TURIN — The South Lewis Central School District is proposing a 1.2 percent tax levy increase but intends to add several programs and services, primarily through grants and collaborative efforts.
The district during the upcoming school year plans to add a mental health counselor for four days per week using state community schools funding and a school resource officer — in partnership with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department — through a school violence prevention grant.
Plans are to also add a school-based health center, with Lewis County General Hospital to pick up the largest portion of costs, and a half-time athletic trainer shared with Beaver River Central School District; the trainer is to be hired through the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services and have more than 60 percent of the costs covered by the county-owned hospital.
The school is also planning a one-to-one technology initiative using funding from the Smart School Bond Act.
“We’re putting iPads in kindergarten through second grade and Chrome Books in third through 12th grades,” Superintendent Douglas E. Premo said.
The district also plans to reassign a pair of aides, one to support that initiative and the other to assist with other district needs and possibly help with the transport of elementary students to the planned health center at the middle-high school, he said.
District voters will also be asked to approve an increase from $15,000 to $20,000 apiece for each of the district’s four public libraries in Port Leyden, Lyons Falls, Constableville and Turin.
A budget hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. today in the board room next to the district office.
Spending & levy:
■ 2016-17 budget $24,773,105; 2017-18 budget $25,185,830, an increase of $412,725 or 1.7 percent.
■ 2016-17 levy $8,303,849; 2017-18 levy $8,406,897, an increase of $103,048 or 1.2 percent.
changes
■ State foundation aid is projected to increase by $350,616 or 3.4 percent.
■ Salaries are projected to increase by 2.7 percent for teachers, 2.8 percent for administrators and 3.3 percent for support staff.
quotable:
“We’ve got some great stuff coming in. We’re really excited about it. We’re excited about the new programs available for the students.” — Superintendent Douglas E. Premo.