Saugerties district previews budget pressures as students showcase local-industry project

Saugerties Central School District officials on Feb. 11 highlighted student work and early budget assumptions while the board approved routine personnel and finance items by voice vote.

Superintendent Dr. Ursic opened the evening with acknowledgements and budget context before the high school community showcased a student-produced video for a local employer and principals outlined academic and safety initiatives. "I'd like to thank Miss Molineaux and the board for having us," student Thomas Graniter told the board as his team described producing a short promotional video for Elna Magnetics that will be shared with the company for feedback. Senior high principal Shannon Molineaux described the project as aligned to the district’s strategic blueprint and the Plan Pilot project-based learning work: students interviewed employees, gathered b-roll, and began editing a rough cut with a target rough-cut deadline of Feb. 28.

Why it matters: District leaders used the presentation to link classroom work to local career pathways and to preview budget items and state-level policy changes that could affect operations. Molineaux also laid out curriculum and scheduling work intended to increase student voice, reduce conflicts in the master schedule and expand internships and college partnerships.

What the board heard and decided

- Student projects and Plan Pilot: Chelsea Defino, assistant principal and Plan Pilot lead, said Saugerties is one of 23 New York high schools in a three-year NYSED pilot evaluating alternative graduation pathways and project-based demonstrations of competency. Five teachers are piloting projects this year; Molineaux and Defino said other teachers are adopting project-based units beyond the pilot cohort.

- Career connections: Students presented that Elna Magnetics provided on-site tours and employee interviews; a company representative, Mr. Ferrero, was invited to review the video once the students complete revisions. Students said the employer atmosphere felt like “a nice big family,” and explained how apprenticeship and SUNY Ulster/BOCES pathways are available to employees.

- Counseling and scheduling: Counselor Jamie Heilman described a new course-selection sheet system colored by grade that counselors distributed to students to increase family involvement. Counselors plan one-on-one meetings through April 1 and will send letters to families in May confirming course selections; final schedules are set to go live in August.

- Assessment data and AP/Regents: Molineaux reviewed January 2025 Regents and AP results and said the district will examine trend data before the next presentation. She highlighted areas for growth (Algebra I, Earth Science, Geometry, Living Environment) and noted points of strength (high pass rates in some courses) while flagging that AP enrollment does not always translate into exam takers.

- Attendance, engagement and restorative practices: The administration described cohort teams that meet weekly on attendance, reentry meetings for students returning after absences, and pilot restorative circles aimed at addressing common barriers to attendance and engagement.

- Safety and operations: The district reported expanded custodial and security walkthroughs, a secondary safety committee that includes custodial and cafeteria staff, and additional practice of state-required drills. SRO Travis Winchell was cited as active throughout the building.

- Budget preview and state proposals: Superintendent Dr. Ursic walked the board through early budget assumptions. Items highlighted included a preliminary tax-levy sensitivity that the administration estimated could require roughly $1,500,000 in additional levy capacity (preliminary), the state’s suggested CPI of 2.95% (the district expects to use the 2% tax-cap ceiling), and a TRS (Teachers’ Retirement System) employer rate change from about 10.11% to 9.59%. He also summarized the governor’s proposed changes to how foundation aid and poverty measures are calculated (referring to the SAIP/American Community Survey-based updates), noting those proposals are a starting point and may change during the legislative process.

- State policy proposals that could affect district costs: The superintendent flagged several items in the governor’s proposal or recent state laws that could have operational or capital implications: proposed funding for school-owned phone-storage pouches (the district’s estimate for pouches on the high school campus was about $45,000 but the state proposal did not specify district allocations); a law about classroom temperature thresholds (measured 3 feet above the floor with required actions at 82°F and unoccupied at 88°F under current language); and a state timetable directing that new buses purchased in 2027 must be electric and that all new purchases be electric by 2035. The district noted infrastructure and charging-station costs would likely be significant.

- Capital project carryover and facilities work: As part of the current $22 million capital project, the district said it has about $700,000 of unspent funds it plans to spend at Morris Elementary for blacktop/playground base repairs, a loop drive surface and possibly five additional parking spaces; those items were included in the original project scope and are expected to go to bid. Cahill fire-alarm work has begun.

Votes and routine approvals

The board approved the minutes of the Jan. 14 regular meeting and approved staff resignations, leaves and appointments (personnel items J1–J3) and the business office recommendations including the treasurer’s report and claims audit (K1–K7). The board moved and seconded the consent personnel and financial motions and carried them by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the public minutes. The board also advanced action items listed on the agenda (L1–L7) and heard a first reading of a new policy to implement a student ex officio (nonvoting) board member consistent with recent state guidance.

Audience and next steps

The meeting opened with recognition of a Saugerties High School choral performance and short student public comments earlier in the agenda. Administrators asked the public to use the district’s new early public-recognition slot for agenda topics and explained the public comment rules (three minutes, name and address required; not a back-and-forth Q&A). The district will continue to refine schedule, curriculum and counselor outreach work this spring, meet with BOCES and Ulster BOCES partners on special-education lines in the budget, and provide more trend analysis on Regents and AP performance at a later meeting.

Ending

Molineaux closed the high-school update by thanking partners and students; she said the Elna Magnetics video will be screened for the employer for feedback and that the district will continue to collect Plan Pilot data through the three-year pilot. The board recessed into executive session late in the meeting for personnel and contract discussions and then adjourned.