BY JEFF CHUDZSINKI
North Country This Week

MASSENA – Massena Central School District Board of Education has voted to adopt the 2023-24 budget despite state official’s numerous delays in passing a state budget.

The nearly $70 million budget, which sees an increase in excess of $6 million compared to the 2022-23 budget, will see no increase in the tax levy.

Superintendent Pat Brady told board members that despite the state budget not passing yet, he is confident in the budget after state officials agreed on the amount of state aid to be distributed to schools.

“I guess the good news part of that is it doesn’t appear that it’s the educational issues that are holding up the budget this time. Both the governor’s proposal and the one house budget both included the final phase-in of foundation aid. It also included fully funding the other state aids that we receive. So, we’re prepared tonight after a lot of work by everybody here to present a budget to the school board which can then be on for action tonight and then put up to the voters in May,” Brady said.

Massena is slated to receive $34,458,493 in foundation aid. That is up to $5,032,291, though the state budget has not been finalized.

Expense based aids total $8,544,689, up $735,688 compared to the 2022-23 budget.

Building aid total $6,752,375, rising $1,556,784.

Total aid to the district is $49,755,557, up $7,324,763.

Brady told board members the district is projecting revenues around $6.5 million, which he said will also help cover some expenses for the district.

A number of additional items were also included in the budget, all of which were previously put before the board.

“Under special education, we have an occupational therapist, three elementary special ed teachers and a behavioral consultant to support our staff as we are seeing the rise not only just to support our special ed students, but also a rise in some of the behavioral issues in the district,” Brady said.

The district is slated to add a community schools coordinator who will work under Community Schools Director Kristin Colarusso-Martin. Colarusso-Martin is also serving as the district’s director of food services.

“When we moved the director of community schools to director of food services, she’s been doing both of those jobs this year. The board committed to providing some additional support to her. She wanted to be able to get into the job and see what she would need. What we’re recommending is that she stay in the food service director’s position. She’s doing a great job,” Brady said.

In addition to the community schools coordinator position, school officials agreed to add three crossing guards to the budget.

Village officials previously paid for six crossing guards, however recent action led to the elimination of three positions.

Brady told board members the district and village will now split the expense associated with the six positions.

“We have six crossing guards now throughout the district that provide safety for our students as they cross the various highways and roads in the village, and they’re asking for the board to share in that cost. They would pay for three and then the board would enter into an agreement to pay for three as well,” Brady said.

Equipment that is aging out of circulation in the high school and junior high fitness centers will also be replaced under the budget, Brady said.

A public hearing on the budget will be held at the next school board meeting on May 7, with a vote scheduled to be held on May 16 at the Massena Community Center.