The district’s annual operating budget supports educational excellence and quality facilities while being sensitive to the taxpayers of the district.
Goal: Maintain a strong financial position through the optimization of state aid and other revenues along with utilizing cost-effective business practices.
- The financial position of the district improved with additional revenue from New York State in the form of Foundation Aid and BOCES Aid. The district has historically maintained a fiscally responsible approach with these types of additional funds by planning ahead and saving incrementally for the future. This approach is used to mitigate the financial impact on the district’s annual operating budget when major, non-recurring or unforeseen expenditures occur. Reserve funds can also reduce the future impact on taxpayers and protect staffing levels, programs and services for F-M students in case of economic downturns or reductions in state aid funding.
- The district has consistently maintained a strong AA stable bond rating, which means the district is considered financially sound. A strong credit rating will enable the district to receive lower interest rates on future financial borrowing, ultimately saving the district and taxpayers money.
Goal: Complete capital improvement projects on time and within budget to improve learning spaces, building infrastructure, building security and accessibility.
- Construction at F-M High School began as part of the $52 million capital project, which was approved by voters in December 2021. The primary focus of the project is to modernize and expand the school to meet contemporary teaching and learning needs. Work that was completed includes: turf field and track surface replacement, science, technology, engineering and math
(STEM) wing addition, main office renovation, asbestos abatement, demolition of the bridge connecting House 1 and House 2, HVAC replacement and mechanical system upgrades. - Building upgrades to enhance security measures at Enders Road Elementary School and improve ventilation at Fayetteville Elementary School were completed as part of a $1.5 million capital transfer project. A new “storefront” security entrance was added at Enders, which included new keycard access locks, additional doors and windows, and restricted public access to the center courtyard of the building. At FayEl, the ventilation system was upgraded, including the installation of an air conditioning system.
Goal: Monitor the long-range facilities plan to ensure that district facilities are responsive to contemporary teaching and learning needs and support a productive, safe and secure work environment for all students and employees.
- The district’s long-range facilities plan, reviewed by the board’s facilities committee, helps to set the course for improvements over subsequent years. The long-range plan is primarily based on the results of the most recent Building Condition Survey, which was conducted in 2023, along with requests and needs provided by district administrators and building level leaders. The identified projects include improving heating and ventilation systems, replacing roofing, enhancing security, addressing programmatic needs, updating fire alarm and emergency communications systems, and other needs. The district’s long-range plan will also need to include electric buses and related infrastructure upgrades in response to the New York State mandate that all school bus purchases be electric starting July 1, 2027, and all diesel-fueled school buses be replaced with electric buses by July 1, 2035.
Goal: Maintain district technology infrastructure, including privacy and cybersecurity protection systems.
- To improve network quality and reliability, the district began upgrading telecommunication connections from legacy copper to fiber optic cabling. The district also began upgrading the wireless and networking infrastructure at Eagle Hill and Wellwood middle schools to ensure network reliability for students and staff.