Warwick Valley School Board adopts administration’s $92.8 million budget

By Abby Wolf
WARWICK — The Warwick Valley School Board voted to adopt the $92,819,749 budget for the 2018-19 school year at its regular monthly meeting, held on Thursday, April 19, to accommodate a concurrent vote on the Orange-Ulster BOCES budget.
The projected budget is an increase of just under $2.7 million – or 3.0 percent – over the current year’s $90,116,888 (including over $3.4 million in non-tax revenue, an increase of about $250,000 over the current year).
In addition to the budget,the district will seek voters’ approval to:
Purchase of five new school buses to replace five older buses;
Establish a special reserve fund for repairs; and
Fill three open seats on the school board: Board president Lynn Lillian, vice president Sharon Davis and board member Dave Eaton all have terms that expire this year.
The vote is set for Tuesday, May 15, at the three district polling locations: Pine Island Elementary building; the Dorothy C. Wilson Education Center; and Kings Elementary.
BOCES BudgetThe School Board also approved BOCES’ 2018-19 administrative budget of $7,040,742 and elected Michael Bello of the Port Jervis school district and Eugenia Pavek of Minisink schools to the Orange-Ulster BOCES board.
'Points of Pride'Schools Superintendent Dr. David Leach gave the board a preview of an insert to be included with the upcoming budget newsletter to be sent to district voters, in anticipation of the public hearing and budget vote in May.
The four-color flyer describes various academic, athletic and extra-curricular offerings at the elementary, middle and high schools, and touts many of the school district’s features, including:
• Recognition as a NY State Reward High School;
• Recognition as Blue Ribbon elementary schools;
• High graduation rates;
• Scholar-athlete teams
Other businessThe school board approved a supplemental memorandum of agreement between the Superintendent and the Warwick Valley Teachers Association.
The school board gave its blessing to the following high school field trips:
• For the Concert Band to travel to New York City on April 25;
• For the environmental class to travel to Keystone Sanitary Landfill in Dunmore, Pa., on May 1;
• For the floral design class to travel to the Conservatory Garden in New York City on May 3;
• For the Wind Ensemble to travel to Agawam, Mass., on May 18
Next Regular meeting: Public hearing on proposed budget, Monday, May 7, 7 p.m., at the Dorothy C. Wilson Education Center
Vote: Tuesday, May 15
Budget vote and School Board elections results: Tuesday, May 15, 9 p.m., at the Middle School Media Center.