fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Submit Your Event
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Send Letter to the Editor
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Our Newsletters
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial
Hudson Valley One
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s UP
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Subscribe to the What’s UP newsletter
  • Opinion
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Log Out
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s UP
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Subscribe to the What’s UP newsletter
  • Opinion
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Log Out
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

Onteora faces higher busing costs

by Nick Henderson
February 29, 2024
in Education
0

School district transportation costs are increasing. The Onteora district’s are up eleven percent next year. A request for proposals resulted in only one bid.

It could have been worse. Without the impending closure of Phoenicia Elementary, the  increase would have been 26 percent.

“We don’t have a lot of transportation departments in our area,” assistant superintendent Monica LaClair said at the February 20 school-board meeting. “We are very rural. And for smaller companies, it’s hard for them to ramp up to the number of buses and the number of staffing that we need to transport all of our kids over almost 300 square miles.”

First Student was the only company submitting a bid.

The bid is submitted by type of equipment and in five- or six-hour daily rate packages, LaClair explained. “For example, a 66-passenger bus has a five-hour package. So that means this is a bus and a driver that needs to be out for five hours.” Currently, Onteora is paying $451.87 for that one run. Next year, it’ll be paying $579.93.

Five years ago, when First Student bid for the contract that they’re currently running, the landscape was very different. After Covid and high inflation, the companies had to start paying their drivers a lot more. 

Phoenicia’s closure will result in the elimination of six bus runs.

“Simply by shifting the students from Phoenicia to Bennett, we’ve reduced our total costs for transportation by half a million dollars,” LaClair said.

The five-year contract will cost $22.6 million. The district is reviewing the potential for reductions.

Field trips and sports will cost $812,762 for five years and summer school $604,173 over five years. 


Tax exemptions

The Onteora School Board increased the income limit for the 50-percent tax exemption available to senior citizens and low-income disabled people from $35,000 to $42,000. The reduction is in the school property-tax assessment for the 2024-25 school year.

A 20-percent exemption is available for those earning at least $45,800 but under $46,699. A ten-percent exemption is for those earning at least $47,600 but under $48,499, and a five-percent exemption for those earning at least $48,500 but under $49,399. 

The senior exemption is in addition to the Enhanced STAR program.

To be eligible, applicants must have owned the property for at least a year months prior to the date of filing. The property must be used for residential purposes and must be the legal residence of the owners.

All owners must be either disabled or 65 or older. Taxpayers must apply on or before March 1. Forms are available at www.onteora.k12.ny.us/exemptions.

For more information, contact Monica LaClaire at 845-657-8499.

Tags: members
Join the family! Grab a free month of HV1 from the folks who have brought you substantive local news since 1972. We made it 50 years thanks to support from readers like you. Help us keep real journalism alive.
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher

Nick Henderson

Nick Henderson was raised in Woodstock starting at the age of three and attended Onteora schools, then SUNY New Paltz after spending a year at SUNY Potsdam under the misguided belief he would become a music teacher. He became the news director at college radio station WFNP, where he caught the journalism bug and the rest is history. He spent four years as City Hall reporter for Foster’s Daily Democrat in Dover, NH, then moved back to Woodstock in 2003 and worked on the Daily Freeman copy desk until 2013. He has covered Woodstock for Ulster Publishing since early 2014.

Related Posts

Onteora faces “unfathomable” choices as district’s enrollment dwindles
Education

Onteora trims defeated building project by nearly $7 million

July 10, 2025
End of  an era
Education

End of an era

July 2, 2025
Kingston High graduating class celebrates surviving a rough time
Education

Kingston High graduating class celebrates surviving a rough time

July 4, 2025
Well done, Saugerties grads
Education

Well done, Saugerties grads

July 1, 2025
148 digital natives graduate from New Paltz High School
Education

148 digital natives graduate from New Paltz High School

July 1, 2025
Kingston parents say remote instruction not as effective as in-person
Education

Dissent grows among Kingston residents over program cuts

June 26, 2025
Next Post
Calief Housen, KHS Class of 2019, shares his mentorship company with the district

Calief Housen, KHS Class of 2019, shares his mentorship company with the district

Weather

Kingston, NY
75°
Clear
5:42 am8:22 pm EDT
Feels like: 75°F
Wind: 5mph N
Humidity: 73%
Pressure: 30"Hg
UV index: 0
SunMonTue
81°F / 68°F
93°F / 70°F
95°F / 70°F
powered by Weather Atlas

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

×
We've expanded coverage and need your support. Subscribe now for unlimited access -- free article(s) remain for the month.
View Subscription Offers Sign In
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Our Newsletters
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Art
    • Books
    • Kids
    • Lifestyle & Wellness
    • Food & Drink
    • Music
    • Nature
    • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Contact Us
    • Customer Support
    • Advertise
    • Submit A News Tip
  • Print Edition
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
    • Where’s My Paper
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Log In
  • Free HV1 Trial
  • Subscribe to Our Newsletters
    • Hey Kingston
    • New Paltz Times
    • Woodstock Times
    • Week in Review

© 2022 Ulster Publishing