Penn Yan proposes $36.2M new school budget

PENN YAN--The Penn Yan school board voted to adopt the proposed 2019-'20 school budget Wednesday, April 10 of $36,239,453 with a tax levy increase of 2.28 percent.
The board also approved a resolution to spend $455,000 for four new vehicles. The purchases will include one 42 person passenger bus and three 65 passenger buses.
The new budget includes several additions for the district. The STEM lab and offerings will be expanded, adding an elementary reading specialist, continue the school resource officer at the elementary school, an employee assistance program and continue with a personalized learning coach (from grant funds).
For comparison, the Penn Yan district school budget was $33,607,526 for the 2015-'16 school year. At that time, the district had 508 staff members (teachers, administration and support) with an enrollment of 1,519 students. For this new budget staff members are planned at 499 with a student enrollment of 1,419.
The district will have a public hearing for the new budget Wednesday, May 8 along with a Meet the Candidates night for three school board positions. The public vote for the budget and board candidates will be Tuesday, May 21 from noon to 8 p.m. at the school gymnasium.