District Finances

Budget Overview

On May 21, Gouverneur residents voted to approve a $44,165,000 budget for the 2024-25 school year. The proposal carries a 3.59% spending increase over the current year and a 2.03% increase to the tax levy, which is at the levy limit. The proposed budget supports the following long-term goals of the district:

Bringing consistency to curriculum decisions across grade levels and providing appropriate professional development to support curriculum.
Providing social-emotional support and academic opportunities to ensure all student are engaged and successful.
Ensuring a continuum of special education services district-wide to support all students.

The proposed budget aligns our budgetary decisions with our mission statement to educate all individuals, in a safe environment, to be passionate learners and responsible citizens in a global society. This budget also incorporates many of the staffing positions that were created using federal funding to support our students both academically and socially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Positions that will be added as part of the 2024-25 budget include:
Gouverneur Elementary and Middle School

Math academic intervention services (AIS) teachers
Instructional math coach
Counseling teaching assistants
Additional classroom aides

Gouverneur High School

Reading academic intervention services (AIS) teacher
BOCES alternative education programming

District-wide

School psychology intern
Behavioral support (replace ARP-funded consultant services)
Afterschool and summer remedial and enrichment programming
Technology education support
Orchestra
Online psychologists from ARP grant

The proposed budget focuses on preserving the strong educational programming, safe and secure environments, and extracurricular activities that our community has supported over the years. In preparation for the New York State mandated shift to the use of electric vehicles and the district’s need to be prepared for that shift, the proposed budget includes the purchase of five new diesel-powered buses and one new gasoline-powered Suburban. The budget also includes two fully grant-funded electric-powered vehicles. This will allow the district to determine the feasibility of using electric vehicles in a district of our size and terrain.

Voting Results

BUDGET PROPOSITION: Authorize the Board of Education of the Gouverneur Central School District to expend for General Fund Appropriations a sum of $44,165,000.00 and to levy the necessary taxes thereof. PASSED. YES - 210 NO - 59

STUDENT SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE: Allow a high school student to continue to serve as an ex officio, non-voting member of the Gouverneur Central School District Board of Education subject to the requirements of the Education Law. PASSED. YES - 243 NO - 26

Election of Board Members:
The top 3 vote-getters are elected for three (3) vacancies with terms of three (3) years (7/1/24 – 6/30/27) to succeed Nickolas Ormasen, Laurie Roberts, and Laura Spicer:
#1 – Laurie Roberts, #2 – Nickolas Ormasen, #3 – Laura Spicer. The fourth highest vote-getter is elected for one (1) vacant term commencing 5/22/24, and expiring on 6/30/25, to succeed Lisa McGregor:
#4 - Lisa McGregor
Number of votes received: Laurie M. Roberts - 224, Laura Spicer - 184, Roland Roderick - 106, Nickolas Ormasen - 195, Lisa McGregor - 168, Write-in: 0