Budget and Security/Bus Props Pass

Proposition I: School Budget 554 Yes / 210 No PASSED

Proposition II: School Bus Van and School Security Improvement Project 578 Yes / 230 No PASSED

Congratulations to Gillian Thorpe and Jennifer Daly who were elected to 3-Year Terms on the Board of Education that begin on July 1, 2013, and thanks to Julisa Rincon-Tomizawa who stepped up to volunteer to serve our district by running for school board.

VOTE Today at Haldane--two-sided ballot

VOTE Today, May 21 until 9:00 pm, Room 105 of the Haldane Middle School. Parking will be available in the upper (bell) parking lot and on the school playground. The ballot for the two Propositions and three Board of Education Trustee candidates is two-sided--please vote BOTH SIDES.

May 21--Annual District Meeting (a.k.a. Budget Vote Day)

What is the Annual District Meeting? It is also known as the day voters decide on their school budget vote and trustee elections. On Tuesday, May 21, 2013 between the hours of 7:00 am and 9:00 pm n Room 105 in the Haldane Middle School building, eligible registered voters may select two of three trustee candidates and vote on the two propositions.

Proposition I:
School Budget

Proposition II:
School Bus Van Purchase and School Security Improvement Project

Vote for two of three Board of Education Trustee Candidates
Gillian Thorpe (incumbent)
Jennifer Daly
Julisa Rincon-Tomizawa

Read more about the budget in the Haldane Horizons newsletter, or visit the Haldane School website at haldaneschool.org and look under the Board of Education heading.

Parking is available in the upper (bell) parking lot. Due to predicted scattered showers, the school will also open up the playground for voter parking.

Meet the Candidates Night Video

If you missed Haldane's Board of Education Trustee Meet the Candidates night, you may view the video here: http://vimeo.com/66491565.

Another Unfunded Mandate?

The New York State Board of Regents has proposed a new graduation requirement which could affect next year's freshman class--The Regents Research Paper. NYSED's proposal is available at this link: http://www.regents.nysed.gov/meetings/2013Meetings/April2013/CCResearchPaperSlides.pdf.

According to Education Commissioner John King the goal is to ensure students have mastered important English skills that cannot be measured by standardized testing. (Source: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Some-research-required-4454776.php#ixzz2RIZLRpth)

According to Superintendent Mark Villanti, Haldane already has a research paper requirement, but implementing a New York State Regents Research Paper requirement will inflict extra work and will require additional district resources.

NYSED may vote on this new requirement as early as June. Comments may be sent to Commissioner King at New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12234.

New York State Report Card for Haldane Central School

See the New York State Report Card for Haldane at: https://reportcards.nysed.gov/files/2011-12/RC-2012-480401040000.pdf

This report includes:

1 Profile This section shows comprehensive data relevant to this school’s or district’s learning environment, including information about enrollment, attendance and suspensions, and staff.

2 Student Performance This section shows student performance on standardized assessments at the elementary, middle, and commencement levels.

3 Student Outcomes This section shows outcomes for graduates and noncompleters, including postgraduation plans of completers.

(reference page for all district reports by NYSED: https://reportcards.nysed.gov/schools.php?district=800000039703&year=2012)

Budget Public Hearing--May 7 at 7:00pm

The Board of Education will hold a public hearing of the annual budget proposal on May 7 at 7:00 pm in the Board meeting room. In addition to the public hearing, there will be a special presentation of the district's risk assessment by internal auditors Cooper Nieman & Co. The draft agenda for the meeting is available at the Haldane School website.

Board of Education Trustee Candidate Forum May 13

UPDATED 5/7/13

Monday, May 13, 2013 at 7:30pm in the Haldane Music Room
Learn more about the three candidates running for election to the Haldane Board of Education this month. Jennifer Daly, Gillian Thorpe, and Julisa Rincon-Tomizawa will all be on hand for this moderated forum sponsored by Haldane PTA. Open to the public. Babysitting provided during the forum--contact the PTA for more information.

Read statements by the candidates:
Jennifer Daly
Julisa Rincon-Tomizawa
Gillian Thorpe (current Board of Education Vice President)

L-R below: Jennifer Daly, Gillian Thorpe, Julisa Rincon-Tomizawa

Construction Documents for Haldane Synthetic Turf Field & Locker Room Improvements

On Thursday May 2nd the construction specification documents will be available in Haldane District Office from 7:30am to 4pm daily for any contractors that wish to bid on the job. Please pass this information on to anyone who might be interested in bidding on all or part of the job. Specification documents will cost $100 per copy with that fee being waived for any contractors who commit to providing an in-kind donation of materials or labor to the project. The bid opening date will be May 23rd. The District is looking for construction to commence the first day after school is out for the summer with a substantial completion date of September 1st.

For those bidding on part of the project the District would like to add you to the "preferred vendors list" so that whoever wins the overall bid will contact you first for a bid on your part of the project (excavation, electrical, plumbing, etc.). This allows those contractors that wish to provide some in-kind labor and/or material will give a lower bid so they are still making money but also providing the school with a reduced rate.

Meet the Board of Education Trustee Candidates!

Haldane PTA’s upcoming Meet the Candidates Forum will be held on Monday, May 13th at 7:30 PM in the Music Room at Haldane. This forum is sponsored by the Haldane PTA, and is open to the public. All candidates seeking election to the Haldane School Board of Education on May 21st have been invited to appear. 

Evelyn Carr-White, who is the Elementary VP for Haldane PTA, will serve as Moderator for this forum, which will be taped for broadcast on the public access channel. Candidate statements will be posted on this blog soon.