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Jamestown School Board Approves Budget

Paul Abbott, Jamestown Public Schools board president, and Dr. Kevin Whitaker, Jamestown Public Schools superintendent, speak as board member Shelly Leathers looks on at left.

The Jamestown Board of Education has approved an $89,879,178 budget for 2021-22 with no program cuts and no tax levy increase.

“We are happy to approve the 2021-22 budget to put forth for a community vote on May 18th,” said Paul Abbott, Jamestown Board of Education president. “We are pleased that the budget, which includes no tax impact for our community, will add critical positions that will directly help our students’ and their families’ social and emotional needs during this difficult time, especially as students start to transition back to attending school in person. I am proud of the efforts and thankful to the JPS administrative team and the Board of Education Budget & Finance Committee (Shelly Leathers, Patrick Slagle and Joe Pawelski) who put our students’ and families’ needs first and foremost.”

The budget includes a community navigator, two new school psychologists, an increase in contracted social workers, a reading and literacy coordinator, music equipment, music travel, athletic equipment, athletic uniforms and technology equipment. The community navigator is a new position to help provide a connection between JPS’ Latino population and the district. Due to language barriers or other reasons, JPS’ Hispanic population has expressed a desire to have a person who has a solid connection to the Latino population and can speak Spanish, to act as a liaison between the schools and the community.

“After all of the unknowns that have plagued us throughout this budget season, to be able to support students in their connection to school, as well as with their transition back to school is truly wonderful,” said JPS Superintendent Kevin Whitaker. “I am looking forward to doing the work that we need to do to get learning back on track, and am grateful for the board’s support of our students and our community. I greatly appreciate the support and flexibility of our parents and community throughout this challenging year, and hope that we have a strong turnout on May 18th.”

The 2021-22 School Budget & Capital Improvement Project vote and School Board elections will be held on Tuesday, May 18th from noon to 9 p.m. Registered voters can vote at Lincoln Elementary School and Jefferson and Washington Middle Schools. If you have questions on how to register to vote or obtain an absentee ballot, or where you should vote, please contact JPS District Clerk, Jaunita Walter, at 716-483-4420 or email jaunita.m.walter@jpsny.org.

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