North Syracuse budget fails
Voters in the North Syracuse Central School District rejected the proposed $144 million 2013-14 budget Tuesday, forcing the district to rework the proposal before presenting it again next month. North Syracuse had requested a 5.33 percent tax increase. Voters rejected the budget by a margin of 1,989 to 1,680, which didn’t reach the required supermajority for approval.
Voters approve Liverpool school budget
In Liverpool, voters approved the budget by a vote of 1,151 to 651. The $135 million budget, which restored several positions cut in previous budgets as well as foreign languages at the seventh-grade level, called for a 4.71 percent tax increase, which, accounting for PILOTS, new construction and other factors, falls within the tax cap.
BASCOL receives grant for inclusive summer program
This summer, kids who participate in Before and After School Child Care On Location (BASCOL) in Liverpool will have the opportunity to take part in the ultimate summer experience, regardless of their needs or ability. Thanks to the National Inclusion Project, which awarded BASCOL a $10,000 grant, the child care program will present “Let’s All Play: Inclusion in Recreational Programs” at Long Branch Elementary as well as St. Ann’s School in Syracuse.
North Syracuse BOE candidate profiles
North Syracuse will hold its budget and board of education vote Tuesday, May 21. Residents will vote for three BOE members; four candidates are running. The polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; if you live north of Route 481, vote at Cicero Elementary on Route 31. Residents living south of Route 481 should vote at the district office, 5355 W. Taft Road, North Syracuse. The budget itself is $144 million. The estimated tax increase is 5.33 percent; the tax impact is about $23.10 per $100,000 of assessed value. The budget includes full-day kindergarten. The full budget can be found at nscsd.org. Read on for profiles of the candidates.
Liverpool BOE candidate profiles
Liverpool will hold its budget and board of education vote Tuesday, May 21. The polling place, open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., is Liverpool High School, 4338 Wetzel Road, Liverpool. Voters will choose three representatives for BOE; three candidates are running. The budget itself is $135 million and represents a 4.71 percent increase over last year's budget. The tax levy increased by 5.2 percent; the tax impact is estimated at 4.2 percent. The full budget can be found at liverpool.k12.ny.us. Read on for profiles of the candidates running for BOE.
LHS sophomore to attend national YMCA conference
The time it took Samantha McCarthy to walk from her seat to the front of the room after hearing her name called at the YMCA Youth and Government end-of-the-year banquet seemed to be a full 10 minutes. The chairs were placed very close together, and she didn’t anticipate having to navigate through them. “They call out the alternates first, and I was sitting there thinking, ‘You know, it would be really cool to be chosen,’” said McCarthy, a sophomore at Liverpool High School and participant in the North Area Family YMCA Youth and Government program. “And they were done with the alternates and I was like, ‘OK, I’m not chosen. Whatever.’ I don’t know why I thought that.” To McCarthy’s surprise, her name was called. She had been selected to represent New York state at the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs, a national conference that will be held in North Carolina from June 29 to July 5. McCarthy, along with 20 other students from New York state, was selected after her performance at the statewide Youth and Government conference in Albany in March.
North Syracuse BOE approves budget; taxpayers face 5.33 percent increase
The North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education voted to approve the $144,716,279 2013-14 budget for presentation to the public on May 21. The budget calls for a 5.33 percent tax increase, which requires a supermajority vote for approval. According to the presentation given Monday, April 22, the district’s fund balance represents 1.9 percent of its budget, and its reserves represent 1.3 percent. In other districts in the Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES system, the fund balance is an average of 5 percent of their budgets, while the reserves make up 12.8 percent. Moody’s credit rating firm has given the district a poor rating. North Syracuse also spends less per student than 21 of the 23 districts in its BOCES system. Meanwhile, costs for the district have gone up by 4.3 percent since 2012-13. The largest increase is in benefits for employees (the state’s Teacher and Employee Retirement Systems), which climbed by 11.1 percent since last year.
Liverpool Public Library to hold budget hearing
The Liverpool Public Library Board of Trustees will be conduct a public hearing on Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m. May 1 just prior to their regular board meeting to discuss the expenditure of library funds for the fiscal year 2013-14 and the budgeting thereof.
April is National Donate Life Month
Superintendent Richard N. Johns of the Liverpool school district issued an open letter to teachers, students, parents and community members on March 26 announcing his leave, just months before he was due to retire. Johns’ departure comes for a good reason: he needs a new heart. “If it was of my own choosing, I would certainly perform my job for many more years, however, factors have emerged which will not allow me to do so,” Johns said in his letter. “I am currently working with a medical team at Strong Hospital to explore receiving a new heart.” Johns is one of about 800 patients in the Central New York region waiting to receive organ transplants. The month of April is National Donate Life Month. Hospitals across the country promote awareness and education, working to expand the organ donation registry.
LCSD appoints interim superintendent
The Liverpool Central School Board of Education announced that it has found someone to act as interim superintendent. Edmund P. Backus, who previously headed the Hamilton Central School District in Madison County, will fill in for Dr. Richard N. Johns, who is out on medical leave. Johns is scheduled to retire July 31; Backus will hold the position until that time.
Raising awareness about autism
It is estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that autism has risen to one in every 88 births in the United States. In order to raise awareness about the programs and services available to families affected by autism, the New York State Senate has commemorated April 2013 as Autism Awareness Month.
SAS holds first-ever Battle of the Bands at SRC Arena
Up-and-comers in the Central New York music scene will compete for prizes as well as the coveted title of “Best Band” this weekend, and they’ll support a good cause at the same time. Stand Against Suicide will host its inaugural Battle of the Bands on Saturday, April 20, at the SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College. Doors open at 11 a.m. and bands begin competing at noon. Tickets are $7 for students and $12 for adults. Eighteen bands will compete for a chance at the title as well as prizes.
LHS Counseling Department to host college planning overview
The Liverpool High School Counseling Department, with the help of the LHS Parent-Teacher-Student Organization, will provide an overview of the college planning process to parents and students from the Class of 2014 at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16.
Liverpool Dollars for Scholars announces fundraiser
Celebrate spring while you support Liverpool Dollars for Scholars. Chuckleberries, the place for ice cream and yogurt treats with all kinds of toppings, will sponsor another fundraiser from noon until 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 14.
NSCSD announces Parent University spring courses
This spring, the North Syracuse Central School District is launching a new program entitled Parent University. As per the district’s Strategic Plan (STRAP), the creation of a Parent University is an initiative to empower families by equipping them with access to student learning information and engaging them in opportunities to support their children’s success.
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