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OSSINING, N.Y. – Ossining school officials think the district's increasing enrollment and increasing popularity could lead to complicated budget decisions in the near future.
The Ossining Union Free School District had about 360 more students at the end of the 2011-12 school year than at the start of the 2007-08 school year, according to district records. When students return to the schools in a couple of weeks, district officials expect there to be 129 more students than there were last year, for an expected total of 4,735 students.
It is difficult to find answers as to why enrollment is increasing, but Board of Education President Bill Kress has a few ideas.
“I think it’s because we have good schools and our taxes, compared with the rest of the county, tend to be on the lower end of the scale,” Kress said Tuesday. “I think people are attracted to Ossining and we’ve had a lot of successes over the last several years. I think it’s great that people want to come here.”
School board member Dana Levenberg acknowledged that increased enrollment and a tightening budget could mean some difficulties.
“It’s complicated because there is good and there are challenges,” Levenberg said. “I think there isn’t anyone who says they wouldn’t be challenged by increasing enrollment at a time when budgets are dwindling.”
School districts report their enrollment each year to the state Education Department, typically the first Wednesday in October. Students who attend BOCES programs part time are included in a district’s enrollment. Students who attend BOCES full time or who are placed full time by the district in an out-of-district program are not included in a district’s enrollment.
Superintendent of Schools Phyllis Glassman said during last year’s budget season that the increased enrollment would typically mean steady increase in staffing, but noted that two teachers would be added to start the 2012-13 school year.
“In consideration of the economic times, the proposed budget does not advance us further toward reduction in class size,” Glassman wrote in April. “Yet, the proposed budget does not violate Board of Education Policy. Overall, elementary classroom staffing includes 98 teachers, which reflects two additional teachers beyond 2011-2012 staffing in order to respect class size.”
Comments (4)
Really, best schools in the county, not true! We have lived in Ossining over 25 years and have pulled our last child out of Ossining because of their poor score standards and the lack of English spoken within the schools. You only need to read The New York State School Report Card (2009/10) to view their performance. Regents Math overall pass was 62%!!!! . Yet some of the administration staff still receive annual salarys of $150K+. We pay over $15,000 taxes yet our school district doesn't perform well and we send our child to private school. Really best schools man that's aggrevating!. The budget is tight because majority of families attending Ossining schools are not contributing to the tax base.
OK so let me get this straight, you think there is a lack of English spoken in the schools? and mention one 3 year old stat as a basis of your complaint? The schools all meet state standards, there was a big deal made about it just this summer. Every school in the district meets all standards for testing. I'm not sure which private school in the area you are sending your kids too, but I would love to know which one has all the accolades the Ossining schools have. Which one has one of the highest rankings from intel in the country for science? also has a NAMM foundation "best school community for Music Education" designation, won 3 metro Awards for their Drama department this year, Has Championship sports teams, You know what, I'm going to just give you the link to the announcement archives, you can look up all the rest yourself.
http://ohs.ossiningufsd.org/site_view_archived_announcements.aspx
The thing that really gets me going is the folks who seem to think Ossining was soooo much better 25 years ago. Let me tell you, it wasn't. Sorry to smash your delusional memories, But I remember 25 years ago a lot differently then some. I remember drugs, gangs, violence, and terrible schools. why do you think the small businesses left? not because it was so great to be here. Now, there is a resurgence, The community is thriving, and changing, and that change is scary for some of you. Yes we have a very large Spanish speaking population. With Lots of Immigrants, but that's part of what makes our community wonderful. Diversity is a good thing. Your family "Ossining" did not always live here. Your family at some point were immigrants, which is the worst part. For some reason, certain people of Ossining, seem to have forgotten that their parents don't speak english so well either, and some not at all. But that's OK, they don't have too, that's one of the benefits of our free society.
Our schools are not perfect. I would love to see money spent in different proportions, And I go to the board meetings and tell them as much, but I am confident that our schools are better, for most students, Then any other in the county. and instead of just trying to find some obscure references from studies that are several years old, why not try and prove to me that there is a better place to raise a family, because I will tell you, I have several children in the Ossining schools right now, and have looked for other districts that compare to the offerings here, and For your $15,000 taxes, your not going to get better. Tell me where in Westchester you can have a house the size of yours, with the community and schools that we have here. You can't find a better place. Stop living in the past and look at what you have NOW.
Isn't it wonderful we live in a society of freedom of speech and I am entitled to mine and you are intitled to yours!
Hold onto all your illusions of Ossining because you will need them when you come to sell your house!
Oh one last thing as I feel I need to add another paragraph after your long winded essay above. My son was mugged at knife point in your wonderful Ossining 2 years ago so please don't preach about it being better when.
Of course our schools are growing, Ossining is a great place to live. It's close to the city for commuters, like Mr. Kress noted, the taxes are reasonable compared to other communities in the area, and we have arguably the best schools in the county. The Parks are phenomenal, the programs offered through our records department are fabulous. Any family looking to live in westchester would be foolish to not choose Ossining.
The sad part is, we have a vocal minority who tend to ignore all this and want to go back to the "good old days". Causing us to cut budgets closer and closer each year, and very soon our programs will start to suffer because of it.