus money the district is anticipating for the current school year. Once created, the money would sit unused until district voters approve its release for a future capital project. The fund would be able to sit for up to 10 years before it had to be utilized.

PROPOSITION #2: Student Ex Officio Member of School Board

The other proposition includes the creation of a student ex officio member of the school board. The position would have no voting power and the student would not be able to attend executive sessions, nor would  he or she receive compensation of any form. He or she would, however, sit with the board during each public meeting and serve as representative for the student body. A member of the school honor society would be appointed to the position.

In addition to the two proposition, voters will also act on the district’s $86 million budget, which includes no tax increase. The school board election includes two open seats – which are currently held by Board members Nina Karbacka and Dan Johnson. Both have said the plan to run for reelection.

A public hearing on the budget, as well as the two propositions, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 8 at Persell Middle School. The school budget and proposition votes, along with the board election, is set for May 15 from noon to 9pm.

The two seats up for a vote are currently being held by board members Nina Karbacka and Dan Johnson, who have both told WRFA they will run for reelection. It’s not known if any other individuals are also running.

The School Board election and Budget Vote will be held on Tuesday, May 15 from noon to 9 p.m.  A public hearing on the proposed school Budget will take place on Tuesday, May 8 at 6 p.m. at Persell Middle School.

Jamestown Public School finance director Vern Connors goes over details of the proposed 2018-19 school budget with Jamestown School Board members and staff during the board’s April 10, 2018 board meeting.

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown School Board is getting closer to approving the district’s $86.23 million budget for next school year.

During the board’s meeting on Tuesday night, school finance director Vern Connors walked the board through an updated budget presentation that was put together after the state finalized its school aid numbers for Jamestown.

According to Connors, Jamestown will see an increase of $1.2 million in aid over the current year’s budget, bringing total state aid to about $67.86 million for next year. That amounts to 78.7 percent of total revenue for the district. The district’s property tax levy of $14.64 million would cover another 18.9 percent of total revenue.

With an expected surplus from the current year, combined with additional aid for next year, Connors said the 2018-19 budget is intended to serve as a transitional budget for the district that will focus on long-term needs and liabilities, including reducing the district’s debt service and freeing up future moneys for program needs.

It also calls for restoring or establishing various funds, with that money being utilized for future anticipated and unanticipated expenses without having to rely on tax payer money to offset those costs.

The budget also calls for $1 million to be put toward immediate capitol improvement and infrastructure needs, along with the purchase of five new school buses without having to borrow.

The board has also agreed that it will focus on adjusting programming in the 2019-2020 budget and as a result, is only looking to add 14 positions for next year – with six of them being listed as contingency positions – ad a cost of an additional $530,000 over the current year’s budget.

Compared to the current year’s budget, the total spending for next year’s proposed budget would see an increase of $1,003,372 – an increase of 1.18 percent.

Board Members Discuss Tax Reduction

School board members Shelly Leathers and Patrick Slagle again lobbied for a slight 1 percent ($146,415.76) reduction in the property tax levy, saying that because the district now has some financial flexibility, it may be the time to provide relief to city property owners.

“This is a great budget and I can’t see why anyone would vote against this budget. We’re doing a lot of great things and we’re setting ourselves up to do some great things in the future,” Slagle said. “But I think that a 1 percent tax reduction is well within our means without sending things out of control… every year I’m always willing to say lets see what we can do to reduce the tax burden on our citizens.”

However, other board members, including Nina Karbacka, Christine Schnars, Dan Johnson, and Joe Pawelski all said that that the board has done a good job in holding the line on taxes – considering there’s only been one permanent increase during the past 10 years.  They also said that some of the long-term financial planning the district is pursuing will help to continue holding the line on taxes.

“In deciding our budget goals, we talked about wanting to maintain a stable school tax levy and I am certainly, absolutely in support of that – that we don’t increase the tax levy and we don’t increase taxes for our tax payers. But we also said we want to improve student performance and we have things coming up in the future like the Success Academy that we want to promote, put money into it, and provide success avenues for our students…. I would be opposed to giving money back to the taxpayers and reducing the tax levy, instead of doing some of the things we could do to improve student achievement,” Schnars said.

“I think our first obligation is the student in our school system. Though we have kept our program stable, it does not acknowledge the fact that over the past ten years we have lost almost 100 positions,” Karbacka said, adding, “I think that keeping [the tax levy] where it is is very fiscally responsible. It’s been there for ten years. As our cost of living and expenses have going up over the past ten years, our taxes have remained the same. You could almost look at that as a tax reduction because everything else has gone up for everyone, except for our taxes.”

Board president Paul Abbott said he would be in favor of a slight tax cut as well, but added that he would support the budget with or without a tax reduction, so long as there was no tax increase.

“For the first time I think I’m prepared to also support the idea of a half percent or 1 percent decrease in the tax levy,” Abbott said.

Superintendent Bret Apthorpe said he appreciated the spirit of the tax cut discussion, but also reminded the board that it needs to be careful on how it proceeds.

“The work we’ve done does dignify long term planning. It does dignify the challenges our city has. It does dignify decreasing our debt service because our debt service is about 12 percent of our budget, and that’s too high. If we want to maintain long-term stability – and that means quality student programming and we keep the zeros on the tax levy moving head – the budget that we’ve worked on here has been trying to dignify all those things.”

Still, Apthorpe said he and his staff will work on a couple of different options to pursue in regards to the tax cut issue and bring details forward during the next school board meeting.

The board will see a final version of the budget – along with what impact a tax cut would have on future budgets – during next week’s board meeting on Tuesday, April 17. It will then vote on the final spending plan, which would then be put forward for a public vote in May.