JPS Finance and Budget Director Brittnay Spry presents proposed 2023-24 school budget at public hearing (May 9, 2023)

The Jamestown Public Schools District has made its final presentation on the proposed $101 million 2023-24 budget ahead of the budget vote on May 16.

The budget has no tax levy increase and a 16.5% increase in State Foundation Aid. Because the increase is over 10%, the district was required to submit a Foundation Aid Plan to the state for how that money would be spent. That plan can be viewed at jpsny.org.

Finance and Budget Director Brittnay Spry said Governor Kathy Hochul‘s proposed set aside in Foundation Aid for use for High Impact Tutoring was rejected by the State Legislature. Had that been passed the district would have been mandated to use $900,000 in foundation aid toward tutoring.

The budget does include the hiring of 18 new teachers, most of whom will staff new Student Support Centers. A new Assistant Principal for Fletcher Elementary School is proposed as well given that Fletcher has the second highest student enrollment in the district, only behind the High School.

Besides the budget, a proposition will also be on the ballot to fund a new Capital Improvement Reserve Fund with up to $5 million.

The vote on the budget, capital improvement reserve fund proposition, and school board candidates will take place Tuesday, May 16 between 12:00 and 9:00 p.m. People may go to Jefferson or Washington Middle Schools; or Lincoln Elementary School to vote.

For more information on the budget and school board candidates, visit jpsny.org

JPS Finance and Budget Director Brittnay Spry presents budget to school board (April 19, 2023)

The Jamestown School Board has approved the $101,475,987 2023-24 School year budget that includes no tax levy increase.

The biggest increase in revenues came in a $9.5 million increase in State Foundation aid.

Finance and Budget Director Brittnay Spry said total state aid funding is $83,706,514, which is 82% of all revenues received by the district.

She said since the foundation aid proposed to be received by Jamestown represents a 10% increase in aid received, the state requires the district to put together a plan on how the increase in aid would be used, present it and get feedback from the community; and then submit it to the state in July.

Spry said the new paraprofessional positions created for the 2022-23 budget as well as the new positions proposed in this budget make up the bulk of the Foundation Aid Plan, “We are proposing creating Student Support Centers to address literacy and math. We are addressing learning loss through our student through our students. We are providing access to a school based health center, addressing infrastructure needs across the buildings, providing student support for social-emotional needs, we’re using that for annual and inflationary increases, providing supports for other district-wide needs, as well as continuing operations and programming district wide.”

Spry said the Foundation Aid plan is available on the district’s website at jpsny.org.

A public hearing on the budget is now scheduled for 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 9 at Jefferson Middle School’s auditorium.

The public will then go to the polls between 12:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 16 to vote on the budget, a proposition on funding a new Capital Improvement Reserve Fund with up to $5 million, as well as voting for three school board members.