Dear MCS Community Members:
I would like to begin this year’s budget letter with a brief update on the progress made on the capital project that our community graciously approved in May 2022.
The following renovations have been completed:
- Elementary classroom floors, ceilings, lighting, bathrooms
- 1988 wing flooring and vestibule doors
These renovations are in progress:
- Library
- Upgrades to announcement, clock and alarm systems
In addition, the following renovations will also be completed by the end of this summer:
- Soccer field resurfacing
- Nurse’s Office
- Parking behind athletic field
- Parking lot resurfacing
- Some roofing replacement
- Additional flooring, door and window replacement
Please feel free to stop by to check out the improvements. Once all portions of the project are completed, we will host an Open House and provide tours of the updated spaces. We look forward to hosting you.
As always, this year’s budget process was guided by the goals set for the District by the Board of Education. You can review our Board goals on our website at https://www.madisoncentralny.org/board-of-education/index.
I would like to highlight one major success related to our District goals. In 2018, as part of New York State's new accountability system, MCS was placed on the original “Comprehensive Support and Improvement” list by the NY State Education Department because of inadequate student performance on the NY State 3-8 ELA and math assessments. Subsequently, our faculty, staff and administration has been focused on improving student achievement. I am proud to share that our student performance on the 3-8 assessments has improved significantly and MCS is no longer designated as a “Comprehensive Support and Improvement” school. Please join me in celebrating this achievement.
On May 21st, the first item on the ballot for your consideration will be the proposed 2024-25 budget. Highlights of the budget include:
- Total adopted budget of $12,947,322, a 4.32% spending increase over 2023-24
- Total State Aid of an increase of $57,487, only a 0.75% increase over last year
- A proposed tax levy increase of 3.35%
- Maintenance of all student academic and extracurricular programs
The second and final item on the ballot will be the vote to fill two (2) Board of Education seats. The names of the candidates for the Board seats will appear on the ballot as follows:
- Laura Billings
- Jona Snyder
Our Budget Hearing will take place in our Auditorium on May 7, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. We will also hold a budget presentation at the Knoxboro Town Office Building on May 16, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. We encourage you to attend one of these informational sessions. If you are unable to attend one of the presentations, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have. The annual budget vote will occur at Madison Central School on May 21, 2024 from noon until 8:00 p.m.
On behalf of the Board of Education, our students, faculty and staff, thank you for your continued support for MCS as we strive to move our district forward. Go Blue Devils!
In partnership,
Jason A. Mitchell
Superintendent of Schools