[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6623437,"mediaKeyId","2770056-7a0bdc72355afacda1dcbe5290e72b91","parentId",2770056,"title","Niskayuna budget proposes $2.45 million in new spending, restores SRO programming; bus purchase to go to voters","audioSeconds",2108,"startMs",3472000,"endMs",5580000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2770056-7a0bdc72355afacda1dcbe5290e72b91&start=3472&end=5580","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2770056-7a0bdc72355afacda1dcbe5290e72b91/thumbnail_3472000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6623437/New-York/Niskayuna-budget-proposes-245-million-in-new-spending-restores-SRO-programming-bus-purchase-to-go-to-voters","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623437-dca3c634bfd7eed3b83918b09b729c8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770717333&Signature=Dzkty8W7DqZkTq1~4mf6WHVimxFwS0r0Z5-Y8axukOPw6rInaDgeOUo1~~~BCCs6xovSMjkZoXYdW3l4XCdpvvPN77m1uUm0m7NEYf10L7NOwwTkQMhCdvfD9FgM8JOemTFWFEn2yBK953vxpx8221RWaW8KxvXlolwT1ehFcXtOVb7mJQU-QaXgTp0lE4ZpGzt7efsieNc61gX9nlEN-FhkTvKtxjQZD2A9nRcptiFXXGBAcGAH7fczTQDgi4QiLdpIAbO7EDDmickr2xLTNvDSjb3FHDxVQnpL343YYkJHDU9H7iYZRlYcL4HpPa9Ns7t7x5mjUASejBFa-MOOTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","NISKAYUNA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT","date","2025-03-26T00:38:52.58Z","article","The Niskayuna Central School District Board of Education on March 25, 2025 reviewed a recommended 2025–26 general fund budget of $168,121,281 that would raise the tax levy by 2.29 percent and add roughly $2.45 million for new positions and programs, including funds to restore school resource officer programming and to expand student support services.

District finance staff told the board the recommended additions would fund about 20.8 full-time-equivalent positions and include $115,000 intended to cover contract and startup costs tied to restoring an SRO program. The presentation said the district plans to clarify in community materials that the SRO line is for a limited deployment and that the board would specify staffing in the outreach materials.

Why it matters: The recommended budget includes increases to special-education capacity, summer learning, a director of science and technology, elementary teacher-on-special-assignment positions, and safety and security staffing. Those items together change staffing levels and programming the district offers and will be presented to the public as the board moves toward adoption on April 8 and the public vote in May.

Public commenters asked the board to act on related staffing decisions. Eva Crispoli, speaking on behalf of registered special-education staff, asked the board to fund more teaching assistants and to increase hours to 29 per week so aides would qualify for medical benefits, saying, \"Teaching assistants are essential to the success of all students.\" Parent Doug Hechsel urged the board to keep SRO funding in the main budget, saying a petition he circulated to keep the SRO in the budget had gathered about 98 signatures and adding, \"I urge you to keep it in the budget where it belongs.\" Parent Talia Fercheck urged the board not to remove the SRO from the proposed budget and cited the district's third-party safety review, saying, \"Student safety must remain top priority.\"

Budget details presented by district staff said the new investments are funded by a combination of a modest tax levy increase and stronger state aid. Notable proposed new investments include: two additional elementary self-contained special-education programs and related social-emotional staff; 0.6 FTE additional occupational/physical therapy capacity; restoration of a K-5 summer learning academy; a director of science and technology; one full-time cleaner for the new building footprint; a proposed part-time contracted coordinator of security; full-time security monitors at each elementary school (converted from hard-to-fill part-time positions); and funding for district transportation technology (mounted tablets and geo-based alerts). The presentation also listed an increase in debt service tied to the district's 2024 capital project and noted building aid will offset part of those costs.

The board moved several formal items during the meeting. Members voted to authorize a bus-purchase proposition to appear on the May 20, 2025 ballot for voters' consideration. The motion to place that proposition on the annual-meeting ballot passed (all in favor, 7-0). The board later approved the consent agenda (items B through G) by a 7-0 vote and voted 7-0 to convene an executive session to discuss one legal item and personnel/medical matters.

What happens next: The administration said it will present a final recommended budget for board consideration and possible adoption at the April 8 meeting and will add clearer language in community materials about the SRO line (the board requested clarity that initial funding is for one officer at the high school). The bus purchase proposition will appear on the May 20 annual vote notice, and the district will publish detailed budget and program materials for public review.

Budget actions at a glance

- Motion: Authorize bus-purchase proposition for voter consideration on 05/20/2025. Outcome: approved; recorded vote: unanimous (7-0). Notes: motion presented by district staff and seconded; proposition will be included on the notice of annual meeting.

- Motion: Approve consent agenda items B through G. Outcome: approved; recorded vote: unanimous (7-0).

- Motion: Convene executive session to discuss one legal item and personnel/medical matters. Outcome: approved; recorded vote: unanimous (7-0).

Attribution and sources: Quotes and attributions above come from public commenters and district presenters during the March 25 board meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","3.25.2025 Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Niskayuna Central School District Board of Education on March 25 reviewed a recommended $168.12 million 2025–26 budget that would raise the tax levy 2.29 percent and add about $2.45 million in new investments, including funds to restore school resource officer programming.","taxTitle","NISKAYUNA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",56859,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6623428,"Survey narrows Niskayuna mascot choices to Silver Knights and Silver Hawks; board to review equity and trademark analysis",710,5753000,6463000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2770056-7a0bdc72355afacda1dcbe5290e72b91&start=5753&end=6463","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2770056-7a0bdc72355afacda1dcbe5290e72b91/thumbnail_5753000.jpg","/articles/6623428/New-York/Survey-narrows-Niskayuna-mascot-choices-to-Silver-Knights-and-Silver-Hawks-board-to-review-equity-and-trademark-analysis","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623428-19b5ed97881524be142514e5dae6d81c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770717333&Signature=kQFgybepaT3o1qQWpkXqvTgL~qWLervFE6PJh56iIrUnLUBzGd8jP09bUtl1B3X6JJCNZiQAW3LG8JHnChmhtBR0buVBD1DDepYr3ZrmKNFqN1IU0OF-wTY8HScx2YWO5X9dSTunyopL2QdRu5YczBbTdMKEcbaLvFlxPVWEHhZCi0CmRFZ8YD8YD14gh7kRIG9fStfDi3gptjAtRSijdCgwA5NcyYkx1xmWJ0d9zTOPQsmM9s84AFQ9TEZt~EemS0bh6vxFVRRPs1vo8jCYdd~F8N5HwQOi~Ci1UaYycE50Nwp5UdRdIwbRkLNMC9ta4pDs2lFUvnSAMg3yNC1Rag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Niskayuna Central School District on March 25 reported results from a community survey that asked students, staff and other stakeholders to pick a replacement for the district's retired mascot. More than 1,200 people participated; Silver Knights received 32.9 percent of votes and Silver Hawks received 30.6 percent. \"Nisky\" drew about 21 percent and Silver Storm about 15 percent.

The district told the board it had asked its Office of Equity and communications staff to conduct a review of each option for possible equity concerns, prevalence of use, reputational risk and potential trademark conflicts. The board was given a written report with the equity analysis and a trademark search summary and was asked to review the materials before the next meeting.

Board members discussed next steps and asked for student involvement in developing imagery and mascot art. One board member proposed returning conceptual designs to the communications office for final, camera-ready artwork with significant student participation in the creative process.

The district emphasized the poll was a community survey (not a binding vote) and that the board will take the equity and trademark analysis into account before making a decision at a future meeting. No formal mascot selection vote was taken March 25.

Attribution and sources: Poll results and the district's equity and trademark analysis were presented to the board at the March 25 meeting.","A district poll of more than 1,200 participants showed Silver Knights (32.9%) and Silver Hawks (30.6%) as the leading mascot choices. The district has prepared an equity and trademark analysis for the board to review before a final decision.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6623432,"Committee unanimously recommends Benchmark Advance as K–5 ELA curriculum, plans phased rollout and nine days of professional development",1159,1672000,2831000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2770056-7a0bdc72355afacda1dcbe5290e72b91&start=1672&end=2831","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2770056-7a0bdc72355afacda1dcbe5290e72b91/thumbnail_1672000.jpg","/articles/6623432/New-York/Committee-unanimously-recommends-Benchmark-Advance-as-K5-ELA-curriculum-plans-phased-rollout-and-nine-days-of-professional-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623432-fcffa953b1902535a70cae9dbc6a0b03/orig.mp4?Expires=1770717333&Signature=drdUMiylrZif14giFtPnu4RPLmGVKMF~lCZCaXQqoNfO8R0NY5EtnynJKpQ38ZzCJL3dkIiRz8I0vVrIMyJJFAl-nzQX5ASztcrq869inRkeWCSZ8w5qRrgHLOwohoNfYGH0zWZkymWJGAwZi7tCHl39wZZmMFa1K3xPIkj2RNjq1QAbencGBp-As~8ND27hszSuVOivDcUHnwj80ayQvhs9Hus7m1tIH7kUvQk2dnxMSmAJdGS3tYlEYDX-WZ7Tyhp0UrTZj7W7ki0S44hqmDc~BxFGN85IUhHSiLvj2vAlmDn~tyR2j~Cyc9xrn8LCGDamt68rSPSm8LzOfdFCtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Niskayuna Central School District elementary curriculum committee told the Board of Education on March 25, 2025 that it unanimously recommends Benchmark Advance as the district's K'5 English language arts curriculum and asked the board to approve a phased implementation beginning next school year.

The committee said its review prioritized alignment with the science of reading; equity and cultural responsiveness; explicit instruction in phonemic awareness and phonics; strong writing instruction; and supports for multilingual learners and students with disabilities. The committee reported 22 regular participants, school-level representation from each elementary building, and visits to other districts using candidate programs before making the selection.

Megan Collins, identified in the meeting as the district's reading and library-media director and a leader of the review team, described the local context: the district had adopted Heggerty (phonemic awareness) and the Foundations product for K'2 in prior years and moved Foundations into grade 3 this year. Collins said the committee sought a more integrated K'5 program that sequences explicit, spiraled instruction and connects reading, writing, speaking and listening across thematic units.

Committee member Kellen McCluskey, a fifth-grade teacher on the review team, described the recommended program's structure: a 90-minute daily literacy block divided into three 30-minute segments. The whole-group tier\u0001one instruction would occupy 30 minutes; the program reserves a second 30-minute block for differentiated \"what I need\" instruction (intervention, enrichment or review) and includes dedicated writing instruction tied to reading content. McCluskey said the program is 50 percent fiction and 50 percent nonfiction and includes a clearly defined scope-and-sequence to support transfer of skills.

On supports: the committee said the program includes embedded screening and mini-assessments and that the district's existing i-Ready diagnostic (already piloted for reading) will continue to provide another data point. Presenters said the program supports students with dyslexia or other reading complications and that the Wilson program would remain available for intensive, specialist services when required.

Professional development and implementation: the district told the board it plans nine professional-development days in the first year and coaching and virtual PD options. The presenters recommended focusing initial implementation on whole-group Tier 1 instruction in year one and increasing small-group expertise in year two to reduce burden on teachers during rollout.

Questions from board members covered differentiation for twice-exceptional students, transition to middle school scheduling, and how the program supports students reading above grade level. Presenters said differentiation occurs primarily in the daily \"what I need\" block and that enrichment, book clubs and MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) strategies will address higher-performing students.

The district will bring the formal adoption recommendation to the board at its April 8 meeting; no vote was taken on March 25.

Attribution and sources: Quotes and program details in this article derive from the March 25 district presentation and committee remarks.","An elementary committee recommended Benchmark Advance as the district's K'5 English language arts curriculum after visiting districts and evaluating materials for alignment with the science of reading. The committee cited explicit phonics, writing instruction and scaffolded small-group time; the board will consider the recommendation April 8.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Niskayuna budget proposes $2.45 million in new spending, restores SRO programming; bus purchase to go to voters

Survey narrows Niskayuna mascot choices to Silver Knights and Silver Hawks; board to review equity and trademark analysis

Committee unanimously recommends Benchmark Advance as K–5 ELA curriculum, plans phased rollout and nine days of professional development