Absentee Ballot Information

Absentee Ballots available April 16
Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained from the District Clerk between 9:00am and 3:30 pm on any school day in the District Office. The application must be returned to the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be given personally to the voter.

How Is Haldane Trying To Control Costs?

The Haldane Board of Education continues to grapple with expected declines in state aid and expected increases in health care, salaries and pensions. Mitigating overall budget increases requires careful management of all spending in the district. Through improvements to contracts and benefits, operations and management, business operations and other expenses, a lean, efficient spending plan has been crafted. The Board will be scrutinizing line items on this budget with the knowledge that this year’s spending will also set the stage for next year’s difficult budget, as state funding will likely decrease further. The Board is committed to fiscal responsibility and keeping spending as low as possible. The Board is also determined to avoid spikes and valleys in tax rates due to short-sightedness.

To see the cost control presentation from the 3/16/10 Board of Education Meeting click here. Then join the discussion at the next Board meeting on April 6, 2010.

Next BOE Meeting 4/6/10 Budget Discussion

The Board of Education will meet on April 6, 2010 to once more discuss their spending plan for the school. This is an excellent opportunity for the community to learn more details and ask questions about the proposed budget before it is put up for the vote on May 18. 
Adoption of the 2010–11 Budget will take place on April 13. See the updated budget calendar on Haldane’s website or on the PTA wiki site for details.

3/16/10 BOE Meeting Begins With Locker Room Tour—Open To Public

The public is invited to inspect the school locker rooms which have been under discussion for a few years as needing repair. Following the tour the Board of Education will meet back at the Fireplace Room to convene for special presentations and a Pre-Budget Hearing. Please see the draft agenda for a list of all meeting topics.

Haldane Top 5% in New York State for Excellent Financial Management

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli reported the results of a five-year program that audited every school district and BOCES in New York State for ethical and capable financial management. According to DiNapoli, “the overwhelming majority of school districts are honest and ethical and care only about providing the best education possible.” 
Of the 733 school districts and BOCES that were examined, 39 districts, about 5%, were deemed excellent. Haldane School received this honorable designation for its good financial practice. 
Read more about the Comptroller’s office findings: http://www.nyssba.org/index.php?src=news&submenu=news_media&srctype=detail&category=On%20Board%20Online%20February%2022%202010&refno=1243
Here is the list of the 39 school districts that received top marks based on five years of audits. Haldane is the only school in Putnam County on this list. No schools from Dutchess, Orange or Rockland Counties made the list:
http://www.nyssba.org/index.php?src=news&submenu=news_media&srctype=detail&category=On%20Board%20Online%20February%2022%202010&refno=1244
To see the audit report on district cash handling from the office of the Comptroller, click here.

Draft Full Budget Document

The Board of Education has started to look at the complete draft budget, now available on the Haldane School website. Link to the draft budget here, and follow the budget process at the Board of Education section of the Haldane School website:
http://www.haldaneschool.org/site_res_view_template.aspx?id=40ec2188-aadb-4362-bb03-4f6f4b6815c1 and listen to podcasts of complete meetings on iTunes.

What are Pupil Personnel Services?

On 3/9/10, the Board of Education will hear a special presentation by administrators about pupil personnel services, which include guidance counselors and social workers. The draft agenda for this meeting is now available.

New Agenda for 3/2/10 Meeting

The BOE Workshop which was originally scheduled for 2/23/10 and was postponed and then cancelled due to weather has now been rescheduled for 3/9/10. See the new agenda for the March 2, 2010 BOE meeting. Tonight’s Meeting will not include the special presentation of Pupil Personnel Services. This presentation will occur instead at the 3/9/10 Workshop.