New Hartford School Board Approves 2024-25 Budget: What Residents Need to Know

The New Hartford Board of Education approved a proposed budget of $64,443,792 for the 2024-25 school year on April 16. This budget, which includes a 2.24 percent tax levy increase, will be voted on by New Hartford Central School District residents on May 21. The budget aims to maintain student programs, staff learning opportunities, and support for students' mental health and educational technology.

The budget allocates resources for innovative instructional programs, traditional class sizes, and character education programs. It maintains a partnership with Connected Community Schools at the elementary level, supports regional summer school for grades 7-12, and continues the school safety officer contract with the Town of New Hartford.

The budget provides for continued participation in BOCES services, including 1:1 technology devices for students, special needs support, enhanced vocational technical education, communications, safety, and bullying prevention programs. It supports technology integration at all grade levels, the district's long-range technology plan, and curriculum enhancement.

The budget funds literacy and mathematics assessments in kindergarten through grade 8, and early literacy skills programs in kindergarten through grade 3. A $100,000 capital outlay project for sidewalk and door replacement is planned at the high school during the 2024-25 school year.

In addition to the budget, voters will decide on a school bus purchasing proposition costing up to $671,016. This includes replacing four district buses with two 66-passenger buses, one 37-passenger bus, and one 30-passenger bus. The state will reimburse up to 76 percent of the new buses' cost, and the district plans to sell/trade in four buses for an expected total of $15,000. The remaining cost would be approximately $157,000. The district will continue to participate in consortiums to help minimize energy, workers' compensation, transportation, and technology costs.

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