The Pittsford Central School District 2019-20 School Budget Passed.
Thank you to the PCSD community for your support.

The results are as follows:

Budget: $136,689,421, within the tax cap

Yes: 2,758

No: 712
 
Proposition: Purchase 9 Buses from Capital Reserve Fund

Yes: 3,003

No: 467

Proposition: Capital Improvements from Capital Reserve Fund

Yes: 3,117

No: 354
 
Board of Education: Two seats, three candidates

Amy Thomas: 2,605

Peter Sullivan: 2,187

Tharaha Thavakumar-Slavin: 1,284

WRITE IN CANDIDATE Sareer Fazili: 511

Click here to see the results of the 2019-20 Budget Exit Poll Survey

2019-2020 Budget Vote and School Board Election
May 21, 2019 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Barker Road Middle School, gymnasium

 Residents Will be Voting on the Following:

1. The proposed budget of $136,689,421
   The proposed budget is within the NYS Tax Cap at 2.67% which requires a simple majority vote to pass and preserves current programming.
   
   
2. Two Propositions:
   Purchase of replacement buses from the Capital Reserve Fund
   Authorization to purchase nine replacement buses, per the District replacement schedule, at a cost of no more than $1,021,349 from the existing capital reserve fund (savings account). The Proposition will NOT result in new taxes. Using reserves for this purchase will generate approximately $650,000 in State Aid to replenish the account.
   
   Capital Improvements from the General Capital Reserve Fund
   Authorization to withdraw from the "General Capital Reserve Fund" a sum of money, not to exceed $3,000,000, for the partial replacement of the roofs at Barker Road Middle School and Park Road Elementary, the replacement of the fuel farm storage at the Transportation facility and other incidental work associated with said projects consistent with the established purpose of such Fund (savings account). This proposition will NOT result in new taxes and generate State Aid.
   
   
3. Board of Education Seats
   Three candidates are running for two seats on the Board of Education.
   
   Click here to watch the video from PTSA's Meet the Board of Education Candidates Night on May 8, 2019.
   
   

Amy Thomas 84 Knollwood Drive Pittsford, New York 14534 Amy_Thomas@pittsford.monroe.edu 585-662-7734

• Seeking a third term on the Board of Education; first elected in 2013
• Serving as the President of the PCSD Board of Education since 2017; previously served as Vice President in 2016-2017
• Currently serves as a member of the Pittsford Town/Village/School District Leadership Team and on the Monroe County School Board Association’s Executive and Steering Committees
• Member of the PCSD Advocacy Steering Committee and Negotiating Team
• Actively involved in several children’s charities including the Golisano Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and the Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation
• Holds a B.S. in Education from SUNY Geneseo
• Married with four children attend/ed Allen Creek Elementary School, Calkins Road Middle School and Sutherland High School
  
  

Pete Sullivan 25 Bromley Road Pittsford, New York 14534 Pete_Sullivan@pittsford.monroe.edu 585-520-0149

• Seeking fourth term on the Board of Education; first elected in 2010

• Currently serves on the PCSD Audit Oversight Committee and the Board of Education’s Communications and Messaging sub-committee
• Served as Board of Education President (2014-2016) and Vice President (2013-2014), on the Town/Village/School District Leadership Team, the Monroe County School Boards Association Executive and Legislative Committees, and as the Board liaison to the Teacher Center Policy Board
• Past President of the Pittsford Panthers Youth Football and Cheerleading Club
• Marketing Content Lead for ITX Corp.
• B.A. in Communications/Journalism and M.B.A. from St. John Fisher College
• Married with three Mendon High School graduates
  
  

Tharaha Thavakumar-Slavin 18 Kurt Road Pittsford, New York 14534 tharahatslavin@gmail.com 917-697-5014

• Seeking first term on the Board of Education
• Senior Youth Service Provider at Pathways, Inc. and Behavioral Specialist at the Center for Autism Related Disorders
• Serving as treasurer of Barker Road Middle School PTSA
• First generation Sri Lankan-American, former Urban-Suburban student and Mendon High School alumna
• Holds a B.S. in Biology from SUNY Geneseo; B.A. in Medical Science from University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine (Netherlands Antilles); M.S. in Management from Kaplan University (online); M.A. Marriage and Family Therapy, Medaille College
• Married with four children ages 2-26; one child attends Barker Road Middle School 

Under the Tax Cap Despite Declining State Aid
The 2019-20 budget reflects the District's commitment to addressing emerging priorities that include mental health, safety and inclusivity. As NYS school districts deal with budgets that are restricted by the NYS Tax Cap and diminishing state aid, prudent financial planning and trade-offs resulted in the preservation of the breadth of the PCSD program.
The NYS aid formulas have not followed the law for several years, subsequently having a negative impact on PCSD. Aid continues to be distributed in a disproportionate manner across the state, without considerations to adjustments in student enrollment. Districts with declining enrollment continue to receive aid for more students than are actually attending. PCSD becomes further hindered as the state does not recognize the increase in our kindergarten students' attendance from a half day of school to a full day. These factors result in substantial loss of aid per pupil.

Full-Day Kindergarten Implementation
The budget is an unusually low increase of 0.11% because the implementation costs for full-day kindergarten in the 2018-19 budget were removed from the 2019-20 proposed budget. During the 2019-20 budget cycle, full-day kindergarten will receive it's second year of conversion aid as well as the first year of the 25% declining balance. We are removed from the reliance of Fund Balance and Reserves to support full-day kindergarten, as promised.

Other NYS State Aid
The total of all 2019-20 categorical state aid, including building aid, represents a 1.19% decrease in aid from the 2018-19 approved budget. Building aid on the 2012 Capital Project is more favorable than originally estimated, and debt payments are lower than projected providing a savings over the next 15 years. The 2012 Capital Project finished on time, under budget and all scope work completed with some beneficial enhancements.

Fiscal Health Recognized
A recent review by Moody’s Investor Service gave PCSD an "Aa1" rating. This exceptional rating, according to Moody's, was in response to PCSD's strong financial operations which are supported by conservative budgeting practices. Being ranked so favorably affords PCSD additional efficiencies that will support programming and address the need for increased services in the areas of mental health, safety and security.

Voter Identification Required
Qualified voters must present identification. Proof of residency may include the following valid and current documents: New York State driver’s license; New York State non-driver identification card; utility bill; or, voter registration card. Voters shall also be required to provide their signature and printed name. Qualified voters must be U.S. citizens, residents of the district for at least 30 days prior to the election, and 18 years of age or older.

Contingent Budget
Per NYS law, school boards can submit a budget to the voters a maximum of two times, then a “Contingent Budget” must be implemented. If the budget is defeated once, the Board may conduct a revote or go straight to a Contingent Budget. NYS law requires that a Contingent Budget not include certain non-ordinary contingent expenses AND that the new budget must have a Tax Levy that is not greater than the previous year’s Tax Levy. The Board of Education is charged with determining a Contingent Budget, however, for PCSD a Contingent Budget would result in an almost $1.2 million budget variance from the proposed 2019-2020 budget of $136,689,421.