[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6088422,"mediaKeyId","2880478-e500b990d3fbc2af5d03fac62e04e3c8","parentId",2880478,"title","Board places vehicle‑purchase propositions on May ballot, approves library and other measures; elects bond language for electric bus pilot","audioSeconds",462,"startMs",2961000,"endMs",3423000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2880478-e500b990d3fbc2af5d03fac62e04e3c8&start=2961&end=3423","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2880478-e500b990d3fbc2af5d03fac62e04e3c8/thumbnail_2961000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6088422/New-York/Board-places-vehiclepurchase-propositions-on-May-ballot-approves-library-and-other-measures-elects-bond-language-for-electric-bus-pilot","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088422-112403e52bbc4a51de6bdf4c6510f758/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123402&Signature=KddAg3PJeh-MkWSGLAi3GHhxQyrh0pLv7MpAN1IIAZDp0qOsiif8pChXq-ElQ5p0SvU~bCBOjxjQ4sHwm1g0TxYvHy1Gtu7ZGfGzrfKJCVrstasftTB9y7drGYn-b5ylrfHpz-1jHahU8aacQCKL5Nf0Cu6zrj9iJGrlavE72vbS0-VIl7qsZfsHWFWSWeaYalD9YY1okBaHx3GdKMDvdcMqP0GM2RAl10Gxqis3lzIEubVs2sv~dF2T8U4lbj40iKqtd76dulrF~jlbJWt0PMEnQrZt5PQCGLaOsHPVrNbYP1uRsgh2jr6wbP23bgtgQ6OMOx31IJDoZM2ftucEow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-05T05:24:46.113Z","article","The Ballston Spa Central School District Board of Education voted April 2 to place several propositions on the district’s May ballot, including a parcel authorizing debt for school vehicles with two separate propositions — one for conventional diesel/gas vehicles and a second specifically for an electric school vehicle — and the board approved multiple other routine measures.

Board members approved the measure to place the purchase‑of‑school‑vehicles propositions on the ballot after a discussion about the long‑term cost of electrification and available state and federal funding. Board member Jason argued for approving a pilot electric vehicle, citing research presented to local boards and warning that statewide funding may be insufficient to cover full electrification costs. “New York state’s gonna run out of money,” Jason said, summarizing analysis he referenced from the Statewide School Finance Consortium.

Why it matters: The ballot will let district voters decide whether to authorize borrowing to buy vehicles, and if approved the district would issue bond anticipation notes and later bond debt to finance the purchase. The board divided the vehicle purchase into separate propositions so voters can approve diesel/gas purchases and an electric vehicle proposition independently.

Roll call and result

The board conducted a roll‑call vote on Resolution 443, authorizing placement of the vehicle bond propositions on the ballot. The board announced the following recorded votes: Mister Ryan — Aye; Miss Rodriguez — Aye; Mister Dreher — Aye; Miss Barker Flynn — Aye; Doctor Ralph Port Baskin — Aye; Miss Whittemore — Aye; Board President (Chair) — Aye. Resolution 443 passed.

Other propositions and routine approvals

The board also approved the following ballot placements and routine resolutions by voice vote: Resolution 444 (Falls and Spa Public Library proposition), Resolution 445 (extension of bid for safety and security film), Resolution 446 (agreement for professional services), Resolution 447 (obsolete equipment), Resolution 448 (establish awards/scholarships), Resolution 449 (scholarship changes), Resolution 450 (placement of students with disabilities), Resolution 451 (placement of preschool students with disabilities), and the consent agenda items 452–457. Resolution 441 (2025–26 district calendar) was adopted earlier in the meeting after brief discussion about alignment with BOCES and community holiday observances.

Board member commentary and context

Several board members urged caution about the statewide push to electrify school bus fleets without adequate ongoing funding for vehicles, charging infrastructure and training. Jason noted that the district separated the propositions so voters could approve an initial vehicle purchase and allow the district to collect operational data. He also cited figures from a presentation suggesting that converting the national fleet could require tens of billions of dollars when infrastructure is included.

Ending: With the board’s approvals, the district will place the listed propositions on the May ballot and — should voters approve any of them — proceed with the borrowing, procurement and required implementation steps described in bond and procurement law.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ballston Spa - BOE Meeting April 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 2 meeting the board authorized placing multiple propositions on the May budget ballot — including separate questions for traditional school vehicles and an electric school vehicle — and approved several other routine resolutions; the vehicle proposition (Resolution 443) passed by roll call.","taxTitle","Ballston Spa Central School District, School Districts, New York","taxId",38768,"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},6088428,"Ballston Spa unveils draft 2025-26 budget; plans retirements, program trims and special-education expansions",1285,887000,2172000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2880478-e500b990d3fbc2af5d03fac62e04e3c8&start=887&end=2172","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2880478-e500b990d3fbc2af5d03fac62e04e3c8/thumbnail_887000.jpg","/articles/6088428/New-York/Ballston-Spa-unveils-draft-2025-26-budget-plans-retirements-program-trims-and-special-education-expansions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088428-9623a24f2eb01c09d005f415a6089f87/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123402&Signature=WxYg3CzrpzLKfDY3kjJiHKbxpoIY~-7OAVnzWZBoh9spsjrWOuJiaPbtnha2gdh8Nsu2sXAdTgWmpMoCfaU7pfsM-kjS-341qFQo60FALHta98LgqfH8a4cDMbR7-QEtOik4gz~-ldihUvWCPYYIzV43Xp~uLsN7J0feSgemDfPtEXu9IiV5S6U7GOZbtx1NWXgbjSLbi6O6NkuEHM8zoCiB-585CNM~YBMRpLrACy~adp8I-nA5Yx1N1D2qM9D-aqGYNd-3bBFUhUtNdXgb~90y6PxEbRz-LSfVHsAnMkOpQEF1wZUZzSw1XakLs0bfXqu1MX-Q8gZABvqC3N~c2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ballston Spa Central School District officials presented a draft 2025–26 budget at the April 2 Board of Education meeting and described a mix of staffing retirements, program reallocations and in‑house service changes intended to close a deficit without layoffs.

District business official Mr. Sirianni, who led the numerical portion of the presentation, described the employee‑benefits section as among the district’s largest costs and noted shifts in retirement and insurance rates. “The TRS rate … is 9.59% for next year, which is a 5.1% decrease,” Mr. Sirianni said, and he reported that ERS employer costs “went up quite a bit… to 15.5%.” He also said health‑insurance renewals ranged “between 11–15%,” and that the district realized savings after about 200 participants enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan.

Why it matters: state aid and local tax limits will shape the district’s final ask to voters in May. Superintendent Dr. Duca said the draft is built on a baseline state aid assumption of 2% and that final state aid numbers, expected within 10–14 days of the meeting, could change the proposal.

Key budget drivers and how officials plan to close the gap

- State aid and tax cap: The district is working from a 2% foundation‑aid assumption. Mr. Sirianni said the district’s allowable tax cap for 2026 is 5.2%, which includes 2.4% attributable to new construction (described in the presentation as “new growth”). He also cited reductions in the GlobalFoundries PILOT as an ongoing local revenue pressure.

- Retirement incentive and absorbed retirements: To reduce the need for layoffs, district leaders negotiated a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the teachers’ association that included a retirement incentive. The district reported 18 total retirements this year and said it will absorb many of those positions rather than execute layoffs. The board packet listed the positions absorbed through retirement as: 1 administrator, 3 teaching assistants, 5 high‑school classroom teachers, 2 middle‑school classroom teachers and 1 elementary librarian. The district said it will replace a smaller set of retirements (listed as 1 teaching assistant, 3 high‑school teachers, 1 elementary teacher and 1 elementary counselor).

- Summer school and Extended School Year (ESY): District leaders said there will be a trimmed summer‑school program for 2025 (larger class sizes are possible, and programming will be attendance‑dependent). ESY (special‑education summer services) will be offered entirely in house this summer rather than outsourcing to BOCES. The administration said last year about 70 students were slated for ESY and roughly 50 attended; for planning this year ESY will be offered across buildings (K–3 at Gordon Creek, grades 4–8 at the middle school, and 9–12 at the high school).

- Special education continuum changes: The district announced plans to begin implementing a Direct Consultant Teacher (DCT) program at Malta Avenue starting in kindergarten next year, as part of a roughly four‑ to five‑year progression to have DCT at all elementary buildings and move 15:1 classrooms to the complex where more inclusion opportunities exist. The district also will pilot an “intensive math” intervention for K–5 students, described as a targeted 30‑minute pullout grouped by need; administration said resource rooms typically operate in a smaller ratio (described in the presentation as 5:1) while the intensive math groups would be larger (described as 15:1) but targeted by grade and need.

- Career & Technical Education (CTE): The proposed budget includes funding for 70 students to take off‑campus BOCES CTE courses and continues to fund in‑district CTE offerings (construction, video production and other strands), which leadership said remain priorities.

Board questions and next steps

Board members asked for clarification about DCT staging and ESY logistics. One board member asked whether moving ESY in‑house could increase participation; district staff said that is possible but not certain. Dr. Duca and Mr. Sirianni said the next public budget presentation is scheduled for April 22 and that the district will communicate details to the public and hold forums before the May budget vote.

Ending: The district will finalize its budget after the final state‑aid run and expects to adopt a final budget in the next board meeting cycle before the public vote in May. The administration emphasized it is aiming to close the current gap without layoffs by using retirements, targeted program adjustments and conservative resource reallocations.","District staff presented a draft 2025-26 budget April 2 that relies on a 2% state-aid baseline, a 5.2% tax-cap allowance (including 2.4% new growth), and a mix of retirements and program adjustments to close a budget gap without layoffs.","actionData","errors"]

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Board places vehicle‑purchase propositions on May ballot, approves library and other measures; elects bond language for electric bus pilot

Ballston Spa unveils draft 2025-26 budget; plans retirements, program trims and special-education expansions