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From the Desk of the Superintendent:
Scott N. Connell
On January 18th, 2024, I will begin my 14th year as your Superintendent. They say time flies, and this is a perfect example of that. It seems like yesterday I was sitting at my desk on my first day in this role, thinking, “What in the world have I got myself into?” Although it is a very challenging job, I can’t imagine being anywhere else. I arrived in Copenhagen in the fall of 1982, intending to stay a couple of years and then looking to return to where I grew up. Each year I’ve been here, I have grown to love this school and the community more. The support I have received from the Board of Education, the staff, and the members of this community is humbling. Copenhagen is truly a very special place, and I can’t thank you enough for allowing me the honor of serving you and your children for the past thirteen years.
January / February 2024 Newsletter
Mr. Connell
MAY / JUNE, 2024
I want to share with you a few pieces of news about our district:
School Budget:
Since January, the Board of Education has been meeting twice a month to present a budget that is both best for the students and fiscally responsible. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with a group of people who are committed to the future of the students of Copenhagen. The 2024-2025 budget was adopted at the April 17th Board of Education meeting. As I'm sure most are aware, post-COVID-19 funding is no longer available; therefore, it has become difficult to maintain programs and staff with decreasing revenues. We will be presenting the budget to the public on Tuesday, May 7th, at the annual budget meeting. The vote will take place on Tuesday, May 21st. Please remember to come out and vote.
Teacher & Staff Appreciation:
May 6th - May 10th is Teacher Appreciation Week. Each year, we dedicate a week to showing our appreciation for the outstanding teachers at CCS. At Copenhagen Central School, we are blessed to have a dedicated staff willing to face all challenges and continue to provide a quality education to every student who walks through our doors. It is because of their dedication and commitment that we have an outstanding school. Please take time during this week to say thank you to your child’s teacher.
Similarly, we are very fortunate to have an equally committed and dedicated group of people who provide services to our students. The transportation department, custodians, office professionals, food service department, teaching assistants, and aides all play an integral role in the education of each child at Copenhagen. It is because of these individuals, along with our teaching staff, that we have a school that is second to none.
Celebrations of Accomplishments:
May and June are times of year when celebrations of accomplishments become part of our schedules. The academic awards program will be held on Friday, May 17th. The Prom is on Saturday, May 11th, and the spring band and chorus concerts will take place on May 7th (Band) and May 14th (Chorus).
The Athletic Awards program will take place on Wednesday, June 5th, to honor the student-athletes for their hard work and accomplishments on and off the field during the 2023-2024 school year. Additionally, many of our BOCES career and technical students will be recognized at a ceremony at South Lewis CSD on Thursday, June 11th, at 9:30 a.m. The middle school awards program is slated for Friday, June 14th, at 1:30 p.m., and my all-time favorite is Kindergarten Graduation. This will be held on Thursday, June 20th, at 6:00 p.m.
The Alumni Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, June 22nd, and finally, the Copenhagen Central School 2024 commencement exercises will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 23rd, in the main gymnasium. At this time, we will honor and send off 36 seniors heading for college, technical schools, the military, and careers after 13 years of formal education. I congratulate each member of the class of 2024 for their achievements and wish them the best as they begin a new chapter in their lives.
As always, thank you for your continued support of our district.
Sincerely,
Scott N. Connell
Superintendent of Schools
2024-2025 BUDGET INFORMATION
Dear District Residents,
The purpose of this document is to provide the taxpayers of the Copenhagen Central School District with an overview of the proposed school budget for 2024-2025.
The 2024-2025 proposed school budget is $12,368,425, an increase of $342,001, or 2.84%. We are proposing a tax levy increase of 2.88%, or $53,062. We are able to balance the budget by appropriating $648,191 of fund balance and $150,000 of reserves. Please refer to page 12 of this document to view a comparison of the tax levy trends for the past fifteen years. We would like to use the remainder of this document to explain highlights of the next fiscal year budget.
As many of you are very aware, the majority of the revenue of the district is New York State and Federal aid. As the state and federal aid from the pandemic relief funds comes to an end, school districts across the state are managing the challenging return to pre-pandemic operations. We continue to strategically plan expenditures to maintain a safe, healthy educational environment for our students, staff and community. While those additional funds have been a blessing to our district, students, and community, they have ended, and we must navigate ways to responsibly balance our budget while striving to maintain the influx of services and supports that our district has grown accustomed to. In doing so, many of the supports incorporated into our educational process are now being covered by district monies, thus accounting for a significant portion of the budget increase year over year.
Another budget component that is important to be aware of is New York State’s property tax cap law, which is a calculation that establishes a tax levy limit for each school district. The tax levy limit allows school districts to change their property tax levy from one year to the next by two percent, or the rate of inflation, whichever is less, based on a multi-step formula. In the multi-step formula, school districts must apply inclusions and exclusions into the formula, which may boost the district tax levy limits to more than two percent or the inflation rate. However, such inclusions and exclusions may also reduce the tax cap of the district to figures that are not sustainable or realistic to implement. If a school district’s proposed tax levy increase is within its calculated limit, a simple majority (50% or more) of voters is needed for budget approval. If a school district’s proposed tax levy increase exceeds the tax levy limit, a supermajority of voters (60% or more) would be required for budget approval.
The tax cap this year is 2.88%, which aligns directly to the tax levy increase proposed to support the district budget this year.
The 2024-2025 Annual Budget Review meeting will be held on May 7, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the school cafeteria. There will be an opportunity to ask questions during that time. The budget vote and election will take place at school on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 from 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. in the gym foyer. If you would like an absentee ballot, please notify the District Clerk.
If you have any questions, or would like additional information, please contact the Superintendent’s office at 315-688-4411.
Sincerely,
BOARD OF EDUCATION
COPENHAGEN CENTRAL SCHOOL