Headlines and Highlights Across the School District
May 2021
BUDGET VOTE/SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION
TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021
Vote In Person at DFHS Gymnasium
Click here to view full Budget Newsletter
Proposition 1
Budget Remains Within
Tax Cap Despite Looming COVID-19 Costs
Despite the continuing financial challenges and unknowns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the proposed 2021-2022 Dobbs Ferry School Budget remains within the tax cap for the tenth year in a row; maintains existing programs and services for all students; retains faculty and staff; and supports the District’s Strategic Plan. Since the closure of schools last year, the District has worked continually to re-allocate resources to provide for COVID-19 related supplies and contingencies.
 
The Board of Education and District administration have been working together over the last few months to find ways to trim the budget and reduce costs, while maintaining the integrity of our instructional programs and minimizing the impact on Dobbs Ferry taxpayers. With an anticipated increase in student enrollment for next year, the District is committed to supporting small class sizes and has budgeted a contingency teacher position to meet this need if necessary.

The budget also allows for additional special education support and the addition of a K-12 Diversity & Equity Teacher Leader stipend to assist in the facilitation of the important work our schools have undertaken to help create learning communities that are more diverse, equitable and inclusive. An existing position in the Business Office will be reorganized into a bilingual central registration position to handle all student registrations K-12.
 
We continue to place the health and safety of our students and staff at the forefront of our decisions, and with the increased availability of COVID-19 vaccines we hope that next year will be much less stressful for everyone in our school community. The proposed 2021-2022 budget reflects the District’s best efforts to adapt to the new “normal,” while still providing high-quality instructional programs to benefit student learning.
 
See detailed information on the proposed 2021-2022 budget, or go to the SpotLight section on the District website.
 
The School Budget Vote/Board of Education Election will be held IN PERSON (DFHS Gymnasium) on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.
 
 Remember to Vote!

School Budget Newsletter is Available in Spanish

El boletín de presupuesto escolar está disponible en español. Visitar el sitio web del Distrito en www.dfsd.org y hacer clic en Información del SpotLight.

Letter from the Board of Education

Dear Dobbs Ferry School District Resident,
 
The Board of Education presents the proposed 2021-2022 school budget for your consideration. This has been a year like no other; however, we are pleased to report that next year’s budget stays within the tax cap for the tenth consecutive year. While we still face unknown costs relating to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, the budget continues to maintain or enhance instructional programs and student support services without reducing staff. The Board appreciates the trust you have placed in us to prepare a budget that is fiscally responsible and maximizes the value of every tax dollar.

This was one of the most difficult budgets to balance in recent years given the ongoing expense of additional cleaning and safety equipment, increasing technology needs, rising contractual and health costs and projected enrollment growth. Despite this tight budget, we are still able to provide enrichment and cultural arts programs, co-curricular activities, high-level professional development for faculty and staff, and continued support of our IB (MYP and DP) programs.

We are grateful that our students and staff can all be together again in our school buildings as we had hoped. While it is imperative that we remain vigilant and continue to wear masks and maintain social distancing as much as possible, this is great news for everyone. Next year promises to be even better.

We invite you to review the information in this newsletter and on our website (www.dfsd.org), and we encourage you to head to the polls on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 to vote on the budget and to elect Board of Education Trustees.
 
Sincerely,
Louis Schwartz, President
Dobbs Ferry Board of Education 
Mark Your Calendar
     School Budget Vote/Board of Education Election
      Tuesday, May 18th
7:00 AM-9:00 PM
High School Gymnasium

When entering the High School building to vote:
  • Please wear a mask; masks will be provided should you need one
  • Voters need to maintain six feet social distance while waiting in registration lines, for privacy booths and for voting machines
  • Please refrain from lingering and socializing with others
  • Hand sanitizing gel and wipes will be provided
  • Barriers will be installed at registration tables
  • Pens will be sanitized after each use and surfaces will be sanitized throughout the day
  • You must not have experienced any symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 10 days
Your Dollars at Work for our School Community!
Click to view full Dobbs Ferry School District
Springhurst Students Go Back-to-School Full Time
Congratulations DFHS
 Class of 2021
High School Science Chemistry Lab
Middle School Language
& Literature Class

Dobbs Ferry High School Class of 2021
The senior flagpole photo is a fall tradition. This year's Class of 2021 demonstrated that they were "independent thinkers prepared to change the world." Congratulations!
VISIT our WEBSITE and LIKE US on FACEBOOK
Dobbs Ferry School District
505 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 | 914-693-1500