By a vote of 129 to 60 (68.2%), residents of the Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville School District approved a $23,494,388 budget for the 2023-24 school year. The approved budget calls for a 6.83% spending increase from the 2023-24 school year and a tax levy increase of 2.98%, which is below the district’s state- calculated limit of 4.69%.
The approved spending plan enhances programs and extends opportunities for students. Several positions created to address learning loss attributed to the pandemic as well as programs designed to enhance students’ educational experiences will be transitioned to the general budget for 2023-24. These positions were previously funded by grants that are set to expire at the end of the current school year.
Expenses will be offset in large part by an increase of $1.4 million in state aid – a hike that stems from the state Legislature’s commitment to fully fund foundation aid by the 2023-24 school year.
Residents also voted to fill three seats on the OESJ Board of Education. Ty Stowell – (139 votes) & Shannon Smith – (139 votes) were elected to serve three year terms beginning July 1, 2023 and Steven Polidori – (106 votes) was elected to serve a one year and six week term.
“I want to thank all of the OESJ residents who voted today and made this years budget a success,” Superintendent Adam Heroth said. “This spending plan allows us to continue to enhance our academic and extracurricular opportunities to provide the best possible experience for our students.”
A proposition to approve continuous registration was also approved, 147-35.