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Potsdam superintendent says low state aid expectation paints bleak budget picture

Posted 1/18/18

By MATT LINDSEY POTSDAM -- Potsdam Central School has begun preliminary discussion about next year’s school budget and the financial situation does not look promising, according to Potsdam Central …

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Potsdam superintendent says low state aid expectation paints bleak budget picture

Posted

By MATT LINDSEY

POTSDAM -- Potsdam Central School has begun preliminary discussion about next year’s school budget and the financial situation does not look promising, according to Potsdam Central School Superintendent Joann Chambers.

“I am disappointed with the governor’s proposed budget,” she said.

According to Chambers, the budget would provide PCS with an increase of only $150,000.

She says this increase likely won’t cover increases that happen each year. Those increases are related to salaries, benefits and retirements.

Principals have submitted their requests for areas of need to Chambers, but she was not sold on the idea that those suggestions would happen unless more money is earmarked for the district.

“The $150,000 won’t cover the known increases,” she said.

Chambers said school officials will speak with local legislators and tell them their story in an attempt to secure more state aid.

There will be a public forum on the budget on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m., just prior to the regularly scheduled BOE meeting.

A preliminary budget will be shared with anyone who attends.

Chambers said she did not expect the budget to be finalized by then and they would be working with the latest figures the governor has to offer.

In other news, the Board of Education approved a pair of appointments for teaching positions at their Jan. 16 meeting.

Miranda Brouselle was approved as an art teacher and Trish Varney was appointed as a teacher leader in art.