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.