Board approves proposed 2024-25 budget for May ballot and clears routine personnel and procurement items

The Bath Central School District Board of Education voted unanimously to place the proposed 2024-25 district budget on the May 21 ballot and set a public hearing for May 8 at 5:30 p.m. Board members said the roughly 10% budget increase is driven largely by expiring federal COVID funds and by moving positions from grant-based funding to the operating budget; the district reported the tax levy will be at the cap, approximately 2.01%.

In the same meeting the board approved several routine and administrative items by unanimous votes:

- Approval of special-education committee recommendations (motion seconded by Dr. Nuzzi) — approved 6-0.
- Business consent agenda — approved 6-0.
- BOCES administrative budget and GST regional board member results (noted as a roughly 4.8% admin increase and retiree health insurance pressures in BOCES’ $8,000,000 budget) — approved 6-0.
- Election inspectors for the annual vote and the district's property tax report card — approved 6-0.
- Continuation in the Genesee Area health care plan cooperative and a revision to policy 4531 (field trips) clarifying medication procedures — approved 6-0.
- Approval to purchase two new Ford trucks (one for the bus garage, one for district use) — approved 6-0.
- Approval of policy manual terminations as part of an ongoing policy committee review — approved 6-0.
- Approval to repair/install the gym wall divider to increase space utilization — approved 6-0.
- Personnel actions including the retirement of middle school teacher Christie Smith effective 11/30/2024; probationary hires; and appointments: Tom Phillips as interim middle school assistant principal (start 05/10/2024), Haley Stratton as physical-education teacher, Courtney Fuller as assistant principal; multiple probationary appointments were approved via consent — motions carried by the board, typically 6-0.

Board members repeatedly noted these were routine or previously vetted items in board packets and workshops; several motions were introduced and seconded from the floor (some seconds were identified by name in the record) and recorded as unanimous.

What this means for voters: the board’s vote sends the proposed district budget to the voters on May 21; the district will hold a public hearing on May 8 at 5:30 p.m. and has posted the property tax report card and related information for public review.

Provenance: these actions and tally statements were recorded throughout the meeting packet and the minutes during motions beginning in the business portion of the agenda and through the personnel section.

The board recessed into a short executive session for personnel and legal discussion after the public portion of the meeting; no action was announced afterward.