[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6244774,"mediaKeyId","3228784-6eddc072787a9ad35cf7d1321c5cdeef","parentId",3228784,"title","Students’ logo designs make final 10; district to award scholarship to winning artist","audioSeconds",465,"startMs",4203000,"endMs",4668000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3228784-6eddc072787a9ad35cf7d1321c5cdeef&start=4203&end=4668","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3228784-6eddc072787a9ad35cf7d1321c5cdeef/thumbnail_4203000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6244774/New-York/Students-logo-designs-make-final-10-district-to-award-scholarship-to-winning-artist","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244774-251ee77934ba71f165c2e904a1b579d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1773606954&Signature=WDXerfULLno09xRiX9Sxk9zMi68PaKgtA4a4lcjhH17oUBYJ2v7cLQRk1cXt1KHAHDaigNWhYZ9TBHh81z7jTh5SJssPMXjM~bI2Z38dS2fsl8P0i1NYni1fXLEgLjxGnLRrcZg-l9qoOyB5AxfBrOhvlXjkqCphm-gw4HN27ZW-5REWYfJz0PwVVtK8AR-9PztYCNOUP21NGbrgI0BzpJ7gg5CdXFwh4M5Tj2jkTaVkW8I0jxrheUkqplobArf0CJddRrIiv8LRVH5lLhqTLFBj85uJZGJ9lkHR3tnr3SaA3y1bVG~CioLcMkMRfTC-XX0uM1rpmkCmzyZHvkKhCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-08T12:53:39.547Z","article","Sweet Home Central School District unveiled 10 finalist logos for a new district panther created by students across grade levels and announced the winning design will be chosen by community vote on May 20.

The contest produced more than 300 student entries; the final 10 include three high‑school designs, three middle‑school designs and one from each elementary school. The board said all finalists will be professionally rendered and displayed in the Virgil Center and at a local Immediate Care site, and the top vote‑getter on May 20 will receive a $500 scholarship from Dollars for Scholars to be awarded during the student’s senior year.

The district also recognized winners of an Art & Essay “Kind is the New Cool” contest run with the Northwest Amherst Community Center; Immediate Care is partnering to display student work in clinic locations. Administrators thanked community partners and sponsors and invited families to the May 20 vote, noting the event will include a districtwide art show in Virgil Center’s hallways.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tuesday, May 6, 2025 Board of Education Study Session","oneSentenceSummary","Sweet Home unveiled the top 10 student logos for a new district panther and announced the winner will receive a $500 scholarship courtesy of Dollars for Scholars; the finalists’ work will be displayed at Immediate Care and in district buildings.","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},6244779,"Sweet Home outlines summer school, ESY and meal programs; elementary interventions, high‑school credit recovery planned",437,4751000,5188000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3228784-6eddc072787a9ad35cf7d1321c5cdeef&start=4751&end=5188","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3228784-6eddc072787a9ad35cf7d1321c5cdeef/thumbnail_4751000.jpg","/articles/6244779/New-York/Sweet-Home-outlines-summer-school-ESY-and-meal-programs-elementary-interventions-highschool-credit-recovery-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244779-6b534644bc3da86d5910b0a6f9d25124/orig.mp4?Expires=1773606954&Signature=A2-YAPXddAdr8L5w0Lei-O8euMoNot0g4vMn2zq-bcdyMyXdiZ1GLmcx2K5RLn4wZzZwxCN90DV0m~YwbuLjALZaoJOIunkKQA87XE8pwBRZQ2qpf1E2o5PRz3psIGm4SNzIqUcSMwhb1dLxqP1MK4Egoji8dfJqR~hIBLB9ze2XeH5rf75HndZ2X40TnS2aFhxSQEm-d4~4k5aav-2olpviqvCwHeDEP6~8VoVia7BEZhC7CPp-9ovErC64bpZ6f7I3vQBMENh0VPQURiU8qzdqG5x9oIuMtx0z2m3XTNS7Fc2sjuImo5WBoqRZIqfPRi18VzyCjpwewD6noUs85g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sweet Home Central School District outlined its 2025 summer programs and meals plan, including targeted elementary interventions, extended‑school‑year (ESY) services for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), middle‑school project‑based enrichment, and high‑school credit and Regents recovery.

Program details: elementary intervention and K–5 ELL supports will be housed at MapleMere (Maple Mirror Elementary); the district’s ESY offering (for students with IEPs who require year‑round instruction) will serve about 50 students at elementary and at the middle‑school level; middle‑school enrichment will emphasize humanities and STEM projects at the middle school; and the high school program will focus on credit recovery and Regents exam preparation, with extended opportunities for students who need to recover multiple credits.

Meals: the district will offer breakfast and lunch to students attending summer programs at Glendale, Maple Mirror and Sweet Home Middle School. Administrators said federal or state approval would be required for weekend meal distribution; for now, meals must be consumed on site.

Timing and logistics: summer programming is slated to begin the Monday after the Fourth of July observance and run up to the Regents exams in mid‑August (the presentation listed Regents exam dates the week of Aug. 19). Student participation is based on benchmark assessments, teacher recommendations and IEP requirements; ESY placements are IEP‑driven.

Why it matters: the district said elementary enrollment has risen — a principal noted kindergarten‑through‑fifth enrollment increased by roughly 15% (about 234 students) since March 2020, and pre‑K enrollment rose about 60% after the move from half‑day to full‑day. That growth factors into decisions about staffing and program capacity for summer and the coming school year.

Questions asked at the hearing included how students are selected for programs (the district cited benchmark tools such as AIMSweb and classroom assessments) and whether community meals would be available on weekends (administrators said not without state or federal approval).","District administrators presented this year’s summer schedule: elementary intervention and full‑day UPK at MapleMere, middle‑school enrichment, ESY for students with IEPs, high‑school credit and Regents recovery, and community meals at three sites.",{"_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},6244783,"Four candidates outline priorities at Sweet Home ‘meet the candidates’ night; inclusion, staffing and taxes top issues",2307,1239000,3546000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3228784-6eddc072787a9ad35cf7d1321c5cdeef&start=1239&end=3546","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3228784-6eddc072787a9ad35cf7d1321c5cdeef/thumbnail_1239000.jpg","/articles/6244783/New-York/Four-candidates-outline-priorities-at-Sweet-Home-meet-the-candidates-night-inclusion-staffing-and-taxes-top-issues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244783-0ea91b99d5f4773fd5c22c928d5d756b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773606954&Signature=io5y9wJm05QEL30EghLmjqr1lv-m5h8g4q5WwkImmdD~vTXwiW6KfOSy980L9RhojIwpV8LnvMlbEguCjcjyeN8m3fcwOzpyOsQS83BVlbqFEO8e1mOVwfGE~vBpzlQlFJPde7fSJ3SwQCoDbeqiIN8ayfDbsjmMM3JRDfwcPEhhbWz8nvY61iAPLZDu0B5x8EIz6sJP8CppKeBhcIOC5KdeUTaGuipriae1x6nu4niHzBVcLhU1BorbbJWAaRM27elGXsET7WlmfAQlpi~5UFnvbnJH4ggX1Ba~RUdzBQ29wDRBCPlKQt8eZy-SQ9DWc3Uwa73WGg9BjiXGJhWZvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Four candidates for two open seats on the Sweet Home Central School District Board of Education presented statements and answered audience questions during the district’s meet‑the‑candidates night ahead of the May 20 vote.

Who is running: incumbents Brian Leibel and Dirk Ravenold, and challengers Alan Plath and Jonathan Makeley. The two top vote‑getters will serve five‑year terms beginning at the July reorganization meeting and expiring June 30, 2030.

Why it matters: the board sets policy that affects instruction, staffing, special education services and local property taxes. Candidates spent most of their time addressing inclusion, staffing levels and fiscal restraint.

What the candidates said
- Brian Leibel, a five‑year board member and parent, said he favors maintaining teacher and staff resources, highlighted the district’s recent returns to in‑person services and called for better communication about services available to families. He said: “We can always do better,” and emphasized communicating program availability to the community.
- Dirk Ravenold, a board incumbent, stressed transparency and community outreach and said he opposed a prior proposal that would have required students to walk, citing safety and community concern; he also repeated support for holding the line on taxes.
- Alan Plath, a parent and small‑business owner, said he would bring parental perspectives to the board and prefers preserving programs and staffing where financially feasible while using metrics to guide decisions.
- Jonathan Makeley, a district DEI committee member and academic, emphasized using committee work and external best practices to improve inclusion and reduce barriers for families seeking support for students with special needs.

Audience questions: a written question from Kim Perini asked how the district could be more inclusive for students who do not fit the district’s typical model; all candidates said the district should meet students “where they are,” improve communication about available supports, and continue DEI committee work. Maple Mirror Elementary Principal James Ryan asked how candidates would balance growing elementary enrollment and a need for fiscal responsibility; candidates generally prioritized maintaining staffing where possible and using data and creative budgeting to preserve programs.

Next steps: voters will decide the two board seats during the district ballot on May 20; the top two vote‑getters will be sworn in at the reorganization meeting in July.","Incumbents Brian Leibel and Dirk Ravenold and challengers Alan Plath and Jonathan Makeley presented statements and answered questions about inclusivity, staffing, taxes and artificial intelligence at the district’s candidate forum. Voters will elect two five‑year terms on May 20.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6244788,"Sweet Home proposes $105.6 million budget, seeks 0.4% tax‑levy increase; public vote set for May 20",1022,165000,1187000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3228784-6eddc072787a9ad35cf7d1321c5cdeef&start=165&end=1187","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3228784-6eddc072787a9ad35cf7d1321c5cdeef/thumbnail_165000.jpg","/articles/6244788/New-York/Sweet-Home-proposes-1056-million-budget-seeks-04-taxlevy-increase-public-vote-set-for-May-20","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244788-a63eff0bef872059e73dd3cce244e352/orig.mp4?Expires=1773606954&Signature=DqBPj7hkDCYhjF7ikfv6zJakk4An0In~uWXbE5~jq4hkQRjBVQbihMhe8ofEZqZ4FUPiA28rLV4EfFhENYqU0wZHbWH8CbVyKThq9XpkJuq6ZBsICMeJ5gedAPD0qlWL4fpGCoRNSKk7fTbRbwP2lLc6xNYw1wm8LfjzQknfVcyC9TpSQQ0VNtOwRStJKQOd-bMJJSjfISyIOGMhoLlpmEInwLBjDJ0dnIYx4TTTcdqJoMG5jqkZ9xOaVGSOTm2sJf~N-LFW3DsYloI~mhneYSezDVPROKRR~tCI8eCBIvHkyhBNsk1fnoIp0cjapjSglWOQkInd7J3nih3ZjD9KEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sweet Home Central School District on Tuesday presented a proposed $105,576,012 budget for the 2025–26 school year that holds current programs steady and asks voters to approve a 0.4% tax‑levy increase at the district vote on Tuesday, May 20.

The proposal, which the Board of Education approved April 22, would raise the district’s levy to $54,486,662 and increase overall spending by about $5,165,590, or 5.14%, compared with the current $100,410,422 budget. \"The proposed budget for the 2025–26 school year ... is $105,576,012,\" the district presenter said during the hearing.

Why it matters: the levy increase is at the state‑imposed tax‑cap limit of 0.4%, so the budget only needs a simple majority to pass in the May 20 vote. The district says the plan maintains staffing and instructional programming across all six schools and preserves the district’s annual bus purchases.

Key facts
- Total proposed budget: $105,576,012 (5.14% increase from prior year).
- Proposed tax levy: $54,486,662 (0.4% increase; $218,590 additional levy).
- Revenue mix: real property taxes 51.6%, state aid 36.4%, sales tax 5.2%, use of reserves/fund balance 2.6%, debt service reserve 0.3%, other 3.9%.
- Bus purchases: six buses budgeted, including four electric buses, with state and federal funding expected to offset costs.
- Budget components: administrative $8,095,727 (~7.7%), program/instruction $80,293,511 (~76%), capital $17,186,774 (~16%).

District leaders stressed the uncertain state budget timetable but said current projections show a modest increase in foundation‑aid estimates. The presenter said the district has planned for a roughly $3.75 million increase in foundation and expense‑driven aid in the executive run of the state budget, though the speaker noted the state had passed its deadline and the executive run may change.

On reserves and risk: the district plans to use about $345,000 from reserves and $300,000 from its debt‑service reserve to help offset aid shortfalls; administrators noted that using the $300,000 will exhaust the debt‑service reserve. The presenter also said the district’s total reserves balance is roughly $9 million and that the budget includes a reserve usage plan to cover potential shortfalls.

Estimated homeowner impact shown at the hearing used an example home assessed at $250,000. Under current equalization rates and the proposed levy, the presentation projected an annual tax bill of about $2,425 in Amherst (an increase of about $7) and about $2,437 in Tonawanda (an increase of about $9). The presenter cautioned assessment data for the next tax year are not final until town assessment offices publish them.

Next steps: the district will present the budget to voters on Tuesday, May 20, when polls in Virgil Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voters will decide the 2025–26 budget and elect two school‑board members to five‑year terms ending June 30, 2030.","The Sweet Home Central School District Board presented a $105,576,012 proposed 2025–26 budget that keeps programming intact, includes six bus purchases (four electric), and would raise the tax levy by 0.4%. The board approved the proposal April 22; the public will vote on May 20.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Students’ logo designs make final 10; district to award scholarship to winning artist

Sweet Home outlines summer school, ESY and meal programs; elementary interventions, high‑school credit recovery planned

Four candidates outline priorities at Sweet Home ‘meet the candidates’ night; inclusion, staffing and taxes top issues

Sweet Home proposes $105.6 million budget, seeks 0.4% tax‑levy increase; public vote set for May 20