Early College Access

The budget expands access to the SUNY College in the High School program. In partnership with the University at Albany and Hudson Valley Community College, 79 of 100 course sections will qualify for free Early College Access through Capital Region BOCES, increasing opportunities for students to earn college credit at no cost.

Instructional Staffing

• Adding a 0.5 Business teacher 
• Replacing all retiring instructional staff, including 19 teachers and 2 teaching assistants

Arts & Letters 

The budget supports full implementation of the Arts & Letters curriculum in grades K–6 as part of a five-year literacy investment spanning the 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years.

Arts & Letters provides integrated print and digital instructional resources that strengthen daily literacy instruction while reinforcing connections across:

• English Language Arts
• Social Studies
• Science
• Art
• Music

The program replaces Lucy Calkins Units of Study and Spelling Connections, improving alignment with current literacy expectations and instructional best practices.

Newsela

The budget also supports full implementation of Newsela in grades 5–12 to strengthen English Language Arts, Social Studies, and writing instruction.

Newsela supports differentiated instruction through leveled texts, embedded assessments, and flexible digital tools that help teachers respond to student learning needs while increasing engagement with complex content and strengthening literacy across subject areas.

The proposal expands the district’s special education infrastructure by adding two 6:1:2 specialized classrooms at Sand Creek and Forest Park providing a highly structured, supportive environment for students who thrive with more individual attention. 

At Veeder Elementary, an additional co-teach section will bring general and special education teachers together in one room, allowing students to learn alongside their peers while receiving the specialized instruction they need. 

To provide dedicated support to student support services, the district plans to grow its workforce with:

• A new ENL teacher shared between the high school and Forest Park.
• A school psychologist.
• A .5 FTE consultant teacher at the high school for targeted, consultant teacher support.
• Two additional support staff members to strengthen program services across the district (budget neutral).

Increased funding is earmarked for outside placements to ensure students with complex needs have access to the specific environments required for their success.

The district continues to grow the Colonie Wolf Pack® by expanding extracurricular opportunities that support student connection, leadership, and engagement beyond the classroom. At the high school level, several new clubs are being introduced, including:

• Business Club/NBHS
• Board Box Club
• Game Day Experience/Productions
• No Place for Hate
• Chess Club.

The budget also responds to a surge in student participation by formalizing and expanding athletic coaching and inclusive play.

• Varsity Field Hockey: For the first time, the program will have dedicated head and assistant coaches to ensure long-term sustainability.
• Varsity Flag Football: To keep up with rapid growth, the district is adding an assistant coach and Mod9 coaching staff to create a developmental pathway for younger athletes.
• Unified Program: The proposal includes specific funding for supplies to support the Unified Program, ensuring students of all abilities can compete together effectively.

As part of the 2026–27 budget proposal, voters will consider a $1.68 million transportation proposition to purchase 10 replacement vehicles, supporting South Colonie’s long-term fleet replacement plan to improve safety and reduce maintenance costs. The proposed vehicles include:

• Six 66-passenger full-size buses
• One 16-passenger small bus
• Two 24-passenger wheelchair-accessible buses with air conditioning
• One 6-passenger minivan or Suburban

These purchases will be funded through bond anticipation notes, with New York State aid expected to cover up to 63.5% of the costs for the diesel and gas buses, helping to reduce the local share.

Total cost: Not to exceed $1,683,000.

New York State law requires school districts to transition to zero-emission school buses in a phased approach. Beginning July 1, 2027, all new school buses purchased or leased must be zero-emission. By July 1, 2035, districts are required to operate and maintain a 100% zero-emission fleet, ensuring that all buses are fully electric or otherwise zero-emission by that date.

Yes, via a waiver. The state allows school districts to apply for a one-time, two-year waiver. If granted, this would extend the district’s first full year of  zero-emission bus purchases from 2027 to 2029.

Beyond the state deadlines, the district is not purchasing more electric buses at this time due to two main practical challenges:

1. Electric buses are currently two to three times more expensive than diesel buses without substantial grant funding, making a larger purchase cost-prohibitive. 
2. The district’s current transportation facility does not have the electrical capacity or physical space to support charging stations, so building a facility that can accommodate this is a necessary first step before expanding the electric bus fleet.

Yes, the district currently has one electric bus, which serves a vital dual purpose. It provides our team with hands-on experience using the technology and a wall-box charger at the current garage. Purchasing this first bus was also a requirement to qualify for the National Grid “Make Ready” grant, which is essential for funding the costly charging infrastructure planned for the new transportation facility in Phase 3 of the Next Generation Capital Project.

The district added air conditioning during recent classroom renovations to meet modern comfort standards and comply with new classroom temperature requirements implemented by New York State in 2025. While these central air conditioning enhancements were not part of the original capital project approved by voters in 2022, the district incorporated them during Stage 1 and Stage 2 renovations to take advantage of the installation of new air univents in those classrooms.

This proposition asks voters to approve a $13 million capital project that would allow the district to use funds from its Capital Reserve to help offset the cost of these air conditioning improvements and leverage additional state aid. As structured, the project is expected to have no tax impact for residents.

The district needs voter approval to move $4.7 million from its Capital Reserve Fund, which acts like a savings account for money already saved for building projects, to maximize available State Aid to cover the remaining costs. By carefully combining these funding sources, this will enable us to prevent an increase to local property taxes.

No. This project is structured so that there will be no additional tax impact for residents. Existing savings and state funding cover the full cost, allowing the district to complete needed improvements without raising taxes.

The Capital Reserve Fund is like a dedicated savings account for school buildings and facilities. Using $4.7 million from this fund allows the district to reduce borrowing, maximize State Aid, and avoid any tax increase for local residents.

New York law requires voter approval to unlock and spend Capital Reserve funds. This Capital Reserve fund was created in 2017 and is a tool used to reduce school district property taxes for a period not to exceed 10 years.

The air conditioning and cooling work was added to renovated spaces after hearing feedback from our educators, students, and community about increasing comfort during warmer months. It was not included in the original $112.5 million project approved in 2022.

It also helps the district meet the school temperature requirements established in 2025 after the initial project was approved by voters.

This proposition asks voters to approve the creation of a Capital Reserve Fund for the South Colonie Central School District. This reserve fund would allow the district to add funds over the next ten years up to $10 million to be used to pay for future building and facility improvements, including:

• Additions, renovations, or repairs to school buildings
• Equipment, furniture, and other necessary items for the buildings
• Playgrounds, athletic fields, recreation areas, parking lots, sidewalks, and other site improvements

The total fund allowance is $10 million in aggregate for a ten-year period. 

A Capital Reserve Fund acts like a savings account for future construction and facility needs. By allowing the ability to set aside money, the district can plan for upgrades without sudden tax increases or borrowing large amounts all at once. The last Capital Reserve Fund was approved by voters in 2017 for $10 million. The district is approaching its 10 years and $10 million aggregate fund amount with the use of $4.7 million for proposition 3. 

The fund can be funded from:

• Current and future unspent money from the district’s general fund
• Other appropriations approved by voters
• Transfers from other reserve funds, if approved by the Board of Education or voters

The fund is expected to be active for 10 years, but it will remain in place until all money has been used for its intended purpose and formally closed in accordance with state law. The district’s most recent reserve fund was established in 2017.

The district can start building up the reserve fund to pay for future facility projects. This provides flexibility to handle renovations, repairs, and equipment needs efficiently without having to go back to voters for every individual project.

The district would not be able to create this dedicated reserve, which could limit its ability to pre-plan and save for future building or facility needs. Future projects might require separate funding proposals or bonding measures.

The following vacancies are to be filled on the Board of Education:

• Member for a five-year term expiring June 30, 2033, to succeed Christopher Larrabee.
• Member for a five-year term expiring June 30, 2033, to succeed Robert Mesick.

Each vacancy is a separate and specific office, and a separate petition is required to nominate a candidate for each office.

More information coming soon 

Under New York state law, if the school budget is defeated, the board of education has two options: put the same or a modified budget up for another vote, or immediately adopt a contingent budget. If residents defeat the proposed budget during a second vote, the board must adopt a contingent budget.

In New York State, if a school district’s budget is defeated twice by voters (or if the Board of Education chooses to adopt one immediately after the first defeat), the district must adopt a contingent budget.

By law, a contingent budget is stripped down to "ordinary contingent expenses," which are the minimum costs necessary to keep the schools open and legally compliant.

The biggest financial restriction is that the tax levy cannot increase. The district is forced to collect the exact same amount in local taxes as it did the previous year (a 0% increase). Because costs like healthcare and utilities naturally rise, this "freeze" usually forces deep cuts to staff and programs to make up the difference.

TBD

The tax levy is the total amount of money a school district raises in taxes each year from all property owners in the district.

The tax rate is the amount paid for each $1,000 of taxable assessed value of property. The rate is used to calculate each individual property tax bill. In districts that cover just one municipality, the tax rate is figured by dividing the tax levy by the total taxable assessed value of the district, then multiplying by 1,000. This gives you the tax rate, which is expressed as the amount per $1,000 of assessed property value.

In districts that encompass more than one municipality, equalization rates are factored in as well to assign a fair share of the tax levy among the municipalities and to the taxpayers within them.

In New York state, each municipality determines its own level of property assessment. This means that property in different municipalities could be assessed less than, higher than or at actual full market value (i.e., the price for which a property could be sold). In order to distribute school district or county taxes evenly among multiple municipalities, the level of assessment for each of those municipalities must be equalized to full market value. To do this, the state uses an equalization rate:
Total assessed value of the municipality ÷ Total market value of the municipality = Equalization rate

Once the full market value of each municipality is established, the school district or county can determine the amount of taxes that should be collected from each municipality.

Click here to find more information about equalization rates and local assessment rolls.

The tax levy limit is the highest allowable tax levy (before exemptions) that a school district can propose as part of its annual budget with the support of a simple majority of voters (50% + 1) required for approval. In other words, if a district proposes a tax levy increase at or below the limit, a simple majority of voters is needed for the budget to pass. Any proposed tax levy amount above this limit would require the support of a 60% supermajority of voters to be approved. The tax levy limit sets a threshold requiring districts to obtain a higher level of community support for a proposed tax levy above a certain amount.

Fund balance is created when there is money left at the end of the fiscal year, either by the district spending less than budgeted or receiving more revenue than anticipated. An “unassigned” fund balance provides monies that can be used for a variety of needs, unlike reserve funds, which are targeted for specific purposes. While recommendations from within the financial industry often suggest that an organization should have an unassigned fund balance of between 5 and 10 percent of their total annual budget, New York state limits school districts’ fund balances to 4 percent.

New York State’s School Tax Relief Program, or STAR, provides partial school property tax savings to eligible homeowners. Most New Yorkers who own and live in their homes are eligible for STAR savings on their primary residences. Because the STAR program is not a district program, taxpayers STAR savings are not factored into a school budget.

More information about STAR can be found at this website. 

Creating and maintaining a safe and productive learning environment for nearly 4,900 students across eight schools requires a dedicated team of over 900 employees. These individuals teach, transport, coach, and care for students, while also cleaning buildings, preparing meals, maintaining facilities, managing supplies, ensuring compliance with regulations, and making critical decisions to ensure schools operate smoothly and efficiently. With many part-time staff members also contributing, approximately 80% of the district’s budget is allocated to salaries and benefits each year.

Boards of Cooperative Educational Services, or BOCES, provide shared services to school districts as a way to pool resources and share costs. Sharing allows districts to provide programs and services that they might not be able to afford otherwise. A district using BOCES services for the current school year is reimbursed a portion of the cost of the services in the following school year by New York state. The amount returned to each district varies by service and is based on a formula that takes into account the district’s financial resources. The South Colonie Central School District receives 58.4% reimbursement on the aidable BOCES services it uses.

A capital reserve fund allows the district to set aside money for future capital construction projects. Much like a savings account, this money is set aside so that a significant project or expense does not affect the budget all at once. The fund cannot be established without voter approval, and reserve funds cannot be spent without voter approval. Because capital assets have a predetermined useful life expectancy, a capital reserve fund reduces the need to borrow money to replace those assets in the future, lowering debt and interest costs while also enabling the district to still maximize state aid. 

South Colonie obtained voter approval on November 14, 2017 to establish a Capital Reserve Fund to set aside money for future capital improvement projects. The capital reserve fund has a maximum capital reserve amount of $10,000,000 and may be funded over a 10 year period. The Capital Reserve is funded from monies not needed for current purposes and unexpended balances remaining at the end of a fiscal year.

Please contact the district clerk Amber Lanigan by email at lanigana@scolonie.org or by phone at 518-869-3576 ext. 0442.

New York State has introduced early voting for all elections, including the South Colonie annual budget vote and board election. Under this law, eligible voters in the district can request and cast their ballots well in advance of the scheduled vote, offering more flexibility and convenience.

Applications for early mail ballots will be available starting Monday, April 20, 2026, during regular school business hours at the South Colonie Central School District Office, located at 102 Loralee Drive, Colonie. To ensure timely processing, applications for mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election (by May 12, 2026) if the ballot is to be mailed to the applicant. If you prefer to pick up your ballot in person, your application must be submitted by May 18, 2026.

All early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, to be counted.

No. Absentee ballots will not be mailed to all registered voters. Voters who require an absentee ballot must submit an application unless they are listed as “permanently disabled” on the voter rolls

Qualified voters can request an absentee ballot if they will not be able to vote in person due to illness or physical disability, hospitalization, incarceration (unless incarcerated for a felony), travel outside the voter’s county or city of residence for employment or business reasons, studies, primary caregiver obligations or vacation on the day of election.

Once you receive your ballot, carefully read and follow the directions for filling out the ballot. Then, sign and date the envelope where indicated. If your envelope is unsigned or illegible, your vote can not legally be counted.

Once you receive your ballot, carefully read and follow the directions for filling out the ballot. Then, sign and date the envelope where indicated. If your envelope is unsigned or illegible, your vote can not legally be counted.

If you tear, deface or wrongly mark your ballot, contact the district clerk at 518-869-3576 ext. 0442 immediately for instructions on how to obtain a new ballot.

Ballots may be returned by mail, or returned in person to the District Office. If your ballot does not arrive at the district office by 5 p.m. on the day of the vote, it will not be counted.

The district will collect and hold onto all the ballots until the day of the vote. Ballots will be separated from the envelope that bears your name, return address, or other personally identifiable information before they are counted.

Just as voters are asked to sign a register when they vote in person, voters using absentee ballots are asked to provide a signature. This signature constitutes an affidavit — you are attesting to your identity as a voter who is qualified to cast a ballot in this election. This information is recorded on the district’s voter rolls — a list of names of all the people who cast ballots.

Yes. While your name will be registered on the district’s voter rolls, your ballot will be separated from the envelope that bears your name, return address, or other personally identifiable information before the envelope holding your ballot is opened.

Since ballots are separated from personally identifiable information before they are counted, the public counting process is anonymous. No one viewing the counting of ballots will be able to match a voter’s personally identifiable information with their specific ballot.

The annual school budget vote is an official public meeting of the district and is open to the public. South Colonie will begin counting ballots on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 8 p.m., immediately after the polls close.

Results will be available as soon as all ballots have been counted, and no later than 5 p.m. on May 20, which is 24 hours after the deadline for ballots to be received by the district. Results are typically shared with the media immediately following the count and are also posted on the district’s website.