Budget Adoption: WEDNESDAY, April 3

On Wednesday, April 3 at 7:00 pm Haldane's Board of Education will convene to adopt the spending plan that it hopes the voters will approve on May 21. The Board has reviewed three proposals, and the current budget proposal (Proposal #3) contains reductions in several areas, explained in a recent presentation from March 19.

Following is an excerpt from yesterday's New York State Budget announcement from Governor Andrew Cuomo. At this time, the specific implications of this budget on Haldane's revenue from state aid are unknown.

Education Investments and Reforms:
Increasing Funding for Education: The Budget reflects New York State’s focus on creating a world-class education system that will fully prepare all of New York's students to compete in the 21st Century economy. To accomplish the goal, the Budget includes an increase of nearly $1 billion in school aid. (4.9%)

Pre-kindergarten Program Expansion: Recognizing that quality early education is critical for long-term success and that children who attend full-day pre-k often outperform their peers, the Budget provides a $25 million additional investment for pre-kindergarten with an emphasis on high quality, full-day pre-k. Funding is targeted toward higher need students in lower wealth school districts via a competitive process.

State Increases Tied to Teacher Evaluations: To maintain New York State’s leadership in holding teachers accountable for student achievement, the Budget continues to tie increases in funding for education to the implementation of a teacher evaluation system.

Extended Learning Time: Our existing education calendar is still based on an agrarian system and the United States lags behind other nations in terms of how much time students spend in the classroom. In order to provide increased learning opportunities, the Budget includes $20 million to support high-quality extended school day or extended school year programs, with academically enriched programming. Schools that apply to participate in the program must agree to expand learning time by 25 percent. The state will cover the full cost of expanding learning time for students.

Community Schools: Recognizing that a school is not just a "school" in distressed communities and that the demands of schools in wealthier districts are different than demands in lowest wealth districts, the Budget provides $15 million to support innovative programs designed to transform schools into community hubs that integrate social, health and other services, as well as after-school programming to support students and their families.

Reward High-Performing Teachers: To improve results and incentive high-performance, the Budget provides $11 million to implement a program that will offer $15,000 in annual stipends for four years to the most effective teachers beginning with math and science teachers.

Early College High School Programs: To improve college access and success, the Budget provides $4 million in new state funding to expand Early College High School programs.

Bar Exam for Teachers: To ensure the best and brightest are teaching our children, the State Education Department will increase the standards for teacher certification to require passage of a “bar exam,” in addition to longer, more intensive and high-quality student-teaching experience in a school setting.

March 19 Meeting--Budget Update

Following a brief presentation by Mark Fobare of Monolith Solar, Superintendent Villanti proceeded to outline the bleak options which face the district in budgeting the 2013-2014 spending plan. The school community has been hearing for several years that the financial pressure from Cap, Gap and unfunded mandates would eventually lead us to educational and fiscal insolvency. In order to balance the school budget, spending cuts are necessary. Pending the finalized New York State budget, which could alter some of Haldane's final decisions, Dr. Villanti listed the spending cuts in Budget Proposal #3:

• Eliminate summer school
• Decrease in Special Education tuitions
• Decrease in Athletic budget
• Decrease in Operations and Maintenance Budget
• Decrease in classroom equipment and supplies
• Support staff reductions
• Classroom instruction reductions
• Benefit reductions (related to staff reductions)

Specific staff changes that are of perhaps the greatest concern to the school community involve the decision to keep three sections of Kindergarten and the decision to cut the "bubble" class. Dr. Villanti stated that he sees no other way to balance the budget without this cut. Board President Mike Junjulas concurred, reminding the audience that he is also the parent of a "bubble" class student. 

In a surprise show of support and confidence in the budget process, Jen Wilson announced that Haldane's Administrative Association members agreed to accept a pay freeze next year. Budget implications from this announcement are unknown at this time.

Pre-Budget Hearing and Solar Panel Presentation

The Haldane Community is strongly encouraged to attend the Board of Education meeting Tuesday, March 19 at 7:00 in the Board meeting Music room (updated 3/18/13). The Board will review and discuss its options in spending cuts that it will likely adopt on April 3 in the 2013-2014 spending plan. The Board will also hear a presentation from Monolith Solar about the possibility for a solar panel project at Haldane. A draft agenda is available on the school website: haldaneschool.org.

Two BOE Trustee Seats Open; Energy Performance Contract's Early Endorsement

At Haldane's Board of Education meeting on March 5, 2013, the school board heard a presentation by Facilities Director Mike Twardy. After evaluating energy use for 2011-2012 and a comparing to-date usage for 2012-2013, Twardy gave the Board the single piece of good budget news of the evening: that fuel oil and electricity consumption were down, and that he would be asking the Board for no increase in these budget items in the 2013-2014 spending plan. Credit for the decreases in consumption, according to Twardy, goes to the successful upgrades as per the Energy Performance Contract.

On a related topic, the Board has invited Monolith Solar to present a proposal for a solar panel project installation at Haldane. Board President Mike Junjulas and Trustee Pete Henderson have described this project as one that would create no additional cost for the district, and would offer a unique learning opportunity for students as well. Monolith Solar will present its proposal at the March 19 Board meeting.

Board Vice President Gillian Thorpe announced that it was her intention not to seek re-election to the Board for another term. Her term ends this year. President Mike Junjulas has already stated that he plans to step down at the end of this school year. Thus, at least two candidates are sought for the two Board trustee seats that are up this year. Those interested in serving on the school board should contact Board Clerk Kathy Marino (KMarino@haldane.lhric.org) or call the district office at 845-265-9254, ext 115. 

Back to the budget: the Board hopes to present its recommendations for spending cuts in specific budget items at the next meeting on March 19. The Board also intends to adopt a spending plan for 2013-2014 at a specially-scheduled meeting on April 3. After that, no changes can be made to the budget proposal and it will be subject to voter approval on May 21. It is in the best interests of the district and the school community to craft a spending plan that voters will approve, but to do so the public must weigh in on what we think we can  live with--or live without. A list of proposed cuts will be discussed on March 19. The Board has repeatedly stated its desire to hear from the public, and parents and members of the school community are strongly encouraged to attend this meeting and join the conversation.