New Rochelle Schools Public Budget Vote Tuesday

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The voters will have the final say on the proposed school budget on Tuesday.

The proposed budget is $298,760,957 with a 2.79 percent increase over the 2021 -2022 spending package.

"Our proposed school budget seeks to support our students' academic, social, and emotional learning needs while balancing fiscal responsibility for our community," Superintendent Jonathon Raymond said in a statement about the spending plan that was unanimously passed by the school board. "It is consistent with the school district's values of excellence and equity for all students, and makes judicious use of federal, state and local resources."

School officials said the tax levy will increase by 0.98 percent if the budget is approved by voters later this month.

Highlights of the proposed operating budget include:

• using pandemic relief dollars to support adding 15.2 teaching/staff positions to further address unfinished learning and wellness
• adding a dance teacher at Isaac E. Young Middle School
• funding a second Science Research Teacher at New Rochelle High School
• adding teachers at Huguenot Academy
• increasing resources for after-school and summer school programs
• adding laptops, iPads, smart boards for students and classrooms
• retaining full-time security staff
• expanding support for family engagement
• investing in Metro Cards

Two board of education seats for five-year terms are on the ballot. The candidates running for a seat on the school board are:

• Adam Cooper
• Stephen Mayo
• David Peters

Biographies for each of the candidates and the candidate forum are available here.

Voters will also be asked whether or not to approve a $24.3 million, 15-year capital bond proposition for Hurricane Ida repairs and restoration, of which 90% is expected to eventually be reimbursed by flood insurance and state/federal aid through FEMA.

Voters will additionally be asked to approve or reject the New Rochelle Public Library Board of Trustees proposed budget for 2022-23 and to elect a Library Board of Trustees seat for a five-year term. The proposed library budget calls for an increase of 4.19 percent in the tax levy for New Rochelle residents, translating to an annual increase of around $14.59 per household.

The annual budget vote will be from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 17. Polls will be at various locations in the city. Your polling location can be found here.

Additional information on the budget and registering to vote can be found here. Absentee ballot applications can be found here.