Haldane Board of Education Breaking News

BREAKING NEWS: Philipstown Councilman-elect and Haldane Board of Education Trustee Dave Merandy announced his resignation at the December 20, 2011 Board workshop meeting. 

Board Meeting Highlights 12/6/11

Highlights from the 12/6/11 Haldane School Board monthly business meeting:

• Correction to the school calendar—change scheduled Superintendent’s Conference Day from May 16 to April 27, 2012 as per SED for state test scoring. Note that this date change affects K–8 students only, and high school will be in session on that date.
• The Board approved an agreement to obtain training to use AIMSweb, a software system which will answer the new requirements for Response to Intervention (RTI) in K–4. This program provides diagnostic assessments, intervention suggestions and progress monitoring.
• Approval of a capital project for BOCES. The cost of the project will be shared by all eighteen BOCES component districts. The cost to the district is $290,367, but if the project comes in under budget, unspent funds will be returned to the district.
• Approval of Special Education District Plan, Fall 2011. The Plan will be posted to the Haldane website and includes language about the new RTI requirements and how Haldane will address these requirements.
• An update of the Fields Study—stakeholders meet this week with Ward Assoc. to discuss recommendations. Additional site visits will take place, and another public presentation will likely occur in January.

Looking ahead:

• The Board will celebrate the Girls Varsity Volleyball Team State Championship at the next Board Workshop on 12/20/11. This workshop will take place in the cafeteria at 7:00 pm. All are invited to attend and share in the celebration.
• Budget Kickoff Meeting: 1/3/12.

Teachers' Contract: Statement by the Board of Education

The linked statement was read by Board President Joe Curto at the 11/15/11 Haldane School Board of Education meeting after the Board voted to adopt the Memorandum of Agreement with the Haldane Faculty Association. Of interest to the community are the highlighted notes about savings to the district which this agreement creates. As an ongoing effort to promote transparency in school district business, this and all contracts over $100,000 can be found on the Haldane School website under District Resources>Contracts.


http://www.haldaneschool.org/www/haldaneschool/site/hosting/Contracts/HFA%20BOE%20Statement%20111511.pdf

Girls' Volleyball and Haldane's State Championship Recognition

The Haldane Board of Education December business meeting will be December 6 at 7:00 pm in the Mabel Merritt Building Fireplace Room. The Board will give special recognition to the Haldane Girls Volleyball team for its State Championship victory. Also of note: updates from the Fields meeting and the Special Education District Plan. See the Haldane school website for the draft agenda, which is usually available the Friday before a scheduled Tuesday meeting.

Administrator Reports, Audit Committee Report, Board Classroom Visits

Haldane's Board of Education meets Tuesday evening, 11/15/11 at 7:00 pm in the Mabel Merritt Building Fireplace Room. As always, the draft agenda is available on the Haldane School website. There will also be special presentations on Atlas Curriculum Planning with Julia Sniffen and Jennifer Wilson and Naviance College & Career Planning Resource with Brian Alm.

BOE Workshop: Bullying, Strategic Plan Update And More On BoardDocs

Haldane Board of Education will meet for its monthly workshop October 18, 2011 at 7:00 pm in the Mabel Merritt Building Fireplace Room. The draft agenda is now available on the school website.

BoardDocs Presentation

At the October 4, 2011 meeting, the Haldane Board of Education heard a demonstration of BoardDocs, a web-based tool that could enable the Board to increase its public transparency by making documents available on the internet. Along with the new iPad initiative, BoardDocs has the added benefit of decreasing the use of paper.

A tool such as BoardDocs will allow the Haldane Board of Education to conduct its business in a more efficient way, allowing the public to have access to documents presented at every meeting in a timely manner. Other features of this tool include collaborations with Boards of Education across the country, and 24/7 service support. The District would pay a one-time implementation fee of $1000, and $2,700 annual membership fee. For more information on BoardDocs check out: http://www.boarddocs.com/

Following the BoardDocs presentation President Joe Curto expressed his delight with the Haldane PTA adding that he was pleased to have been invited to the first PTA Meeting of the year. He also announced that he is interested in increasing the collaboration between the PTA and the Haldane Board of Education, and requests that a PTA Executive Board member regularly attend the Board of Education workshop meetings so that they can share their news with the Board. Workshop meetings are held once per month, and the next workshop is scheduled for October 18 at 7pm.

The Board of Education will hold its monthly business meeting on Tuesday, October 4 at 7:00 pm in the Merritt Building. Superintendent Villanti will report on Field Study public meeting, and there will be a special presentation on BoardDocs, software used to make Board meeting packets for use on the trustees' new iPads. A Draft agenda for the meeting is available on the Haldane School Website.

IMPACT software, SATs and Volunteer Recognition

The Haldane BOE workshop meeting on Tuesday Sept. 19 began with recognition of the Haldane Foundation, PTA and Athletic Booster Club officers for all their hard work and achievements. Mike Lisikatos, Maintenance Worker and volunteer fireman for the North Highlands Fire Department was recognized for his heroism during Hurricane Irene.

The Superintendent mentioned enrollment is holding and SAT scores increased last year despite a nation-wide decrease in scores reported by the Associated Press. Thomas Cunningham, Director of Health, Athletics and Physical Education, explained that IMPACT software will be utilized this year for concussion management. This software allows the department to test players and create an archive of baseline results that can be used to assist in identifying possible injury.

The Board emphasized the importance of public input for the Haldane Field Study Kick-off scheduled for Sept. 26^th at 7pm in the auditorium. Improved fields will impact many groups in the community. In addition to the sports teams, all Haldane students would benefit from the opportunity to utilize an improved green space in PE and other school activities.

Concerning BOE procedure, the Board agreed on the goal that all BOE Committees should approve and distribute minutes prior to the next BOE meeting. 

The Board of Education will meet next on October 4, 2011 for a monthly business meeting. 

PTA, HSF and Athletic Booster Club Recognition

Again this year the Haldane Board of Education has renewed its tradition to recognize the incoming and outgoing officers of volunteer groups in the school. At the workshop meeting on Tuesday, September 21, the Board will recognize the Haldane School Foundation, PTA and Athletic Booster Club Officers; Michael Lisikatos, Maintenance Worker I & Volunteer Fireman for the North Highlands Fire Department. 


In addition, this workshop will be the first of the school year when administrators offer their reports to the Board. Workshop will begin at 7:00pm in the Fireplace Room of the Mabel Merritt Building.


Draft Agenda is available of the Haldane School website.

NEW Email Address, Athletic Fields, PTA Recognition

The Board of Education announced at the 9/6/11 meeting something brand new: an email address! The address is boe@haldaneschool.org, and all messages sent to this address will be read by all Board members. 
There are a few upcoming meetings of note:

• September 14 at 3:15 pm on the Football Field is a meeting with NYS Senator Greg Ball to discuss field repairs
• September 20 at 7:00 pm the Mabel Merritt Building Fireplace Room is the Board of Education Monthly Workshop Meeting. The Board will recognize the PTA, Haldane School Foundation and Boosters. 
• September 26 at 7:00 pm is the Field Study kickoff meeting with architecture/engineering firm Ward Associates who will be performing the study. All stakeholder groups and residents of Philipstown are welcome to attend, ask questions, and join the discussion. Location details for this meeting to follow.

2011-12 School Year Begins

The Haldane Board of Education met over the summer in July and August, elected new officers, (President Joe Curto and Vice President Gillian Thorpe) approved a 1.62% tax increase, (lower than the rate publicized at budget time) and approved funding of the field condition study (in conjunction with Town of Philipstown, the Village of Cold Spring and other local organizations). The Board will meet on September 6, 2011 at 7:00 pm in the Mabel Merritt Building Fireplace Room for its first regular meeting. As of this posting the draft agenda was not yet on the school website.


UPDATE: the draft agenda is now available on the school home page.

Last Board of Education Meeting for the School Year

On Tuesday, June 21 at 7:00 pm in the cafeteria the Board of Education will hold its last meeting of the school year before reorganization in July. The draft agenda is now available on the Haldane school website.


The Board will hear public comments about the draft Coaches' Handbook and changes to the Code of Conduct. The public is encouraged to review these documents and contribute to the discussion with comments at Tuesday's meeting.

School Calendar for 2011–2012

The first day of the 2011–2012 school year starts before Labor Day this year: September 2. For the complete school calendar visit the Haldane school website.

Say Hello and Goodbye

The June 7, 2011 Haldane School Board of Education meeting will be a bittersweet one: the Board will recognize retirees as well as welcome new hires beginning at 7:00 pm in the Music Room. Draft agenda will be posted shortly on the Haldane School website.


CORRECTION: meeting will take place in the Cafeteria, not the Music Room.

Thank you for voting!

Haldane website

Annual District Meeting (a.k.a. Budget Vote)

The Annual District Meeting will be held May 17, 2011 from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. Registered school district voters are strongly encouraged to participate in the district meeting by voting in the election. Voting on Budget and Transportation propositions and trustee election will take place in Room 105 of the Middle School, and parking will be available in the upper (bell) parking lot. Absentee ballots are due no later than 5:00 pm in the District Office. 


The Board of Education trustees and Superintendent Villanti will convene at 8:00 pm in the Music Room. This meeting will follow the Fine Arts Recognition, "An Evening of Rising Stars," in the small gym. Both functions are open to the public.


A highlight item on the draft agenda is the appointment of Brent Harrington as incoming Elementary/Middle School Principal. Mr. Harrington will replace Principal Maggie Davis after her retirement in June. 


The meeting in the Music Room will remain open until the District Clerk verifies the results of the election and reports to the Board following the closing of the polls, some time after 9:00 pm.

Letter to the Editor

Blogger Note: the following is a letter to the editor at the PCNR. The author, Elizabeth Edelson, has kindly allowed the PTA BOE blog to republish it here.

May 7, 2011

Mr. Douglas Cunningham

Editor in Chief

Putnam County News & Recorder

144 Main Street

Cold Spring, NY 10516

To the Editor:

I write in support of the Haldane Board of Education’s proposed budget for 2011-2012. As a taxpayer and resident, I appreciate that the Board has put forth a budget that increases by less than 1%, applies reserves to reduce the tax rate, and ‘tightens the belt’ for future years. As a new Haldane parent, I am grateful for a budget that maintains the high caliber of education that is so critical for this community’s young people.

This can’t have been an easy task. In this tough economy, school districts are facing both reductions in aid from New York State AND skyrocketing pension costs for their employees. (Those pension rates are assessed by the state, and districts have no control over setting rates.) Most school districts have responded to these twin challenges by cutting jobs – eliminating positions that will have a direct impact on the quality of education they can provide.

I commend the Haldane administration and the BOE for putting together a responsible budget plan that manages to preserve the educational program.   Please vote to approve this budget on May 17^th.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Edelson

READ: Regional Education Advocacy District

Who is actually looking at skyrocketing property tax? Unfunded mandates? Unsustainable education costs? Check out READ: Regional Education Advocacy District. Go to the READ website to see what it has been up to since 2004.

May 17 is Budget Vote Day!

After two public hearings and a couple of mailings, the Haldane School Board of Education is prepared to ask the public if it can support Proposition 1 (budget) and Proposition 2 ($100K for school vehicles) in 2011–12. There is also one trustee seat that expires this year, and Dave Merandy is running unopposed.
The District faces significant cuts to state aid, coupled with rising fuel and employee costs, and still manages to propose a spending plan that is less than 1% over last year's budget. To achieve this, Haldane will be using fund balance and reserves to help offset cost increases. Haldane employees will keep their jobs, and for now, no programs will need to be cut. 
Proposition 2, school vehicles, will allow the District to spend up to $100K for buses or vans. Discussion has already taken place at School Board meetings about the urgent need for a wheelchair-accessible van in the school fleet. Vehicle replacement will be an ongoing concern for Haldane as some of the roads in the district are dirt and are heavily salted in the winter, which reduces the life span of our vehicles. 
Voter registration for school district elections will take place on Tuesday, May 10 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm in the Middle School Lobby, and absentee ballots and applications are available now in the District Office. 
Election Day is May 17, 2011. Vote from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm in Room 105 in the Middle School. Parking will be available in the upper (bell) parking lot. 

School Budget/Trustee Vote May 17

VOTE May 17, 2011 in Haldane's School Budget/Trustee election. Polls are open from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm, Room 105 in Haldane Middle School. Parking will be available in the upper (bell) parking lot. 

Voter Registration (for school elections only) will be held May 10 in the Middle School Lobby, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Absentee ballots applications, for any registered voter who will be away from the area on election day, (including college students and commuters to New York City) may be downloaded from the Haldane School website. 

Haldane School Budget: First Public Hearing

On April 26, 2011 at 7pm in the Music Room the Haldane School Board will present the budget that will be up for voter approval on May 17. Check back at the Haldane website for the draft agenda.

Call for Candidates: Haldane School Board Trustee Election May 17

There is one seat expiring this year on the Haldane School Board. Petitions for nominating candidates for the office of Member of the Board of Education will be available in the District Office on April 7, 2011. File Trustee candidate petitions with the District Clerk no later than April 18 at 5:00 pm in the District Office.

Adopted: Haldane's 2011–12 Annual Budget

The Haldane School Board adopted the spending plan for 2011–12 at the April 5 meeting. If approved on May 17, 2011, the budget will be $21,630,013, an increase of less than 1% over last year's budget of $21,462,350. This budget also reflects the Board's efforts to keep spending below contingency levels. 
It is possible that a twice-defeated budget could result in a higher tax levy. 
Voters should understand that a defeated budget that results in a contingency is a disaster for a school district. A contingency budget, in addition to being a formula-based spending plan that is based upon the Consumer Price Index, carries with it a set of rules and restrictions for spending in a school (for more on contingency restrictions, see Board Policy Manual pages 129–131 and also in Education Law Sections 2002, 2023, 2024, and 2601-a). These restrictions include the use of buildings after the school day ends, no new equipment purchases, and impact to co-curricular activities. For earlier posts and more information about the consequences of contingency budgets, enter "contingency" in the search box on this blog.
Budget documents will be posted as they become available on the school website under the Board of Education section for Annual Budget. Check back frequently for updates. 
And please remember to vote on May 17. Or if you will not be in the area on voting day or work in the city and will not return by the time the polls close, apply for an absentee ballot and return it to the district clerk before May 10 to have a ballot mailed to you.

Haldane Budget Adoption 4/5/11 7pm in Music Room

See the draft agenda at the Haldane School website, and note tenure recommendations. 

Budget and Trustee Vote May 17

Need to know:
One trustee position is up this year. Petitions from candidates are due in the district office by 5:00 pm April 18.
Voter registration for school district elections only will be May 10 in the Middle School Lobby.
Next Board meeting is April 5, 2011. The Board is looking at a below-contingency spending plan for the 2011-12 budget. Check back frequently at the Haldane School website for information and updates during this budget season.

Budget Discussions: continued 3/22/11

This notice is posted on the Haldane School home page:

The Haldane Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 7:00 pm in the Board Room of the Merritt Bldg for the purpose of continuing their discussions related to the 2011-12 School Budget. This meeting is open to the Public.

Pre-Budget Hearing, Online Learning & Tech Update, Building Condition Survey

At the March 15th Haldane Budget workshop the Board of Education will begin to scrutinize district spending choices and make decisions about where to cut for the draft budget. It will be a sober process as the Board has discussed the likelihood that cuts made to this budget may remain in effect for years to come, and might possibly not be reinstated at all. 
A program report on Virtual High School and a Technology Plan update will be presented at this meeting, as well as a Building Condition Survey. 
Liz Milner and Jackson Zuvic will receive official Board recognition for having achieved 1000 points in basketball. 
Please check the Haldane school website later in the week for the workshop draft agenda.

Haldane 2011-12 Budget Cut Proposals

At the March 1 Board of Education meeting Superintendent Villanti gave his proposal for achieving a below 2% tax increase in the 2011-12 Haldane School budget. These suggestions will receive careful consideration by the the Board, and for the next few meetings the Board will evaluate and discuss the spending plan which voters will be asked to approve on May 17. Following are Dr. Villanti's suggestions for cutting spending next year:

BUDGET REDUCTIONS & SAVINGS

• Reduce Spanish (new hire) to .6 FTE
• Sustain reduction of Special Ed. to .6 FTE
• Eliminate 1 typist through attrition
• Eliminate 1 teacher aide through attrition
• Reduce Occupational Therapy costs through previous in district hiring.
• Reduce summer school by $10K.
• Reduce special education tuition
• Reduce by 5% district, building & athletic budgets in materials and equipment
• Reduce O & M budget by $25K
• Eliminate bus purchases from base budget by $100K & offer as a proposition. Use capital reserve to fund.
• Reduce health care costs by $35K through increased buyouts and more efficient billing procedures.
• Freeze all new expenditures that are not Health & Safety related.
• Evaluate any resignations during school year for alternate means of providing services.
• Staff any new special education aides or teaching assistants through existing staffing.
• Accrue “breakage” from teacher retirements of $100K.

Total savings -- $482K

(source: Haldane School website)

NYSSBA Identifies School Budget-Busters: Triborough Amendment, Wickes, and others

Copy of NYSSBA letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Outlines four-point plan to help restore fiscal stability to New York's finances

FOR RELEASE:  February 25, 201
CONTACT: David Albert
(518) 783-3716 or (518) 320-2221 cell

The Honorable Andrew Cuomo
New York State Governor
Executive Chamber, State Capitol
Albany, NY  12224 

Dear Governor Cuomo:
We are writing in response to your February 16 letter to fellow New Yorkers on education reform. We agree that New Yorkers elected you to be their voice in Albany and to make tough decisions; it is also true that New Yorkers elected 5,000 school board members around the state to be the voice of their school districts.
Few issues are as critical to the future of our state as fundamentally reforming our education system. We are prepared to work closely with you to make the necessary changes so schools can provide a high quality education at the lowest possible cost.
Your letter suggested four ways in which school districts can absorb your proposed state aid reductions without laying off teachers, cutting programs or harming students. The following is NYSSBA’s Four-Point Plan to help us achieve those goals:

• Reform the Triborough Amendment to eliminate automatic salary increases under expired labor contracts. A recent NYSSBA analysis estimates eliminating this provision would save New York school districts upwards of $100 million annually, and would allow districts to bargain from a position of parity when asking teachers unions to negotiate wage freezes. More than 75 percent of board members responding to a NYSSBA poll earlier this month said their district should seek wage freezes and other concessions from employee unions. But this effort becomes extremely difficult if both parties are not compelled to return to the negotiations table. The Triborough “safety net” removes the bargaining unit’s incentive to reopen a contract, knowing that a wage freeze or other concessions are being sought by the school board. 

• Introduce legislation to implement a statewide mandatory minimum health insurance contribution of 15 percent for individual coverage and 25 percent for family coverage.   NYSSBA realizes that healthcare coverage is negotiated locally.  Increasing the employees’ share of the cost has been the top bargaining objective for most school boards for years.  While we have made incremental progress, the cost increases for covering employees and retirees are outpacing our efforts at the bargaining table.  State-mandated minimum thresholds would bring school employee healthcare contributions closer to the national average of 19 percent for single coverage and 30 percent for family coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. In the 2009-10 school year, teachers in 77 percent of New York’s school districts contributed less than 15 percent for individual coverage and teachers in 96 percent of districts contributed less than 25 percent of the premium for family coverage.  A mandated minimum contribution could save taxpayers as much as $2,169 per active teacher and $2,507 per retired teacher. This legislation would impact nearly every school district budget and help taxpayers achieve as much as $500 million in savings annually.  This change would also allow negotiations to focus on other matters more closely linked to student achievement. 

• Eliminate costly mandates. While the salaries of school administrators serve as an easy target, they comprise only 1.6 percent of average school spending.  School districts are forced to bear much greater costs over which they have little or no control – defined benefit pension plans, special education obligations that far exceed federal requirements, an archaic 3020-a procedure and the Wicks Law, for example.  These mandates place financial burdens on local taxpayers who themselves recognize little value after paying the bill.  Addressing the main cost drivers within the school district budget – particularly pensions, special education and outdated management operations – would be a better strategy for reducing school district costs rather than implementing a proposed property tax cap. 

• Fix state school aid once and for all.  The Campaign for Fiscal Equity settlement, following 13 years of litigation, recognized that the school funding system violated the state Constitution’s guarantee of a sound basic education.  The CFE settlement promised substantial new resources to fund public education on a statewide basis, and that the fundamental principles of aid distribution must be aligned with a community’s actual ability to support its schools.  Governor, please commit to a reasonable phase-in schedule of court-ordered state aid increases, and support a foundation aid formula that fairly reflects local economic conditions. 

Last year, NYSSBA launched a campaign called “Be the Change for Kids” to urge school leaders to optimize resources and embrace new methods of teaching and learning that will improve results.  School boards, administrators and employee unions are making progress working together during this economic crisis to hold down costs and save jobs.  We will continue to press for greater cost containment and better results.  We appreciate your recognition and support of these efforts.
To echo your letter to New Yorkers, NYSSBA welcomes a chance to come together to find solutions to our schools’ financial challenges. Together, we can make New York’s schools the envy of the rest of the nation.
Sincerely,

Florence D. Johnson President

Timothy G. Kremer Executive Director

Elementary/Middle School Principal Search and Budget Cuts

The March 1, 2011 Board of Education regular business meeting will include discussion on topics with ensuing consequences that will eventually affect Haldane for many years to come. Superintendent Mark Villanti will report about the search for the new ES/MS Principal to replace Principal Maggie Davis when she retires this year. Also, Dr. Villanti will offer suggestions for budget cuts needed to meet the nearly $400K estimated budget cut goals. There will be follow-up discussion about the athletic fields and the 2/15/11 presentation by the Lacrosse association. Draft agenda available here.


Save the date: A pre-budget hearing is scheduled for March 15, 2011. Check back here or at the Haldane School website for more details and a draft agenda, which is usually available the Friday before a Tuesday meeting.

NYSSBA Mailbag

The New York State School Board Association offers short videos which answer questions about school boards, including who may run for school board, an explanation of the board's role in the budget process, and many other topics. Also, if you have a question you don't see an answer for in the videos, you may submit your question to the NYSSBA Mailbag.

New York State Report Cards

New York State has released the annual report cards, which offer district population statistics as well as performance statistics on the state tests. Bear in mind that the cut scores, which are the minimum scores that qualify for meeting state requirements, were raised with this group of tests. Furthermore, the cut scores were raised after the tests were administered. 


NOTE: Parents should have already received individual student results for these tests. 

New York State School Boards Association Advocacy Alert

The New York State School Boards Association advocates for mandate relief and awareness that a state budget should take into consideration any proposed property tax cap legislation. In other words, if there is a property tax cap, which will limit revenues from property tax collection, and if mandate relief is not enacted, which would allow schools to reduce their spending on items for which they receive no aid, and if the state and federal aid is reduced, how can a school district balance its budget? NYSSBA reminds  Governor Cuomo and the legislature that something has to give. 

FEBRUARY 16, 2011 EXECUTIVE BUDGET AND STATE AID RUNS On Feb. 1, 2011, Gov. Cuomo presented his executive budget proposal.  That same day NYSSBA prepared an analysis of the proposal.  However, we’ve learned that technical difficulties prevented many of you from receiving NYSSBA’s Analysis of the Executive Budget Proposal.  Since the executive budget was released, NYSSBA has made some additional observations based on the state aid runs: The total statewide reduction in state aid is $1,537,358,767, the largest ever! Statewide, school districts lost an average of $2,274,199 in total aid 636 districts (94.1%) got a cut in total aid. Of the 636 districts that got a cut in total aid, the average cut was $2,459, 163 The average statewide reduction in total aid excluding NYC was $1,510,158  View the analysis and other budget related documents.  BUDGET TESTIMONY Yesterday, NYSSBA Executive Director Tim Kremer and Governmental Relations Director Dave Little presented testimony before the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee, expressing NYSSBA’s concerns over the proposed budget and pointing out areas where school districts are advocating for legislative assistance this session.  The testimony stressed the need for significant mandate relief to accompany any other state action on the proposed budget.  The legislature must also recognize that it cannot act on the budget without putting it into the context of the proposed local property tax cap and the loss of federal aid to schools.  View the testimony. SCHOOL JOB LOSS UNDER A TAX CAP School job losses across the state under a tax cap this year would have totaled 13,022 New York workers.  NYSSBA compared conservative estimates of cost increases in each school district to the fiscal limit that the proposed tax cap would impose on revenues for school districts.  We then divided the shortfall that schools will face under Governor Cuomo’s proposed tax cap by the median teacher salary in each respective school district. The estimated figures reflect the total number of teaching jobs that would be eliminated as a result of the proposed tax cap, broken down by county, senate district and  assembly district.  This calculation does not factor in district reserves that might be available to offset lay-offs, or Governor Cuomo’s proposed aid cut that would increase them.  NYSSBA has provided these charts to your legislators.  View the charts of these figures. FEDERAL RELATIONS NETWORK (FRN) CONFERENCE More than 800 school board members and state association leaders from across the country (including over 80 from New York State) traveled to Washington, D.C. last week to learn about the most current issues in Congress and press their case with their representatives on Capitol Hill.  At the end of the National School Boards Association’s conference, NYSSBA held a briefing for the contingent on the impact of federal issues facing New York State.  NYSSBA also hosted its Annual Congressional Breakfast Forum.  The event took place on Capitol Hill and was attended by NYSSBA’s Board of Directors, FRN appointees and Governmental Relations staff.  Joining us at the breakfast were New York State’s United States Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, as well as Stacey Jordon, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the U.S. Department of Education.  All of our guests had open conversations with the school board members in attendance, fielding a number of questions about the reauthorization of ESEA and comments about the costs and burdens associated with RTTT.  Following the breakfast, FRN appointees fanned out to attend meetings with their schools’ Member of Congress.  Each Representative received a packet of information from NYSSBA outlining the key issues surrounding public education from New York’s perspective. The FRN conference and our lobbying efforts focused on ESEA reauthorization and federal funding.  These two issues will continue to be the main federal priorities for NYSSBA this year.  ESEA reauthorization must provide for an increase in flexibility to local districts and a decrease in the punitive nature of the regulations. NYSSBA strongly urges reauthorization by or before June 30, 2011.  In the case that reauthorization does not occur by the end of June, we will demand the deferment of all sanctions under NCLB.  Federal funding will be essential for school districts, especially under the categories of IDEA and Title I.  The federal government must provide the promised level of funding for these two grant programs in order to ensure that students provided with the services and programs they need.  View more information on the FRN conference and federal issues. STATE ISSUES CONFERENCE In light of the Governor's whopping 7.3 percent proposed cut to state aid to education, it's more important than ever for your school district to send at least one representative to NYSSBA's 2011 State Issues Conference on March 13 and 14th in Albany. Join fellow school board members from across the state to send a clear message about how a state aid cut this large could impact your district. The State Issues Conference registration, meals and materials are provided as a free NYSSBA member service to allow your district to advocate in Albany for your programs and services to students.  It allows your district representative to hear from top state officials on the most pressing issues facing your schools.  Given what’s at stake and NYSSBA’s help, you can’t afford to leave your district unaccounted for in the legislative discussion.  Plan to come and make your voice heard! Already registered?  Look below under "Materials" for information on how to access the latest state publications to review Governor Cuomo’s Executive Budget proposal in preparation for your Lobby Day and legislative meetings.  View further information on the State Issues Conference as well register. RESOLUTION KIT LINK NYSSBA’s legislative agenda is developed through a resolutions approval process.  Last year that process was updated to allow greater member influence and provide NYSSBA with timely resolutions that are central to the issues facing public education.  View the resolutions process and to get your copy of NYSSBA’s 2011 Resolutions Kit.

Follow-up to 2/15/11 Haldane BOE Meeting: Notable Retirements and Athletics

Retirement announcements at the Haldane School Board meeting Tuesday evening, February 15 include Elementary School principal Maggie Davis, Social Studies teacher Dennis Cairl and Spanish teacher Philip D'Amato. A retirement ceremony will take place at a Board of Education meeting in June. All are invited to attend.

In other business, to give the Board of Education some idea of how the funds are allocated for sports and physical education expenses, Athletic Director Tom Cunningham presented the athletic budget breakdown. 

The approximately $302K budget includes coach stipends, equipment, referee fees, and most expenses except transportation. Board Vice President Joe Curto requested information about transportation costs, and Facilities Director Wayne Robinson reported that the average cost for transportation is about $291 per away game.

A parent asked whether Haldane would accept volunteer coaches. Superintendent Villanti explained that all coaches must meet the district certification requirements in order to serve as a coach, and he added that he has not turned down a qualified volunteer.

Lacrosse players, their parents and Coach Tom Locascio attended the meeting to ask the Board to consider adding an assistant coach to the Varsity team for safety reasons. Assistant coaches were cut in the 2009–10 budget to save money.

In this difficult budget year and bleak economic climate, the Board has already recognized that the spending cuts they make this year may also apply for several years to come. Furthermore, any programs cut this year may be gone for good, as economic forecasts predict costs rising faster than revenues. The Board will need to carefully consider any new spending decisions as it works to meet the almost $400K cuts to the 2011–12 budget.

Public participation in the budget process must take place before the Board makes final decisions about the plan it will present to the public. Please share your thoughts with the Board of Education and Dr. Villanti.

Coach Handbook and Athletic Budget

Draft agenda for the February 15 Haldane Board of Education meeting is up. Of note: retirement announcements and a special presentation by Athletic Director Tom Cunningham about the budget for the Athletic Department. The meeting will commence at 7:00 pm in the Music Room.

Reserve Funds: Why do we need them?

Over the past few years Haldane has established reserve funds which enable the school to pay for unforeseen expenses that the annual budget might not cover. One advantage of these funds is to help school boards plan spending with more confidence that their proposed annual budgets can pay all of the bills, and most surprise expenses will not cripple the district. 


One of the topics at the February 2, 2011 Board of Education meeting is about Reserve Funds. See the draft agenda on the Haldane School website, and see the website for a Reserve Fund Analysis and review the Reserve Fund Proposed Policy. The Board will also continue its budget discussions and consider the potential benefit of offering a three-hour delay on winter weather mornings. The meeting will take place at 7:00 pm in the Music Room.

More About Unfunded Mandates…and what you can do

An estimated 20% of Haldane's annual spending goes to unfunded mandates. Governor Cuomo has assembled a mandate relief team to try to identify ways for schools to cut the costs of mandated programs. You can be a part of the discussion by sharing your thoughts with Governor Cuomo's team. Read more about unfunded mandates here. 


Please note that the Board of Education meeting which was scheduled for February 1 has been postponed to February 8 due to the snow day cancellation. 


UPDATE: draft agenda available on the Haldane School website.

Initial Thoughts on Haldane's 2011-12 Budget

It has been called the perfect storm: the combination of state and federal aid funding cuts, flat real estate valuations, rising contracted health care, salary and retirement costs as well as unfunded mandates with no relief in sight for the foreseeable future. Haldane Superintendent Mark Villanti cautioned the Board of Education at the 1/25/11 Budget Kickoff Workshop that it must plan its spending not just for next year, but for the next few years, and anticipate, when possible, the challenges and burdens the District will likely face. 


According to Dr. Villanti, there will be cuts in the 2011-12 budget, and at this point in time he roughly estimates cuts of about $170K. He adds that the District should anticipate cuts for the next few years as well. 


In years past the school community has heard threats about program cuts in the event of a Contingency Budget. (For a discussion about Contingency Budgets from the 2009-10 Budget discussion, click here.) We have heard about half-day Kindergarten, no sports or after-school activities, larger class sizes and fewer teacher aides. What is reasonable and what is legal and possible will possibly drive budget discussions this year, as contract costs and unfunded mandates leave almost no wiggle room. The question is not if but where cuts will occur. 


The responsibility of deciding how to fund Haldane in 2011-12 falls to the Board of Education, and then to voters on May 17, 2011. Voters can have an impact on this budget drafting process before that day by attending Board meetings, voicing opinions and examining the draft budget. 


So what would you cut? And what are the "sacred cows" of Haldane's budget that should not be touched? Is there anything that should absolutely be added to the budget that is not there already? Share your thoughts with the Board and with Dr. Villanti at the next meeting on February 18, 2011, 7 pm in the Music Room, or send a note to Dr. Villanti.


ALSO SEE:
The Budget Kickoff presentation provides an overview of the many fiscal challenges the district faces as the Board develops the spending plan for public vote. The last two pages of this presentation contain "bottom line" language. If you read nothing else from this presentation, please look at pages 19 and 20.


See this Unfunded Mandates presentation by New York State School Boards Association for an eye-opening cost analysis of the budget impacts of unfunded mandates. These are costs that the district must fund to be in compliance with state and federal laws.

Haldane PTA BOE Committee Blog: Budget Kickoff Meeting Postponed

Haldane PTA BOE Committee Blog: Budget Kickoff Meeting Postponed

New meeting date: January 25, 2011. Draft agenda available at the Haldane School website.

Budget Kickoff Meeting Postponed

Due to the snow school closure, Haldane's budget kickoff meeting that was scheduled for tonight, January 18, has been postponed.

Budget Kickoff Meeting Agenda

The draft agenda for Haldane's budget Kickoff meeting is now available on the school website. Please note that this meeting will take place in the Music Room at 7:00 pm.

Budget Perfect Storm: Letter from Superintendent Villanti

Dr. Villanti recently shared this letter to alert the Haldane School community about the extreme challenges it will face this budget year. The Budget Kick-off meeting will take place on January 18 at 7 pm in the Music Room. All are invited and encouraged to attend and join in the process.

It's School Budget Time Again! And more on the Athletic Fields…

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, January 18, 7:00 pm, Music Room 
Haldane is ready to get started with the budget process for 2011–12. 
Superintendent Mark Villanti warned the school community last year that this year was going to be very difficult: the uncertainty of New York State aid will make the challenge to keep taxes down even more difficult. Also, as the CPI hovers around zero and housing values are flat or are decreasing, the economic climate suggests a grim forecast. 
At this January 18 workshop the Board of Education will look at revenue sources and the rollover budget, and set the budget calendar. A failed budget is bad for everyone, and can force school districts to make deep cuts to valuable items. Public input as well as public support of the budget can avert disastrous cuts with prudence and planning. Voters can help ensure the best results for our school district and community by becoming involved early in the process, and this kick-off meeting is an opportune place to begin.
Public participation at the December 21 workshop about the athletic fields was very strong, and the Board will engage in follow-up discussion at this workshop as well. 
A link to the draft agenda will be  posted here when it becomes available, or check the Haldane School website.