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May 12, 2008
The chart on the previosly sent budget information was unclear. Here it is clearer!
--What would happen if the District had to adopt a contingent (austerity) budget?
A contingent budget would result in a minimum budget reduction of $244,428 to the original
budget. The difference in annual taxes is indicated in the following chart:
Home Proposed Budget Contingency Budget Annual
Market Value Tax per Year Tax per Year Difference
$200,000 $102.01 $ 94.95 $ 7.06
$300,000 $153.02 $142.43 $10.59
$400,000 $204.03 $189.91 $14.12
$500,000 $255.04 $237.38 $17.66
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May 12, 2008
-Free Parent Workshop
-MySpace and Internet Safety
Presentation by Vincent Bove
Date: May 19, 2008
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Location: Haviland Middle School, Hyde Park
Millions of young people, as well as parents, educators and law enforcement personnel, use
various websites for social networking, communication and research resources. MySpace is an
online social networking site that was started in 2003 by Tom Anderson. Revenue is generated
through the site’s advertising. It is a phenomenon that continues to grow with membership
estimated at over 100 million users. It is critically important to be involved with MySpace and
other social networking sites because youth can often have a false sense of anonymity which can
cause unnecessary problems and it can present warning signs of youth at risk or troubled and the
opportunity for a timely response. Come and learn some of the ways these communication tools
work, some of the warning signs and how you can improve communication to prevent some possible
problems for your child. Course #: HPE-0708007
Registration Deadline: May 18, 2008
Free Parent Workshop
MySpace and Internet Safety
Presentation by Vincent Bove
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Name:
Address:
Email/Phone Number:
School District Affiliation:
Please send your completed registration form to: Mid-Hudson Teacher Center
OMB 212 SUNY New Paltz
800 Hawk Drive
New Paltz, NY 12561
845-257-2885
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May 12, 2008
There is a budget presentation at AHS this Wednesday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m.. The candidates
running for the board of education will be there. It will be a good time to come and meet them
and talk with them. Be sure to come out and hear about the budget and meet the candidates!
See you then.
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May 8, 2008
ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
2008/2009 Budget Questions and Answers
1. What is the estimated district-wide tax rate increase for homeowners?
The estimated district-wide tax rate increase for homeowners is 3.51% to support district
operations in 2008/09. This is an estimated annual increase of $178.53 for a home with a market
value of $350,000. The NYS budget continues the property tax relief programs that were enacted
last year for middle income homeowners. These include rebate checks in addition to the basic
STAR benefit that is provided through a reduction in the homeowner’s property tax bill.
2.Can the estimated tax rate change?
Yes. Final tax rates are not set by the Board of Education until August because towns do not
finalize assessment rates until August. In addition, if any of the District’s assumptions about
state aid, economic growth, or revenues change between now and August, taxes can either increase
or decrease. Reevaluations that took place in some of our towns in 2007 are now complete, so
most taxpayers should not experience the type of variation in tax increases that occurred in
these towns from last year’s 3.19%.
3. How much is the budget increase?
On Tuesday, May 20, Arlington residents will go to the polls to vote on a $164,479,130 spending
plan for the 2008/09 school year. Overall, our proposed budget is increasing by $10,420,392.
This represents a 6.76% budget to budget increase. The estimated average district-wide tax rate
increase is 3.51%.
4. How does our per-student spending rank in Dutchess County?
The Arlington School District’s per student expenses are highly competitive for a district of
its size and educational quality. Arlington has the second lowest per pupil cost in Dutchess
County (number 12 out of 13).
5. What factors are driving the increase?
The 2008/09 school year budget includes the first ‘mortgage’ payments for the high school
expansion and school repairs approved by voters in the December 2005 referendum.
Educating children is a labor-intensive process. For that reason, the largest share of any
school district’s budget goes to pay for employee wages and benefits. Contractual obligations,
such as health insurance, benefits, and salaries for existing employees account for nearly 36%
of the budget increase. Other items that are driving the increase include the rising costs of
BOCES services, fuel and utilities, plus additional personnel.
6. What new items/positions are included in the proposed budget?
The goals of this year’s budget include maintaining high quality, personalized education and
protecting the safety of all students. The proposed budget includes:
•An emergency alert system that can send messages to parents via e-mail or phone. The system can
be used when there is an emergency dismissal, school delay, or snow day.
ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
•Temporary garage rental space for school bus repair. The current bus garages, built in 1953,
are too small for many of the more modern buses, making maintenance and repairs difficult. In
order to protect our students’ safety, it is imperative that buses are adequately maintained.
Leasing temporary space will help meet our bus repair needs until a permanent solution is found.
•Some of the new positions in the budget include 4.6 middle and high school teachers, 3.4
special education teachers, 2 special education teaching assistants, 1 elementary remedial
reading teacher, a half time guidance counselor at Union Vale Middle School, a .8 elementary
school social worker, a safety monitor at LaGrange Middle School, and a bus mechanic.
7.What happens if the budget is defeated on May 20th?
If the budget is defeated, the Board of Education can resubmit the defeated budget, submit a
revised budget, or immediately adopt a contingent budget. Only two budget votes are permitted
under state law. If the budget is defeated a second time, the Board of Education must adopt a
contingent budget within the state mandated budget caps.
8. What would happen if the District had to adopt a contingent (austerity) budget?
A contingent budget would result in a minimum budget reduction of $244,428 to the original
budget. The difference in annual taxes is indicated in the following chart:
Proposed Budget Contingency Budget Annual
Home Market Value Tax per Year Tax per Year Difference
$200,000 $102.01 $ 94.95 $ 7.06
$300,000 $153.02 $142.43 $10.59
$400,000 $204.03 $189.91 $14.12
$500,000 $255.04 $237.38 $17.66
9.What items might be eliminated from a contingent budget?
By law, spending on new classroom and library equipment, plus other non-contingent items must be
eliminated.
If the budget is defeated a second time, the board must adopt a contingency budget. If forced
to develop a contingency budget, Arlington would have to cut $244,428 from the proposed
budget. By law, spending on new classroom and library equipment, plus other non-contingent
items must be eliminated.
If a contingency budget is adopted, the following items would be subject to elimination:
• Audio-visual equipment
• Desks, tables, and other furniture
• Sports equipment
• Science and Technology equipment
• Musical instruments
• Art equipment
• State aided capital improvements to school buildings
The capital improvements to school buildings include items such as:
ASM Column repairs, Beekman modular roof repairs, AMS Stage floor finish, LMS Library AC,
Beekman Library AC repairs, UMS storage containers, Traver exterior paint, windows, Blinds,
Various smaller projects
10.What other issues are being considered by voters on May 20?
In addition to the budget, voters will be voting on a proposition to purchase new buses and
maintenance vehicles to replace aging vehicles. Voters will also elect new members to the Board
of Education. There are currently three candidates for three Board seats. There is no second
vote for members of the Board of Education.
BUDGET VOTE
BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTION
MAY 20th
For more information visit www.arlingtonschools.org
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May 6, 2008
To our class of '09 parents
The House of 2009 Barbecue is coming next Wednesday, May 14!!
Our theme is---No utensils!!! There will be burgers, including Veggie burgers, and hot dogs,
along with chips, soda and water. Plus, we plan on having ice cream cones to top it off!! We
are also asking any parents who are willing and able to send in cookies or brownies, or other
baked goods for the students, to please do so. We hope to top last year's turnout of about
300 students. Any items can be dropped off in the Main Office during the day. We thank you in
advance and we hope for good weather to make this a terrific event!!
The Barbecue will begin at 2:45 in the Courtyard behind the flagpole.
Students will be able to go out behind the school to eat and socialize prior
to the start of a varsity baseball game, a varsity lacrosse game, and a track
meet.
Once again, thank you for your support of the Class of 2009!!!!
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April 29, 2008
As some of you may know, Mr. Salas, a Spanish teacher at AHS, is the father of 1st Lt. Sebastian
Salas, currently stationed in Iraq. In order to do his part in changing the morale of the
soldiers and the Iraqi citizens he has put together this drive:
WINNING HEARTS AND MINDS ONE SOCCER BALL AT A TIME
On July 29, 2007 the Iraqi national soccer team won the Asian Soccer Cup uniting Shiites, Sunni
and Kurds together amidst a war that is threatening to divide the Iraqi people perhaps forever.
At least for a moment soccer became an escape from the violence affecting every Iraqi.
We would like you to get involved with something so simple that will have a huge impact on an
Iraqi kid. It can change the negative image they have of American soldiers. Perhaps, very soon
in the future, Iraq can continue competing in soccer at a world level, and bring together
Shiites, Sunni and Kurds in a common cause.
We are asking that you donate any spare soccer balls that you have. If you know someone that has
a soccer ball, ask him/her to donate it to this cause as well. You can write your name and a
short message on the ball (for example "Enjoy it! – (Your Name), NY"). Soccer balls can be
dropped off in room 1438, or email Amanda Adams to arrange a pick up/drop off. Our goal is to
collect 1,000 balls by December of 2008. The balls will be distributed by our own soldiers to
individual kids, not to the Iraqi government or an institution.
Do not underestimate the power of a soccer ball.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Salas at jsalas@acsdny.org or call him at 255¬-
3595. You can also contact Amanda Adams, president of the club, at kittygirl91@optonline.net .
Thank you.
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March 27, 2008
a message from our principal to parents of student drivers...
Dear Parents:
If you now have, or soon will have, a teenage driver in your home, this announcement is
sure to be of interest.
Every year, we hear of at least one horrific accident that takes the lives of teens and other
young drivers because someone chose to drink and drive. We know that most of the alcohol-related
fatalities occur between the ages of 16 – 21. Arlington High School and the Council of
Addiction Prevention and Education (CAPE) of Dutchess County have joined together in an effort
to prevent these tragedies that needlessly take the lives of our children.
Arlington High School and the Council will host our first year of a special program for students
and their families. The program, “Teen Driving – a Family Affair,” is mandatory for students who
are applying for School Parking Permits and also for parents, who play such a crucial role in
their teen’s safe driving. Please plan to arrive by 6:15 for registration, so that we can begin
the program promptly at 7:00.
•If your child’s last name begins with the letters A-K you will attend on Thursday, May 15th.
•If your child’s last name begins with the letters L-Z you will attend on Wednesday, May 21st.
During this program, people who have been victims of drunk driving – whose lives have been
forever changed by someone’s decision to get behind the wheel of a car after drinking or using
some other drug – will share their compelling stories and reinforce every warning you’ve ever
given, every message issued by teachers, and every public service announcement seen on
television.
You and your teen will leave the program with your own copy of “Our Family’s Policy on Drinking
& Driving”, a Contract to be signed by you and your teen driver(s), and the comfort of knowing
your child and your family are better prepared to deal with the challenges ahead.
In addition, because so many parents will be there, we will have a representative from the DA’s
office and from an insurance company to talk about the legal and liability consequences of
underage drinking – for you and your teen.
If you want your child to be able to drive to school, you and your student driver need to attend
this event. If you can not attend the date scheduled, you may attend at another school. You
will find the alternative dates attached to this letter. We ask that you please not bring any
children under the age of 12 years old with you since the material presented is not appropriate
for them.
Sincerely,
Tom Brooks, Principal
INFORMATION REGARDING ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS
TO YOUR SCHOOL’S “TEEN DRIVING – A FAMILY AFFAIR”
If you have scheduling conflicts regarding attendance at the parking permit program, “Teen
Driving – A Family Affair,” at your home school, you may attend the program at another school.
Please be advised that both the teen driver and his/her parent(s) must attend. There is no
need to pre-register, you will register that night at 6:30pm.
The schedule for the “TEEN DRIVING – A FAMILY AFFAIR” program for 2008 is as follows:
7:00pm-8:00pm Registration at 6:30pm
Tuesday March 25th-FDR High School-Hyde Park
Monday, April 7th-Dover High School- Dover
Wednesday, April 9th-Rhinebeck High School-Rhinebeck
Tuesday, April 22nd-Stissing Mountain High School- Pine Plains
Thursday April 24th-Spackenkill High School- Poughkeepsie
Tuesday, April 29th-Webutuck High School- Amenia
Tuesday May 6th-Roy C. Ketcham High School- Wappinger Falls
Monday May 12th-Red Hook High School-Red Hook
Thursday, May 15th-Arlington High School-Lagrange **6:15 Registration**
If your child’s last name begins with the letters A-K
Monday, May 19th-Millbrook High School- Millbrook
Wednesday, May 21st-Arlington High School-Lagrange **6:15 Registration**
If your child’s last name begins with the letters L-Z
Wednesday, May 28th-John Jay High School—Wappinger Falls
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The AHS PTSA is currently brainstorming to recruit new members and fill positions on the PTSA
board that will become vacant next year. We are sure that there are many willing and able
people out there who are just waiting for the invitation to become more involved.....here it is:
PLEASE contact me at phaaadams@optonline.net or any member of the board if you are interested in
becoming more involved and we will find the perfect position for you! You just may find that it
is something you really enjoy doing!
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--from the Arlington Education Foundation....
--Grab your jalapeños and get ready for this next event! On Saturday, May 24, the Foundation
and the Charlie Johnson Legacy Alumni Committee are holding an All-American Beef BBQ and Chili-
Cook Off at the American Legion 1302 on Overlook Road in Poughkeepsie. Tickets are $20 and
children under 12 are free. The chili cook-off winner will leave with a trophy and bragging
rights. Everyone who attends will get to vote for their favorite chili. The event is from 1 p.m
to 4 p.m. and everyone will enjoy delicious food and fun. Proceeds will support the not-for-
profit efforts the alumni committee to honor war hero Charlie Johnson and the Arlington
Education Foundation. It should be a great day!
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Senior Class Trips & Other Important Dates
--Senior Breakfast and Assembly - May 28
--Senior Prom - May 30th
Anthony's Pier 9 from 7:00 PM to Midnight
Bid night is May 14th in Cafe A from 6:00-8:00 PM.Tickets will also be sold lunch periods from
May 15-21 at the ticket window. You must have a signed permission slip and payment to purchase
tickets and register. Permission slips will be available after Spring break in the East APO.
--Senior Barbecue and Field Day - June 6th
--Graduation - June 29th
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THE AHS PTSA IS THRILLED WITH THE INTEREST IN THIS WEBSITE. IF YOU ADD YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE PRINT
THE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND SEND IT IN. THANK YOU!
Pattiann Adams
PTSA president
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