To the Editor:

On Tuesday, May 16, residents of the Guilderland Central School District will vote to approve a proposed $119,772,194 budget for the 2023-24 school year. The proposed budget calls for a $9,884,349 (8.99 percent) increase in spending over the current year’s budget. If approved, the spending plan would increase the tax levy by 2.66 percent, which is below the district’s tax levy limit as defined by New York State’s tax levy cap legislation. 

On April 4, the board of education adopted the proposed budget. It aligns with the district’s mission of educating the whole child so that each and every student is empowered for success. This spending plan gives students access to rigorous academics and the programs that contribute to their social and emotional well-being, such as music, arts, athletics, and other co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. By providing a variety of programs, the school district is able to engage students in ways that are meaningful to them.

The proposed spending plan preserves the robust academic programs Guilderland offers at all three levels and addresses several community stakeholder priorities, including lowering class size at Farnsworth Middle School, school safety, literacy, and providing more resources for students who are struggling. Allocated in the proposed budget is the net addition of 10 full-time equivalent positions to support academics, wellness and safety, including a FMS school resource officer, expanded monitor coverage at FMS and Guilderland High School, and new teacher positions in core areas, special education and English as a new language. 

In addition to the budget, district residents will vote on a separate bus and equipment proposition to authorize the purchase of school buses and a maintenance vehicle at a maximum estimated cost of $1,206,000. The purchase would include six 65-passenger buses, three with chains and three without, two 35-passenger buses, and one pickup truck. The new buses will replace aging vehicles. Approximately 50 percent of the bus purchase would be returned to the district in the form of state aid.

Voters will also elect three members to the board of education. 

Please read the GCSD budget newsletter, which is being delivered to residents’ homes and available on the district website, www.guilderlandschools.org, for more details about what is included in the 2023-24 spending plan. The “Budget and Taxes'' section of the district website also contains more information about the budget and voting.

I encourage all Guilderland residents to take some time to learn about the proposed spending plan and propositions. If you have any questions, please email . It’s essential that all residents have accurate, factual information to help make an informed decision. 

Most importantly, I urge all eligible voters to make sure your voice is heard by voting on the budget, bus proposition, and for members of the board of education on May 16. 

Seema Rivera

President

Guilderland Central

School District

Board of Education