Sloatsburg Elementary School staff greet the announcement of the school’s new principal, Joseph Lloyd.
Sloatsburg Elementary School was in the spotlight during the most recent Ramapo School Board of Education meeting at Cherry Lane Elementary School. Superintendent Dr. Douglas Adams introduced the district’s candidate to lead Sloatsburg Elementary School, after sorting through some 120 applicants and various interviews.
Joseph Lloyd, who has been serving as assistant prinicipal at James A. Farley Elementary School in North Rockland School District, was confirmed by the BOE to replace outgoing Principal Eric Baird, who served at Sloatsburg for some five years after he replaced the legendary Ron Anagnostis. Coincidentally, Baird is due to become principal of Cherry Lane.
Lloyd took the Cherry Lane gym floor to say a few words like he had absolutely won the educational lottery with his new assignment. Lloyd said it was a “lifelong dream to be a principal” and promised a team-based leadership approach for the school. A contingent of Sloatsburg Elementary teachers and staff gave Mr. Lloyd a warm welcome with a loud cheer and standing ovation.
The BOE and Dr. Adams appeared to beam at the greeting the Sloatsburg team gave to its new principal. Mr. Lloyd, who starts at the school in July 1, smiled widely and momentarily basked in the applause, surrounded by his wife, children, mother and father, and other family members, who all attended the announcement in a show of support.
Mr. Lloyd will begin his transition this spring and meet staff, students and parents at several events at Sloatsburg Elementary School.
Ramapo Central Budget Brief
Before the general board meeting, the BOE held the last of this year’s budget workshops with Assistant Superintendent for Business Kelly Seibert presenting the districts final 2014-15 calculations based on state budget information. The proposed 2014-15 budget totals $130,372,327, which will represent a budget-to-budget increase of 1.85% and a maximum allowable tax levy limit of 0.82%.
The district faces a 2014-15 budget deficit of some $1.7 million dollars, most all of that due to the impact of the state’s Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) legislation. Ramapo Central has lost nearly $12.5 million dollars in promised state aid over the last five years — money that the district budgeted for, was promised, but then was never delivered by the state.
The Gap Elimination Adjustment loss has been the district’s budgetary achilles heel. The district’s budget presentation indicated that if the GAP monies are not delivered, future Ramapo Central budgets may eventually have to cut personnel and programs to make up the gap. Seibert said that the district can’t continue to rely on reserve money to make up the difference.
The Ramapo Central School District administration team will present the proposed 2014-2015 school budget at a Ramapo Central PTA Council event scheduled for Thursday, April 24th, at 7 p.m. in the Suffern Middle School Auditorium.
In an effort to answer the public’s questions in detail, the District suggests that questions be submitted prior to the presentation via e-mail to budget@ramapocentral.org by Tuesday, April 22. All Ramapo Central residents are welcome to attend.
