Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

It's that time of the year again, and the Ossining School District is gearing up for the annual budget vote. As a board, we urge all eligible residents to exercise their right to vote on the proposed 2023-24 Ossining School District budget. This is your chance to have your voice heard and make a real difference in our community. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 16 in the Ossining High School small gymnasium.

The Board of Education is proposing a $167 million budget, which has no property tax levy increase from the previous 2022-2023 budget.

We are pleased to report that the district's Foundation Aid from the state is now funded at 100 percent for the 2023-2024 school year. This is an increase of $11.7 million from last year, and the district will receive an additional $12.3 million in expense-based aids for a total amount of $49 million from New York State. Furthermore, approximately $10.3 million from the Fund Balance and Capital Reserve will be used to maintain no increase in the tax levy.

We believe this budget will ensure that quality programs are maintained for all students in the Ossining School District and provide resources to achieve its goals, including:

· Addresses class size by reducing the number of students per classroom or creating more classroom spaces to provide individualized attention and support to each student.

· Offers ongoing training and development opportunities for staff to enhance the quality of instruction and improve student outcomes.

· Addresses facility needs and infrastructure improvements to ensure that our physical environment is conducive to learning.

· Supports programs and services that focus on the social emotional well-being of our students.

· Supports policies and programs that align with our long-range plan to provide high-quality education that meets the needs of our students and community.

In addition to the school district budget, eligible residents will also have the opportunity to vote on the Ossining Public Library budget. We encourage everyone to make their voices heard and participate in this important decision-making process.

For more information regarding the Ossining School District budget and the Ossining Public Library budget, please visit the 2023-2024 budget page on the district website at www.ossiningufsd.org.

We, the Ossining Board of Education, are proud to present this proposed budget to our community. We encourage all eligible residents to come out and vote on May 16th.

Sincerely,

Ms. Katherin Crossling, President

Ms. Melissa Banta, Vice President

Mr. Roger Battacharia

Mr. Graig Galef

Ms. Christine Mangiamele

Ms. Lisa Rudley

Mr. Frank Schnecker