Community Input Invited At Budget Listening Sessions

As district residents may be aware, the Chautauqua Lake Central School District has been working diligently to develop and implement a long-range, 18-month budget model to assist in anticipating costs and supporting school programs in a fiscally responsible manner. With the focused attention on this goal and the initiation of the new “foundation formula” for state aid, district officials are proceeding with long range planning. As part of this process, the Board of Education has established dates for community Budget Listening Sessions and invites interested district residents to attend either session:

• Thurs. Oct. 11 in the High School Library at Chautauqua Lake Central School
• Tues. Oct. 16 at the North Harmony Senior Citizens’ Building, Stow

Each Budget Listening Session will run from 6:30 to 8 pm.

During these sessions, district staff members and representatives of the Board of Education will be available to discuss a variety of topics related to the school budget, including the budgeting process, district goals (see front and back covers), mandated services, state aid, and other issues. This will not be a budget presentation, but an interactive opportunity to engage in dialogue about school programs and services and related costs. The district will have a prepared agenda of discussion topics intended to elicit input and ideas for developing and refining a budget for 2008-09.

Information gathered in previous listening sessions has assisted in such things as:

• Modifying the way budget materials are presented, to provide continuity and ease of understanding
• Pursuing shared service arrangements and streamlining staffing as available/appropriate
• Accelerating the budget development process
• Exploring possible foundation and grant support of school programming

Your input and ideas matter, and we hope you can join us for one of these community-based listening sessions. Feel free to contact our Community Relations office at (716) 753-5802 with questions or for additional information.

Reminder: According to district practice, the Board of Education requires that written comments — either hand-delivered, sent by mail or emailed — include the writer’s full name, mailing address, and telephone number.