The Rondout Valley Central School District’s projected budget for the 2024-25 school year has a funding gap of about $4 million, School Business Official Nicole DeSousa told the Rondout Valley school board at its March 19 meeting.

According to her report, the projected expenditures are $79.8 million, which is a $4.8 million dollar or 6.39 percent increase over the current year’s budget. “However,” DeSousa said, “our preliminary revenues are shown to be $75.8 million, which is only a $800,000 increase over the current year revenues … so as you see, our expenditures are rising at a higher rate than our revenues, which is a problem.”

She then delved deep into the gritty details of how the tax levy cap works, stating that most factors which determine what it is for the district from year to year are out of their control. DeSousa covered other aspects of the budget, including reserve balances and 2024-25 appropriations, budget-to-budget increases in salaries, pensions, debt service and transportation. The expiration of federal Covid relief money was also touched upon.

But the underlying issue remains the difference between what the budget wants to spend and how much money is expected to come in to support those expenditures. “I showed you before so our current shortfall without appropriated fund balance or reserves is the $3.9 million,” DeSousa said, adding that some financial decisions are yet to be determined.

At the conclusion of DeSousa’s presentation, School Board President Chris Schoonmaker introduced Paul Spadaro, the district’s newly appointed superintendent of schools effective July 1. Schoonmaker and other trustees were clear that the selection process to arrive at their decision was no small feat. In fact, they partnered with consulting firm, McPherson and Jacobson company, who did a national search to find the best suited candidate according to the needs of the district. And in concert with McPherson and Jacobson, all other stakeholders had a voice and played a role in the selection process, Schoonmaker said.

The final two of 19 applicants toured the district, the board did their due diligence and at the end of the day, Spadaro became the final choice.

Trustees’ comments strongly suggested that its measure of success for Spadaro not only lies with academics, leadership and good rapport with staff and students but also being a part of the community itself. “We were also thrilled that you want to be a part of the community, that you want to live in the community,” Schoonmaker said “Living in the community, seeing people at the grocery store or at church … gives a much more holistic view of what our needs are.”

Before Spadaro was given the floor, kudos and many thanks went out to soon-to-retire Superintendent Joseph Morgan. The board acknowledged that after six years of service, he will be leaving very big shoes to fill.

Spadaro’s virtual presence filled the room as the board extended a warm and hearty welcome. Spadaro immediately encouraged the board to keep its chin up concerning the challenging budget year, stating that the problem of emergency relief funds running out is not just local but nationwide. “I think with the talent in that boardroom right there, the sky’s the limit and we can solve anything thrown our way.”

Spadaro currently works in South Carolina as an assistant superintendent of curriculum instruction. He is married with two children and plans to live in the Rondout community on an annual salary of $200,000 set for the term of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027.