Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor:

As a board, we are writing to encourage all eligible residents in the Ossining School District to make their voices heard on the proposed 2021-22 Ossining School District budget, two propositions and election for two Board of Education seats. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 17 in the Ossining High School small gymnasium.

The Board of Education is proposing a $151.5 million budget that has a decrease of ½ percent in property tax levy from the previous 2021-2022 budget.

We are pleased to report that the district’s Foundation Aid from the state is now funded at 80 percent and is expected to be fully funded at 100 percent for the 2023-2024 school year. The Foundation Aid this year is an increase of $6.9 million and the district will receive an additional $1.7 million in expense-based aids for a total amount of $37.7 million from New York State.

The proposed budget will enable the district to continue addressing many of its goals including:

• PK-12 class size

• Professional learning for staff

• Facilities

• The social and emotional learning of our students and staff by adding clinicians including social workers, counselors, and psychologists districtwide

• Additional clubs to support student engagement

In addition to the school budget and BOE elections, Ossining Public Library budget and OPL board elections, there will be 2 additional propositions on the ballot this year:

• A proposition to establish a new Capital Reserve Fund known as the “Facilities Improvement Program 2022.”

• A proposition to authorize expenditure from the current Capital Reserve Fund known as the “Facilities Improvement Program.”

For more information regarding the school district budget and the Ossining Public Library budget, please visit the 2022-2023 budget page on the district website at www.ossiningufsd.org.

Ossining Board of Education

Graig Galef, President

Katherin Crossling, Vice President

Melissa M. Banta

Roger Battacharia

Lisa Rudley

Frank Schnecker

Aaron Spring