[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6119930,"mediaKeyId","2710072-095cbcf7c32cead369b1e24db5b99460","parentId",2710072,"title","District holds mandated public hearing to redirect $551,415 in Smart Schools Bond Act funds for interior door hardening","audioSeconds",592,"startMs",529000,"endMs",1121000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2710072-095cbcf7c32cead369b1e24db5b99460&start=529&end=1121","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2710072-095cbcf7c32cead369b1e24db5b99460/thumbnail_529000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6119930/New-York/District-holds-mandated-public-hearing-to-redirect-551415-in-Smart-Schools-Bond-Act-funds-for-interior-door-hardening","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119930-d206dddf8b4f6db9f412f145591f11e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775633345&Signature=QZbKNSsCX3KZoRHKc-wtRG1btEfnfkVvyslq-bb8bEUoXxg4ii8TuOE2cQbd3VAHnoWZzGYJbxc-AuTmBLwdOd8IC-BCKaMl2Mgj9LVmvuk0NIuwiGhTTAQUmDn4f-kUyRFmLszHrdCSk7qOCsVDVyaXA98TjXLdwDm71ltXPURAL9husnbOPIAjL4OgYy-GaokoRaapcNve2Q8IX4SFlA5pGaCqpcKLE~UWL5MEMcq1JOlWG-QcDdxqqoi4o~6UTG4jIqzdAsF0ns1npx~mVOEUKt38-vVxLN7RJORO5WPwHX1v-hYBdlL6HGufFi~bgb9-Fio5vqLvoZPoLjwyNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-20T12:50:25.383Z","article","Sweet Home Central School District held a mandated public hearing on March 18 for an amendment to its Smart Schools Investment Plan that would reallocate $551,415 toward an interior door hardening project at the high school and potentially parts of the middle school.

Don Feldman (district business staff) summarized the Smart Schools Bond Act program and the district’s amendment. Feldman said the Smart Schools Bond Act was passed in 2014–15 through the New York State budget and that Sweet Home’s initial allocation was “just over $1,800,000.” He said the proposed amendment would move $551,415 previously allocated for student devices to a door-hardening project that would harden interior classroom doors and install card-access door locks.

Feldman described the process: the preliminary plan was posted on the district website for a 30-day public comment period (Feb. 12–Mar. 13); the district received no written comments; the board held the required public hearing at the meeting and, if the board approves the final plan, the district will submit it to the State Education Department for administrative review. “If we do receive your approval, we will, submit it to the state education department tomorrow morning,” Feldman said.

A board member asked whether the state’s review would be timely; Feldman said the district has a point person at SED and that initial interactions “didn’t seem to seek issue with it.” The district also reported it had deallocated device funding in November 2024 to fund this request.

No members of the public made comments during the public hearing portion of the meeting. The administration said a vendor has been identified and, pending state approval, work would begin in the summer. The board agenda indicated the board would be asked that night to approve the final plan for submission to SED.

Ending: The hearing record will be included with the district’s final submission to the State Education Department; the district said it will proceed to seek SED approval and schedule work to begin in the summer if the department approves the amendment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tuesday, March 18, 2025 Board of Education Voting Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Sweet Home Central School District held a mandated public hearing on March 18 to consider moving $551,415 in Smart Schools Bond Act funds to upgrade interior classroom doors with hardened doors and card-access locks at the high school, and possibly the middle school.","taxTitle","SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",69150,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6119935,"Sweet Home projects $1.5M budget gap for 2025–26; board outlines staffing plan, tax-cap limits",4410,919000,5329000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2710072-095cbcf7c32cead369b1e24db5b99460&start=919&end=5329","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2710072-095cbcf7c32cead369b1e24db5b99460/thumbnail_919000.jpg","/articles/6119935/New-York/Sweet-Home-projects-15M-budget-gap-for-202526-board-outlines-staffing-plan-tax-cap-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119935-069262b1ba4096a8043f4725712be1d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775633345&Signature=nAlEGTKKiOtL2y6TyEeQJ7sX9I6OzWzSe6DoV-S0I3vTNl~7UliwxGdd~138kFMY2HN12IQ8dT1dd7om0oQAX7orjB9u~KNG46JqZCi7ArrLdI9FSY8REcC6tE1J8OOtKtRe5vRVM9U-cr50RXWyHCGNaSc34h~MdNTDqVRrCuwz0UNTBTjEn7ffg5sogkuTdEZshPcxUuH-RmF891ptzdvPPDPH4ptQrKUgoz6iDNCfAoQ238RV7e7WNO8uOfWpr8j716zTN73NrRKszf1BhYcTXvYKz8HWCJs86IwdWZrUypjyLHG32r5Iwrnbj~yqjbN9DS0WuSLZ9yCnd8mdFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sweet Home Central School District Superintendent Michael Genestri told the Board of Education on March 18 that the district is projecting a $1,500,000 budget shortfall for the 2025–26 school year and outlined steps administrators are recommending to close the gap without layoffs.

Genestri said the shortfall is driven mainly by increases in mandated special education services, contracted transportation and health-care costs. “We are projecting a $1,300,000 mandated increase in special education programming for next year,” Genestri said. He added the district expects a $500,000 increase for contracted transportation and a roughly $700,000 increase in health-care costs reported by the district’s trust.

The administration presented a multi-part plan to cover the shortfall while keeping all current employees. The budget recommendations include limiting program aides to two per building (estimated savings $300,000), eliminating building-based substitute positions ($300,000), absorbing certain administrative retirements rather than filling them, consolidating some grade-level sections where enrollment permits, and pursuing state grants tied to prekindergarten special-education classrooms.

Genestri said the district has received conditional approval to pursue up to three special-class-in-an-integrated-setting (SCIS) rooms for universal pre-K (UPK). “Each room can generate up to $400,000 in revenue,” he said, and the administration has budgeted $1,200,000 in potential revenue assuming three rooms are approved and funded through the state process.

Business officer Don Feldman (presenting the detailed budget slides) reviewed revenue and the district’s tax-cap position. Feldman said the district’s allowable simple-majority tax-cap increase for 2025–26 is 0.4 percent, which he quantified as about $218,590 in levy capacity. He described the state’s “allowable tax base growth factor” and said Sweet Home’s levy growth factor was set at 1.0 this cycle, reducing potential levy room relative to prior years and eliminating eligibility for rollover levy funds the district had considered earlier.

On projected revenue, Feldman reported an estimated 2025–26 revenue total of $105,513,012 and budgeted expenditures of $105,464,831, producing a narrow surplus in the draft numbers presented to the board. Feldman reviewed the district’s state aid calculation base (TAFPU — total aidable foundation pupil units), reporting a small increase from the executive budget run and noting the district’s continued monitoring of state and federal funding signals.

Genestri and Feldman stressed contingencies that could change between now and final adoption: late adjustments to state aid, final health-insurance rates from the New York 44 Trust and registration/transfer activity over the summer. Genestri said the board will be asked to adopt a proposed budget on April 22 and that the district’s annual budget vote and school board election is scheduled for May 20 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the school building.

The administration repeatedly emphasized that the recommendations are intended to avoid staff layoffs. “We will not lay off any service employees… We will not lay off any faculty members,” Genestri said, adding the plan relies on turnover, targeted consolidation where enrollment allows and grant revenue to close the gap.

Board members asked for clarification on specific lines including special-education cost drivers, the treatment of charter-school tuition, and whether rebidding contracted transportation could yield savings under changing bus routes or start times. Trustees and administrators also discussed the timing of state budget decisions and the district’s use of reserves.

The board and administration said they will return with updates at the April 8 study session and again when the board meets to adopt a proposed spending plan in April. The presentation included specific line items and dollar changes discussed by administrators and is available in the district’s budget materials.

Ending: The board proceeded with its meeting agenda; the administration said it will continue to refine revenue assumptions and staffing placement and will present a recommended proposed budget to the board on April 22 for adoption prior to the May 20 vote.","Sweet Home Central School District Superintendent Michael Genestri told the Board of Education on March 18 that the district is projecting a $1,500,000 budget shortfall for the 2025–26 school year and outlined steps administrators are recommending to close the gap without layoffs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6119925,"Parents, teachers raise concerns at Sweet Home meeting about communication, music staffing and bus safety",912,2767000,3679000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2710072-095cbcf7c32cead369b1e24db5b99460&start=2767&end=3679","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2710072-095cbcf7c32cead369b1e24db5b99460/thumbnail_2767000.jpg","/articles/6119925/New-York/Parents-teachers-raise-concerns-at-Sweet-Home-meeting-about-communication-music-staffing-and-bus-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119925-8b217f7f194349072ca5286079c34b6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775633345&Signature=SrnjlneUZJnXNhjrV-ngGamkZ79EtJv3gbLnuDK1NRnlQFB8ib2gj3o8hKQQJ5SqnEbdwGo40eihF8c-VYoky934~fsBjVyo7jnC21cmqNiNYahXFI6QeS34wLaHqv0iv2p6Y0CDz43~uWPwbDk27OZ5cyh2nQcHk3zA7ZYTQEIC~E2eT9r8IyiBM9fsZRpeDIp38w3kMS7TccxMp9JRMr8gzqrzhY6WyDbAGIqQ0OSUgN9w5XBuzGZyKfmcNagMWstWaHajHFrsgTVPF4UTd1OEdWUIAloKYb~G0TVcxr31X51Mijq5LzWG9by0m3aG8uQJ8qTKGA6qcV1NavU4lA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parents, teachers and community members used the Board of Education\u0000open-session periods on March 18 to press the district for more transparency about contract negotiations and budget choices, to seek additional music staffing and recognition, and to reiterate safety concerns about bus routes and staggered start times.

Karen Silsbee, who identified herself as a parent of three district students, said she and others feel excluded from decision-making and asked for “honesty, fairness, and a seat at the table.” She criticized the handling of recent teacher contract discussions and said community trust had eroded: “Sweet Home is not the district it once was, and it's time to address the issues that are hurting our students, our teachers, and our community,” Silsbee said during the first open session.

Multiple speakers focused on music staffing and visibility for student accomplishments. Jessica Stevens, a parent, described long waits and limited instruction time for elementary orchestra and band and urged the district to fund music programs at levels comparable to athletics. “Our elementary chorus teachers do not have a schedule that even allows them to work with students,” Stevens said, describing one elementary student who was the district's sole representative in an elementary county ensemble.

Christine Stewart, president of the Sweet Home Music Parents Association, said music staff frequently travel among buildings, set up and tear down equipment, and rely on volunteer time to support rehearsals. She urged the board to consider funding or grant opportunities for elementary music staffing and to add rehearsal/performance space when facility work occurs.

Speakers also noted transportation concerns and schedule impacts on students and staff. Public commenters and several board members discussed ongoing complaints about the district's walking-radius changes and staggered start times; Genestri and other administrators said the district is compiling concerns, will analyze on-site conditions and plans to present findings at the April 8 study session.

Other public commenters asked for clearer detail on program consolidations mentioned during the budget presentation; the superintendent clarified that proposed consolidations referred to grade-section consolidations driven by enrollment, not program eliminations.

Ending: Board members acknowledged the comments, and the administration repeated that it would continue to gather input and report back at the April 8 study session. The meeting's public-comment record will be part of the official minutes.","During open session, parents and educators told the Board of Education they sought more transparency around contract negotiations and budget decisions, said the district's elementary music staffing and scheduling are strained, and repeated community concerns about busing and start times were raised.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District holds mandated public hearing to redirect $551,415 in Smart Schools Bond Act funds for interior door hardening

Sweet Home projects $1.5M budget gap for 2025–26; board outlines staffing plan, tax-cap limits

Parents, teachers raise concerns at Sweet Home meeting about communication, music staffing and bus safety