Scotia‑Glenville officials outline $2.85M budget gap and weigh closing an elementary school

Superintendent Schwartz and district finance staff told the Scotia‑Glenville Central School District Board of Education at a budget work session that the district faces a carry‑forward budget gap of about $2,853,000 for the 2025–26 fiscal year and presented a menu of potential reductions, including the possibility of closing one elementary school.

The board heard that the district’s allowable revenue increase from the tax levy is roughly $1.3 million, and without additional reductions or use of reserves the gap remains significant. Business Manager Keith Bartow summarized the carry‑forward analysis: “By doing that, we show that we would have a budget gap of, $2,853,000.”

District leaders repeatedly cautioned that closing a building does not automatically produce the headline savings often cited. Superintendent Schwartz said closing a school only produces the projected savings if staffing is reduced districtwide rather than simply moving staff and students to other buildings. “If you simply move all of the children from that building into the other 3 schools, and you move the staff along with them, you are not gonna recognize any savings,” she said. The…