BOE Meeting Postponed Again—to 3/2/10

It would seem that Mother Nature intends the Board of Education not to meet this week. The meeting that was originally scheduled for 2/23/10 and then postponed to 2/25/10 has now been postponed to 3/2/10. Thus far, the weather is looking good for that day.

NYSSBA Analysis of Governor Paterson’s Proposed Cuts to School Aid

According to a recent analysis by the New York State School Boards Association, Governor Paterson’s proposed cuts to school funding will spell serious trouble for schools and for already over-taxed property owners. Reducing state aid will compel school districts to go to local taxpayers to make up budget shortfalls, due to ever-increasing costs of salaries, benefits and other compulsory expenses in school budgets. NYSSBA proposes that Paterson should restore the funding to schools and enact mandate relief to ease the burden of unfunded mandates on school districts.
To see the entire analysis, including a chart showing the changes in funding by county, click here.

Early Dismissal—BOE Meeting POSTPONED to 2/25/10

Due to an updated weather forecast the Haldane Central School District is closing at 1 PM for HS/ MS and 2 PM for the ES. All after school activities are cancelled including the BOE meeting which is rescheduled for Thursday (executive session at 6:30 PM and meeting at 7 PM). The sectional basketball game scheduled for tonight had been postponed.
See the draft agenda for Thursday’s meeting here. Special topics for the meeting include: review of full draft budget document and a presentation about Pupil Personnel Services (i.e., social worker).

Letter to the Community from Dr. Villanti

Anticipating budget concerns, Superintendent Mark Villanti posted the following letter on the Haldane School website:
http://www.haldaneschool.org/www/haldaneschool/site/hosting/Superintendent/0910/021810.pdf

PTA Budget Information Meeting—Podcast Now Up!

On February 9, 2010 Superintendent Mark Villanti and Board of Education President Dave Merandy sat down with members of the PTA to talk about the 2010–11 Budget. Dr. Villanti outlined the biggest budget concerns: rising costs of teacher salaries and benefits coupled with flat or shrinking state aid. Dr. Villanti also explained what the contingency budget would mean to the district this year. 


For more information about the budget and the effects of a contingency please listen to the podcast, now available on iTunes for a free download under the name: Haldane Central School District - Board of Education.


Dr. Villanti’s PowerPoint presentation is a helpful addition to the budget discussion on the podcast.

How DOES Property Tax Work?

The attached handout from the NYS Office of Real Property Services explains how the property tax system works as it relates to our local taxing jurisdictions. Though extremely complicated, the handout does do a good job of explaining the process:
How Property Tax Works

Concise Budget—Contractual Increases

Contingency Budget—How Bad Might It Be?

Really bad. 
In years past, Haldane voters have supported school budgets because the alternative—the contingency budget—meant a similar tax increase with unacceptable spending restrictions. Voters reasonably figured that voting against the budget was equivalent to shooting themselves in the foot. 
Things are very different this year, and the consequences could be far worse.
The CPI is set at 0% this year, which would mean that a contingency budget would require cuts. Superintendent Mark Villanti estimates these cuts would be approximately $800,000. Schools are not permitted to pick and choose where they cut spending, either. Teacher salaries, benefits, and existing contracts must be honored by law.
So where will the cuts occur? 
Everywhere else. 
This year, for the first time, a contingency budget threatens not only extra-curricular activities, but programs and staff positions as well. $800K is a lot to cut from a $20+ million dollar budget. 
At the next Board of Education meeting on February 23, 2010 the Board will go over the spending plan in detail, and some time time after that a draft budget document will be made available to the public for examination. The Board needs to hear from the public during this difficult budget year.
Please return here often for updates and information about the budget planning process.

School Closed February 10, 2010

Due to the predicted snow storm, school has been cancelled for Wednesday, February 10, 2010.

Board of Education Comes to You!

Members of the Board of Education and Superintendent Villanti will be attending a special meeting of the PTA this Tuesday, February 9th, at 7:30 PM in room 218 concerning upcoming budget discussions. This meeting will be informal with the purpose of providing information and answering any questions that parents may have about budget deliberations. The cut backs in state aide to schools make this year’s budget particularly challenging. The Board needs to hear from you during its planning process.