By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — Voters in the Olean City School District will vote May 20 on a proposed 2025-2026 budget of $57.9 million plus two capital project propositions totaling $53.5 million.
The proposed $57.9 million budget is up $1.8 million, or 3.2% greater than the current $56.1 million budget, district business manager Jenny Bilotta told district residents at a budget presentation prior to a Board of Education meeting Tuesday at the Olean Intermediate Middle School.
The tax levy, or property tax needed to support the 2025-2026 budget is $14 million, unchanged from the current budget, Bilotta said.
The two propositions include $29.4 million for a variety of improvements across all four district schools and $24.1 million for heating, ventilation and air conditioning in sections of the high school and intermediate middle school.
Bilotta said with the district’s 96.8% state aid ratio for capital projects, the school district will only need to come up with 3.2% of the cost. The district will use $1 million from a $6 million capital reserve fund. The school board was adamant that the capital projects not impact the property tax.
For proposition #2, the High School and Intermediate Middle School would see combined investments of $19.9 million, Washington West Elementary School would get $3.7 million for renovations and a new playground and East View Elementary School would get $5.2 million for interior and exterior projects including drop off area, anm elevator and mezzanine renovations.
A message from the Board of Education said the propositions will help update aging facilities and support educational goals. The projects are part of long-term district goals in coordination with the district’s architect and construction manager.
High school projects include: replacing entrance doors, roof flashing and parapets, a code compliant fire alarm, a new public address system and security window film on first floor windows. Renovations are also needed in biology labs. Also, the high school cafeteria will get a facelift and paint job.
At the Intermediate and Middle School, cracked floors will be replaced, as will some pool tile, exterior fencing and manholes. Security window film will also be installed. Tennis courts will be replaced and new lighting installed.
At Washington West, crawl space and foundation repairs will be made, security window film will be installed and DDC controls will be installed. Six classrooms that were not previously renovated, will be updated with a new look, added storage and renovated restrooms. A new playground with a safer surface will be installed.
Bilotta said voting will be from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 20 at the Intermediate Middle School.
Information on the budget and proposed capital projects are on the district‘s website oleanschools.org.
The district also plans to have short videos on the budget and propositions posted on the district website on Wednesday
Bilotta said that despite the lack of a state budget more than a month after the deadline, the school board was very confident the final budget would meet the district’s needs. The district receives 71% of its revenues from state aid.
The budget includes the purchase of three buses for about $330,000 and funding for special education for about 24 percent of the student population of around 700.
The percentage of students in special education has increased steadily since 2008-2009 when it was 14.4%. In 2020-2021, the rate was 18.3%; 2020-2021, 19.6%; 2023-2024, 20.9% and 2024-2025, 24%.
Four of the five candidates for three seats on the board of education spoke briefly about their candidacies, mostly focusing on student safety, including assault, bullying and drug use. There are three seats at stake in the election, one for five years, and two others for two and three years.
The candidates are Cathy Young, Timothy Sherlock, Alex Calbi, James DiBlasi and Aubree Malick. (More on the candidates’ comments are coming later).
_____________________________________
All Rights Reserved. Star News LLC. Eric M. Firkel.
