Wednesday, January 2, 2013 Board of Education Meeting

Due to the New Year's Day holiday, Haldane's Board of Education will hold its monthly business meeting on Wednesday, January 3, 2013 at 7:00 pm (instead of its usual Tuesday meeting night). The draft agenda on the Haldane website lists business meeting items as well as follow-up discussion to the James Pond property, capital project updates, and an ongoing item which will remain on the agenda for the time being, the Blue Hill Bay, LLC Subdivision, formerly known as the Highland Valley project. 

Please Note: All members of the community are encouraged to attend the Board of Education workshop meeting scheduled for January 15, 2013. 

New York State Senator-elect Terry Gipson and Assemblywoman Sandy Galef have been invited to attend and contribute to the district budget discussions and hear public concerns about the Tax Cap and Gap Elimination Adjustment. A large public turnout for this meeting by the widest representation of the Haldane community--including all Philipstown residents--can make a significant impression upon legislators that the financial pressure the state has imposed upon school districts is unsustainable and consideration is due to schools struggling to make budgets. 

The location for this meeting is not yet set, but follow-up information will be available here and on Haldane's website. Please make plans to attend.

We DO Mind the Gap!

On Tuesday, December 18 at 7:00pm Superintendent Mark Villanti will explain the cumulative and projected impact of the loss of State Aid due to the Gap Elimination Adjustment. This is a critically important component of the District's budget discussions, as this year we face painful choices about cuts that must be made in order to meet our obligations and pay our bills. Please visit the Haldane District website for a draft agenda and to see Dr. Villanti's chart which shows how much State Aid Haldane has lost over the past few years, and the impact of these protracted losses.

Letter Campaign Asks for Restored State Aid

The Haldane PTA has undertaken an advocacy campaign to ask New York State lawmakers to restore the district's state aid that cut in their efforts to balance the state budget. 

You can help! Please read more about it on the PTA website, sign your letter and return it to the school before the end of December. With enough letters from the Haldane community, we just might make an impression on Albany that will keep our District from falling into insolvency. 

Special Early Start Time for BOE Business Meeting: 5:30pm on 12/4/12

NOTE TIME CHANGE: 
The presentation on college financial aid which was originally scheduled for November has been rescheduled for December 4, 2012 at 7:00 pm. As such the Haldane Board of Education moved its monthly business meeting start time to 5:30 pm on December 4. 

A draft agenda is now available on Haldane's website for Tuesday's Board of Education monthly business meeting.