SHERMAN — Sherman Central School Board of Education members learned that the district could increase the tax levy up to 3.7% if necessary, when they reviewed the preliminary budget for the 2024-25 school year at their meeting earlier this month. School Business Administrator Kim Oehlbeck told board members the projected total expenses for the district are expected to increase $396,010. This is a 3.27% increase, she said. However, state aid for the district is still not finalized, as the governor’s budget has not been released, Oehlbeck said. The public hearing for the budget is scheduled for May 13. Oehlbeck noted the board must finalize the budget at their regular meeting in April and suggested that the board meet to review figures before then. Board members agreed to schedule a meeting in order to finalize the tax levy, as well as expenditures and revenues. District Superintendent Carrie Yohe said the state budget is predicted to be late this year, which makes it difficult for school districts to be sure of state aid. “It’s a very tough budget this year,” she said. “We’re looking at everything and we have taken some significant things out of the budget.” Board member Tim Sears noted that the cost for educating a single student per year has gone from $25,000 five years ago to $30,000 this year. “It’s not a revenue problem,” he said. “We have to do something about our spending.” Total revenue for the coming year is projected to be $12,511,401, Oehlbeck said. State aid, at this point, is anticipated to be $8,577,403, which is only an increase of $7,019, she said. Yohe updated the board on the Capital Improvement and Capital Outlay projects. She passed around a drawing, done by Alan Tanski, of what will be the new manufacturing/robotics area for board members to review. “We hope to have a glass wall in between the two sections,” she said. Also, Yohe said, they have been looking at the flow of traffic in the kitchen and cafeteria. She noted, as well, that work on the restrooms is ready to begin for the Capital Outlay project. “All of our projects, one, two, three, are moving fast,” she said. In another matter, Yohe asked board members to review the possibility of changing the fees for the use of the gymnasium or classrooms by the public. Currently the fee is $25 an hour, she said. “Sunday is a big day for us. We are one of a few districts with open gym doors on Sunday,” she said. Yohe said the district can still continue with an hourly rate but could also propose a flat rate if a group was only using the gym and no other facilities, such as the locker rooms. Board members will hold further discussions about this matter. The board gave approval for Yohe to denote April 8 as an emergency weather day. That day was already designated as a Superintendent’s Day, but by effectively using a snow day it enables all staff and faculty to stay home, as well, Yohe said. In other business, board members approved the 2024-25 school calendar. Board members discussed the possibility of leasing 1.2 acres behind the bus garage to a local farmer who wishes to plant corn there. No decision was made, but Sears suggested no more than a three-to-five-year lease. Board members also accepted the resignation of elementary teacher Mary Caldwell, effective March 1, and approved the appointment of Katherine Syper as a student Occupational Therapist from Carlow University, beginning on April 1.