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District briefed on proposed statewide cellphone ban and early budget outlook; tax-cap impact estimated
Summary
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Antonio Abitabile told the board the Governor's proposal would ban student smartphone use in K–12 during the school day starting 2025-26, and the first run of state aid shows a 4.78% Foundation Aid increase; the draft budget limits the district's tax cap to about 1.36% (roughly $226,000).
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Antonio Abitabile updated the board on state proposals and budget projections at the Jan. 27 meeting.
Dr. Abitabile summarized the Governor's proposal that would ban the use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds for the entire school day beginning in the 2025-2026 school year; the plan would allow local schools to design their own storage plans and requires a means for parents to contact students during the day. The minutes note the district will need to budget for implementation because expenses will be reimbursed by the state and that the district has begun researching options and will seek family feedback.
On finance, Dr. Abitabile said the first run of State Aid reflects a 4.78% increase in Foundation Aid for Lansingburgh. He reported that with that increase the district's Tax Cap is limited to 1.36%, which "equates to roughly $226,000." The superintendent and staff plan calendar and budget workshops in February, including a workshop on Feb. 10 that Assemblymember John McDonald is expected to attend.
