Announcements

School budget vote May 21

Voters will decide on the 2013-14 school budget proposal on Tuesday, May 21, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Schalmont High School New Gym Foyer, 1 Sabre Dr.

Are you elgible to vote? Click here to find out.

Can't be there May 21? Click here to learn how to get an absentee ballot.

Your voice can make a difference! Be an advocate for Schalmont students.     

Alumni Wall of Distinction honorees announced

Schalmont Central School District is proud to announce this year's Schalmont High School Alumni Wall of Distinction honorees: Frank A. Mauro, Class of 1980; and Bruce R. Tulloch, Class of 1964. They will be inducted during a formal ceremony on Wednesday, June 5, at 4:30 p.m. in the Schalmont High School library. Learn more

School budget vote May 21

Voters will held to the polls to decide on a $43,173,155 budget proposal for the 2013-14 school year on Tuesday, May 21, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Schalmont High School new gym lobby. Learn more

School board adopts 2013-14 budget proposal

The Schalmont Board of Education recently adopted a $43,173,155 budget proposal for the 2013-14 school year that would increase spending by 2.98 percent over the current year's budget and decrease the school tax levy by 8.11 percent. Residents will vote on the proposal on Tuesday, May 21, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Schalmont High School new gym lobby. Learn more

Five candidates seek three open seats on school board

On May 21, voters will select from among five candidates to fill three open seats on the Schalmont Board of Education. Incumbents Michael Della Villa and Robert Sheehan filed petitions as well as newcomers John DiCocco, Amelia Hallam and William Wilday. Learn more

PILOT agreements affect 2013-14 school budget, tax levy limit

Schalmont, the Town of Rotterdam and Schenectady County reached a 10-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement with General Electric in June 2012. While the agreement will prove beneficial to the district's long-range financial planning, it has a unique impact on next year's budget proposal because of the way PILOTs factor into the state's property tax levy cap formula. Learn more

Imran Abbasi named Schalmont High School Principal

The Schalmont Board of Education recently approved the appointment of Imran Abbasi to the position of Schalmont High School Principal beginning this summer. Learn more

Voters to decide on bus purchase proposition

On May 21, when Schalmont residents head to the polls to vote on the 2013-14 school budget and school board election, they will also consider a separate proposition for $455,000 to purchase three 66-passenger buses, one 28-passenger wheelchair bus and a Suburban. Learn more

School officals present final draft budget proposal

The Schalmont Board of Education continued its budget development process for the 2013-14 schol year on Monday, April 8, at its regular meeting. Learn more

Fundraiser to benefit Schalmont's baseball program April 28

Come on out and enjoy some great food while supporting Schalmont's baseball program! Stop by Hot Harry's Fresh Burritos, 1625 Upper Union Street, for a “Dining for a Causeâ€� fundraiser on Sunday, April 28, from 4-9. The restaurant will donate 15 percent of all sales to the school's baseball program. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase to qualify. Download coupon 

Miss a call from Schalmont's Dollars for Scholars?

Did you miss a call from Schalmont's Dollars for Scholars during their annual phone-a-thon this week? No problem. Donations are accepted at any time of the year. To make a tax-deductible contribution to student scholarships, mail a check to Schalmont Dollars for Scholars, 93 West Campbell Road, PO BOX 6119, Schenectady, NY 12306. Thanks in advance for your support! Learn more 

State exams reflect new Common Core Learning Standards

Students in grades 3-8 recently completed the state English Language Arts (ELA) exams and will soon take the state's math exams. These tests mark a time of transition in our schools, as this is the first year they will be based on the new Common Core Learning Standards, which are national learning standards that have been adopted by New York and states across the country. Learn more

More than $5,000 raised at "Coaches vs. Cancer" event

Many thanks to everyone who donated to Schalmont and Mohonasen's varsity and JV baseball teams "Coaches vs. Cancer" event on April 13. Together, the teams raised more than $5,000 for the American Cancer Society program. Schalmont's varsity team won Saturday's game 2-1 and the JV team won 4-3. Go Sabres!

Students prepared to rock the new state math assessments

Crafting poems, songs and videos about the state's new math curriculum and test-taking tips are just some of the ways Schalmont Middle School students are preparing to rock the upcoming grades 3-8 math exams. Learn more

School board approves 2013-14 calendar

At its meeting on March 25, the Schalmont Board of Education approved the one-page 2013-14 school year calendar. A more detailed calendar, with school-specific events, will be posted to the website and mailed home to all district parents in August. Calendar [PDF]

Professional development day focuses on curriculum changes, safety

While students enjoyed a day off from school on Friday, March 22, Schalmont faculty and staff members participated in a day of professional development. Learn more

Professional engineer visits high school class

Many thanks to Angelo Santabarbara, senior project engineer at Ingalls & Associates, who visited Schalmont High School students in late March. Learn more

Pay it Forward Fair encourages students to spread generosity

From helping out neighbors and relatives to making charitable donations and volunteering their time, Jefferson students are once again proving they are a compassionate bunch. Learn more

Congratulations to budding author Natalie Stagnitti!

Congratulations to Natalie Stagnitti who was hand-picked by author Gordan Korman as one of four finalists for StoryWorks magazine's "Create a Character" Contest! Learn more

Challenges facing public schools

Want to learn more about some of the biggest challenges schools throughout New York state are facing? If so, please take some time to peruse through a series of fact sheets and short videos on everything from New York state's property tax levy "cap" law to the state's Gap Elimination Adjustment and state mandates. Learn more

Budget Advisory Committee reviewing draft budget proposal

Budget planning for the 2013-14 school year continues with a series of Budget Advisory Committee meetings, which are open to the public and consists of 15 community volunteers who help move the budget from draft stage to a final proposal. Learn more

Follow Superintendent Pallas on Twitter

You can now follow Dr. Carol Pallas on the online social networking service Twitter. The new superintendent plans to live "tweet" from school and district events as well as share important educational resources and information with the Schalmont community. Sign-up for a free Twitter account if you don't have one already. Follow Dr. Pallas

Tools help clarify Common Core for parents

New York State, through its engageny.org website, offers The Toolkit for Parents and Families, a collection of materials and resources that help parents help their children with the changes associated with Common Core State Standards. Learn more

District preparing for shift to new state assessments

Big changes are underway in Schalmont as school officials, faculty and staff work together to ensure students are prepared for new state assessments this spring. Learn more

"Little Shop of Horrors" is a success

 Congratulations to Schalmont High School's Drama Club on their performance of "Little Shop of Horrors" on Friday and Saturday, March 8-9. Photo Gallery

Thank you for taking our survey!

District officials want to thank the almost 650 Mohonasen and Schalmont residents who recently completed a survey designed to gather public input on a joint state grant application for a feasibility study. Learn more

New safety procedures at Jefferson

Effective March 4, the front doors at Jefferson Elementary School facing Princetown Road will only be used for student arrival and dismissal each day. These doors will remain locked at all other times. All student drop offs, pickups, and parent visitors should enter the building via the primary office accessed by Ford Avenue. Learn more

School officials present first draft budget proposal

Although budget reductions are likely again for the 2013-14 school year, school officials believe Schalmont is in a better financial position than most New York state school districts. Learn more

School board approves initiatives designed to strengthen school security

After hearing from the district's safety committee, the Schalmont Board of Education, on Feb. 25, authorized the expenditure of up to $40,000 to beef up school security. Learn more 

What GEA really means for our schools

Have you been hearing about the Gap Elimination Adjustment, or GEA, but are not really sure what it is and how it's impacting school districts? Watch video

Heptathlete signs National Letter of Intent to attend University at Buffalo

Schalmont High School senior Isabella Borini likens her decision to attend the University at Buffalo to picking a prom dress. Learn more

Schalmont Athletic Association raises nearly $5,000 at bowling event

Thanks to an outpouring of community support, the Schalmont Athletic Association raised nearly $5,000 at its sixth annual "No Tap" Bowling Outing at Boulevard Bowl in Schenectady on Feb. 2. Learn more   

Schalmont stakeholders attend education advocacy forum

Schalmont leaders, educators, parents and community members joined nearly 1,500 representatives from 47 area school districts on Thursday, Jan. 31, for a forum entitled, "Your Public Schools in Fiscal Peril - Running Out of Time & Options" at Columbia High School. Learn more

Flu information for district families

Doctors and health authorities are warning families that the flu season, which typically runs from October to May, has become an aggressive and widespread battleground against illness this year. With this in mind, the Schalmont Central School District is providing information to parents and community members regarding the flu. Learn more

Jefferson students recognized for good citizenship

Congratulations to Jefferson Elementary School students for taking first place yet again in the League of Women Voters "Take Me To Vote Day" program. Learn more

Grant update: Teacher on special assignment to enhance professional development

Thanks to a New York State Management Efficiency Competitive Grant, Schalmont faculty and staff will be receiving coaching and other support from a teacher on special assignment for the remainder of the school year. Learn more

Current affairs class bowls for a good cause

Students enrolled in Adam Dolan's Current Affairs in the 21st Century course scored big this holiday season for the 10 children and their families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Albany. Learn more

Schalmont celebrates the holidays with charitable giving

The holidays are always a special time of year when the Schalmont community comes together to help those in need. Learn more

District welcomes Carol A. Pallas as new superintendent

The Schalmont Central School District welcomes Dr. Carol A. Pallas as she marks her first day as superintendent of schools. Learn more

Safety committee to review current policies and procedures, schedule public safety forum

Schalmont is always seeking to evaluate and improve school security—and continually does so. Learn more

Statement from the superintendent regarding CT tragedy

On behalf of the entire Schalmont Central School District community, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the children, families, and staff of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. As details of this tragic event continue to unfold, many students may have questions or concerns about what they are seeing or hearing on the news. Learn more

Reading, writing and class discussions designed to combat bullying

Reading can change lives and affect behavior. That's why middle school English teacher Elisa Pepe is using young adult literature to engage students in thinking about and discussing a very important social issue: bullying. Learn more

Schalmont supports Shen/Shaker communities

To express their deepest sympathies and support for two area teens seriously injured in a recent Northway crash, Schalmont High School students began signing a large poster board in school today. View the photo gallery

Important safety notice regarding student drop-off and pick-up

Please remember that only school buses are allowed in the middle/high school traffic circle between the hours of 7-8 a.m. and 2-3 p.m. Passenger vehicles are not permitted to enter the area during that time, as well as any other time the red light may be flashing. To drop-off or pick-up students, please proceed to the middle school parking lot for fifth- through eighth-graders and the high school new gym (located at the rear of the building) for ninth- through twelfth-graders. Thank you for your cooperation.

Students join the national political conversation

Generating interest in this fall's election was easy for high school social studies teacher Adam Dolan. Learn more

Juniors and seniors pledge not to text and drive

To help raise awareness about the risks of texting while driving, juniors and seniors attended an assembly on the topic on Nov. 21, courtesy of Assemblyman George Amedore and AT&T. Learn more 

Baseball pitcher Chris Amorosi signs letter of intent with Siena

With the stroke of a pen, Schalmont High School senior Chris Amorosi officially declared his intention to play baseball for Siena College next year. Learn more 

District's online meal prepayment system changed to mySchoolBucks.com

The district's online prepayment system for school meals, MyNutrikids.com, was recently purchased by Heartland Payment Systems, and has been changed to mySchoolBucks.com. Learn more 

Carol A. Pallas selected as district's next superintendent

After a six-month search that included substantial community input, the Schalmont Board of Education has selected Carol A. Pallas, Ed.D, to be the district's next superintendent of schools. Learn more

Role models spark children's enthusiasm about reading

Positive role models can help spark a child's love of reading. That's exactly why parents, students, faculty and staff teamed up for a special event on Nov. 14, kicking off the district's Let's Get STARTED! reading initiative. Photo gallery

Fourth-graders celebrate Thanksgiving early

Fourth-graders in Michelle Adalian, Kathy Cathell and Susan DiCaprio's classes enjoyed an early Thanksgiving feast at school this year. Learn more and view photos

Fall 2012 newsletter now available online

Download the district's latest newsletter to learn more about Schalmont's efforts to educate the whole child. You'll also find a message from the superintendent and information about the agreement reached with General Electric. A hard copy will be mailed to district residents in early December. Download the newsletter [PDF]

First-ever Fall Festival was a success

Bobbing for apples, dressing up in costume and exploring a corn maze were just some of the many ways hundreds of Jefferson students and their families celebrated Halloween this year. Learn more and view photos

Students' spook-tacular treats put faculty and staff under their spell

Spooky skeleton cookies and wicked witch cupcakes bewitched faculty and staff serving as judges for the first-ever "Halloween Wars" late last week. Learn more and view photos

Runners have a ghoulish good time

Students had a ghoulish good time raising money for charity during the middle school's annual "Ghostly Gallop for Good" cross-country race on Friday, Oct. 26. Learn more and view photos

Districts denied efficiency grant for reorganization study

Schalmont officials learned last week that they won't be receiving $40,000 in state government funding to conduct a feasibility study with the Mohonasen and Duanesburg school districts. Learn more

Teachers' passion ignites a districtwide reading initiative

A pair of Schalmont teachers' passion for reading is serving as a catalyst to boost parental involvement and student achievement districtwide. Learn more

Sale of peanut butter/peanut butter products to resume

On Oct. 10, the New York State Office of General Services (OGS) instructed our food services department not to serve any peanut butter, or any food items containing peanut butter until they were able to confirm the safety of our products. Since then, OGS has been able to confirm the safety of most of our products. Learn more

Student nurtures a plant's growth

Although she's an experienced gardener, Jefferson Elementary School student Ashley never harvested a cabbage before this summer. Learn more

Students' essays pay off

Congratulations to Alexandra Warner and Chris Marotta for their winning entries in the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen Association's Fire Prevention Writing Contest. Learn more

Schalmont Athletic Association raises nearly $10,000 at golf tournament

The Schalmont Athletic Association raised approximately $9,800 at its Sixth Annual Golf Tournament at the Western Turnpike Golf Course in Guilderland on Sept. 17. Learn more

Homecoming was a success

There was no shortage of Schalmont sports fans at the homecoming festivities on Saturday, Sept. 22. Photo gallery

New security procedures in effect

As part of an ongoing effort to keep Schalmont students safe and secure, all visitors to the district's school buildings must present their driver's license or non-driver's identification card upon arrival. Learn more

Kindergartners join the fun

Kindergarten students joined the fun as they arrived for their first full day of school on Friday, Sept. 7, a day later than the rest of the district's students. Photo gallery

Welcome back to school!

The Schalmont Central School District enthusiastically welcomed back students in first through twelfth grade on Thursday, Sept. 6. Kindergartners attended a full day of school on Friday, Sept. 7. Photo gallery

Special parent newsletter addresses changes, policies

A special parent newsletter is being mailed to families this week, which provides an overview of the many changes coming to public education this school year and several policies addressing the importance of school attendance, acceptable behavior on the school bus, appropriate student dress and expectations for the use of electronic equipment. Newsletter [PDF]

Schalmont students perform with summer honor choir

Congratulations to all 15 students who were selected to participate in the New York State School Music Association/American Choral Directors Association Elementary School and Middle School honor choirs this summer. Learn more

District launches new website

This September, the Schalmont website will start off the school year with a fresh face. Today, the district launched a new website design that offers many of the same features visitors are used to—and much more. Learn more

Federal healthy children initiative means changes to school meals, price increases

As students return to school this fall, they will discover an even greater variety of nutritious food choices in their school cafeterias. Learn more

Application for free and reduced-price school meals/milk

Children from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible for free or reduced price meals. Learn more

School board holds annual reorganizational meeting

The Schalmont Central School District Board of Education re-elected Sandra Beloncik for a third term as president and Gregory Campoli for another term as vice-president during its 2012-13 organizational meeting.  Learn more

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