The Pittsford Central School District 2020-21 School Budget Passed.

The results are as follows:

Budget: $140,328,172, within the tax cap
Yes: 6,053 (72%)
No: 2,318

Proposition: Purchase 12 Buses from Capital Reserve Fund
Yes: 6,699
No: 1,653

Board of Education: Two seats, three candidates (in alphabetical order, per executive order)
Ted Aroesty: 5,408
Sareer Fazili: 3,364
Robin Scott: 6,243

This will be Robin Scott’s first term replacing the retiring Kim McCluski after more than 25 years on the Board, and Ted Aroesty’s third term.

Thank you to the Pittsford School community!

Ballots must be submitted by 5 p.m. on June 9:  All absentee ballots must be received in the District Clerk’s office no later than 5 p.m. on June 9, 2020.

How to submit your ballot:  Residents can mail their ballots back, using the prepaid return envelopes provided with the ballots mailed to every PCSD household or, on June 9, use a secure lock box which will be located outside the District Office Main Entrance at 75 Barker Road from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Current Environment
The recent effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly impacted New York State and public-school funding and vote processes. Currently, our proposed budget of $140,328,172 is balanced with the best information known at this time, based on the Enacted NYS Budget. While further “rolling reductions” from Governor Cuomo may occur we do not know the extent of reductions, the timing or fiscal year affected, or how the potential reductions will be allocated to school districts. State and Federal government have a role to play.

The District entered the pandemic in its best fiscal health in decades. We have never had a history of operating deficits. The proposed budget serves as a base that provides the greatest flexibility from which to address future challenges.

While the proposed budget assumes a $1.45 million reduction in state aid based on the NYS Enacted budget, the District is not as state -aid dependent as many other districts, so fortunately, no significant cuts are necessary at this time.

The proposed budget serves as a base that provides the greatest flexibility from which to address future challenges. Should NYS reductions be significant, some of our strategies include:

• Use of fund balance and reserves
• 2019-20 year-end surplus will further assist in “weathering the storm”
• Retirement Attrition
• Mid-year reductions to the budget/programs
• Combination of the above

Within the Tax Cap
The 2020-21 budget is balanced, remains within the Property Tax Cap and preserves programs and services. Pittsford Schools' budget keeps the tax levy growth within the Monroe County average despite receiving the lowest Foundation Aid per Pupil in the County.

• Retaining the District’s top Aa1 bond rating with Moody’s.
• The proposed budget is within the Property Tax Cap formula of 3.76%
• The operating budget represents a 2.18% increase to the tax levy. Per NYS Property Tax Cap law, the net difference between the final EPC debt payment and the Building Aid reduction is an addition to Tax Cap calculation since the voters already approved the debt in 2003.
• Proposed budget preserves and protects current programs the community has come to expect from PCSD as a nationally ranked school district.
• Also procures the same level of high-quality support of social emotional and mental health services for our students.

Bus Proposition
There is one bus proposition on the ballot that will NOT impact taxes and will generate State Aid if approved by voters. The District is seeking authorization to purchase twelve replacement buses, per the District replacement schedule, and one utility truck, at a total cost of no more than $1,517,553 (less trade-in allowance) from the existing capital reserve fund (savings account). Using reserves for this purchase will generate approximately $926,000 in State Aid to replenish the account.

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 proposed 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. A Contingent Budget would result in an almost $3.9 million budget gap, requiring a reduction in services and programs.

Three Candidates for Two Board of Education Seats
There are two members of the Board of Education whose terms are expiring this year. Long-time and devoted Board Vice President Kim McCluski is stepping down and incumbent Board Member Ted Aroesty is seeking re-election. Candidates Sareer Fazili and Robin Scott make for a total of three candidates running to fill two seats. 

Ted Aroesty 7 Leeward Lane Rochester, NY 14618 Ted_Aroesty@pittsford.monroe.edu 585-503-3203

• Seeking a third term on the Board of Education; first elected in 2014
• Currently serves as Chairman of the Board Audit Oversight Committee and on the Board's Communications and Messaging sub-committee and Budget Communication Committee
• Served on the Monroe County School Boards Association Information Exchange Committee and Labor Relations Committee
• Past Treasurer of Pittsford Youth Services and Hunt Hollow Ski Club
• Executive Director of Brighton Fire District, CFO and owner of Jet-X Delivery Service and volunteer CFO of Holiday Outreach
• 34-year volunteer with the Brighton Fire Department, including past Chief
• Past coach of Pittsford Mustangs, 7 years
• FireRescue1 editorial review board
• B.S. in from Indiana University in Business/Accounting
• Married with three children; one attends Sutherland High School and two graduates from Sutherland High School
  
  

Sareer Fazili 12 Sasan Parkway Henrietta, NY 14467 sareer.fazili@gmail.com 585-615-6351

• Seeking first term on the Board of Education
• Currently serves as President of Pittsford Youth Services and Vice President of PACK Swim Team of Pittsford
• Member of various Monroe County Bar Association subcommittees, New York State Bar Association's Torts, Insurance & Compensation Executive subcommittee and Pittsford Rotary
• Served as Board Member of Monroe County Bar Association and President of the Islamic Center of Rochester
• Attorney at Law for Cellino & Barnes, P.C.
• J.D. from SUNY Buffalo; B.A. in Economics with Management Certificate from University of Rochester
• First generation Kashmiri-American; Married with three children who attend Mendon Center Elementary School, Barker Road Middle School and Mendon High School
  
  

Robin Scott 18 Bay Colony Drive Pittsford, NY 14534 rvscott@rochester.rr.com 585-385-4343

• Seeking first term on the Board of Education
• Currently serves as President of Pittsford Central PTSA
• Served as PTSA President-Elect, Vice President of the Education Council, Chair of Enrichment Grants, District PTSA Secretary and Thornell Road School Building Chair
• Actively involved on the District Planning Team, Inclusivity Advisory Committee, with Generation Ready training, and served on the Code of Conduct Review committee, Teacher Center Policy Board and interview committees
• Served with the Rochester chapters of Links Inc. and Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and Girl Scouts of Western New York
• M.A. from Univeristy of Michigan in Near Eastern studies; B.A. from Rhodes College in International Studies
• Married with one child who attends Mendon High School

Absentee Ballot Election
In accordance with Executive Order 202.26 issued by NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo, this year’s school budget vote and board of education election will be conducted entirely by absentee ballot.

Two ballots and two postage paid return envelopes will be mailed, with instructions, to every PCSD household. Residents are asked to return their ballots by mail, using the prepaid envelopes. Only one ballot per envelope is allowed. All absentee ballots must be received in the District Clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on June 9, 2020.

Eligible voters must meet the following legal requirements:

• At least 18 years of age
• A citizen of the United States
• A legal resident of the District at least 30 days immediately prior to June 9,2020

Additional ballots for qualified voters can be requested by contacting the District Clerk at Deborah_Carpenter@pittsford.monroe.edu. For more information about the 2020-2021 Budget click here.

The Pittsford Central School District community is invited and encouraged to attend and observe these sessions as they are open to the public. Community members will have the opportunity to comment at the subsequent regular Board of Education meetings, during the time allotted for public comment.

Budget Work Sessions are used by the Board of Education to learn from departmental stakeholders about department accomplishments, priorities, forecasting and requested budgets, facilitatin a two-way inquiry and discussion. Most decisions will be discussed during these sessions, however, formal action is only taken during Board of Education meetings.

Monday, February 10, 2020
Budget Work Session
6 - 7 p.m.
BRMS Meeting Room 1

Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Budget Work Session
6 - 7 p.m.
BRMS Meeting Room 1

CANCELED
Monday, March 16, 2020
Budget Work Session
6 - 7 p.m.
BRMS Meeting Room 1

Tuesday, May 11, 2020
Budget Adoption and Regular Board of Education Meeting (revised date)
7 p.m.
Zoom video conferencing
Budget Adoption is placed on the agenda of a regular Board of Education meeting. During this meeting, the Board of Education formally votes to adopt the budget created during the Budget Work Sessions.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Budget Hearing and Regular Board of Education Meeting (revised date)
7 p.m.
Zoom video conferencing
The links to watch the Board Meeting and participate in the Public Comment section will be posted on the PCSD website on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.
The Public Budget Hearing is the formal presentation of the Board of Education’s adopted budget which will later be voted on by residents at the annual Budget Vote and Board of Education Election.

Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Budget Vote and Board Election (revised date)
Absentee Ballots due by 5 p.m.
All qualified voters will receive absentee ballots with postage paid return from the Board of Elections. Candidates must meet all requirements except signatures on a petition.