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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
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER, 2024
I want to share with you a few pieces of news about our district:
The school year is off to a great start, with students and teachers fully engaged in teaching and learning. Throughout the elementary hallways, student work is already proudly displayed outside the classrooms. Our sports teams are also off to a strong start. I am both inspired and grateful to see our staff consistently going the extra mile for our students and our students giving their best effort in return.
Special Thank You
A special thanks to the Booster Club and everyone who made PINK WEEK a success. The athletic events went well, the dress-up days were fun, and the PEP Rally was a highlight of the week. It’s wonderful to see the entire community come together for such an important cause.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
On November 25th and 26th, we will hold our annual parent-teacher conferences. This is a valuable opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss their progress or address any concerns you may have. Conferences will take place on Monday from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM and Tuesday from 12:00 PM to 3:20 PM. To schedule an appointment, K-5 families can call the Elementary Office, and for grades 6-12, please contact the Guidance Office.
Holiday Season
The holiday season is upon us, bringing many special events. Our choral concert will be on December 4th, and the band concert will follow on December 11th. We invite you to enjoy an evening of holiday music. On December 6th, we will host an evening with Santa, which is always a special time for our little ones. The senior citizen luncheon is scheduled for December 18th, and, as always, there will be many other festive events throughout the month.
Winter School Closings
It won’t be long before the snow and cold arrive. This year, we will use multiple methods to communicate any closings or delays. You can access this information through WWNY-TV Channel 7. We will also post updates on Parent Square, our website, and our Facebook page. As you know, the North Country/Tug Hill weather is extremely unpredictable, and we prioritize the safety of your children. We will make every effort to communicate these decisions as early as possible to give you time to plan.
School Board Recognition
During the week of October 14-18, 2024, we celebrated School Board Recognition Week. Our Board members have dedicated a combined total of 115 years of service to CCS and our community. Thank you for all you do to support our school!
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