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Woodstock Times - Featured Arts | 6/4/2009 |
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Dire warnings
Onteora's Ford wants to start working on the 2010-2011 budget now |
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by Lisa Childers
Painting a grim picture of the future, Onteora Central School District Superintendent Leslie Ford alerted the Onteora District School Board of Education to begin thinking about next year's budget now. "As you are aware we are in trying fiscal times, locally, nationally and globally," she said at the Board of Education's Tuesday, June 2 meeting at Woodstock Elementary School Ford. Though the 2009-2010 budget was ratified by voters only two weeks ago, Ford urged trustees to start the process of shaping the 2010-2011 budget. "When crafting our future budget there are several things we need to keep in mind," she said, pointing to figures that show the consumer price index is averaged at 1.175 percent, which would allow for a contingent budget increase of only 1.41 percent. She said this is less than half what would have been allowed for a contingent budget increase for the 2009/2010-school budget, which was an increase of nearly four percent. Additionally the next two years will see a State aid package of $600,000, as part of the Federal stimulus package, but Ford warned that once it is gone, no incoming revenue or aid is slated to replace it.
To add to the woes, Ford pointed to teachers' contract negotiations that have not been resolved. "The salary implications for the coming school year are unknown at this point," she said.
The teachers have been working without a contract since the last pact expired nearly one year ago. More strain is placed on the budget, she said, by the continued increase in the cost of health care benefits. "We have not arrived at a new employee (benefit) contribution level, but this will in no way cover the annual increases in costs." Later in the meeting, District Treasurer Monica Kim noted that money should be reserved for the point when the teachers' contracts are finally settled and any shifts that may result in other needed funds. Kim also said additional money must be added to the tax certiorari funds that have been saved, regarding possible adjudication or settlement of the reservoir value dispute between Hurley and New York City that would have an effect on the Onteora district tax base.
School board president Maxanne Resnick thanked voters for approving the 2009/2010 budget and the school board voted unanimously to accept the final district budget vote. In the final tally, all three proposals and board members picked up one additional vote in approval. There were 1839 votes cast in total. Several write-in votes were cast only in the town of Olive. Three for Rita Vanacore, one each for Tard Fergoson, Jim Ullrich, Sylvia Tinti, Brett Kaiser, Karen Harkin and Mary Jane Bernholz.
Class size
A group of Phoenicia parents are concerned over the consolidation of two grade four classes in that elementary school that will merge into one grade five class for the 2009-2010 school year. The concern is that if the class is consolidated it will bring the number of students up to 28 in one classroom and possibly more if there are returning, new, variance or mainstreamed students. Parent Abbe Aronson addressed the school board and said she received confirmation that the total is now 29 students due to a returning child. The district master plan recommends a maximum classroom of 27 students in the upper grades. Administrative regulation on class size, according to Aronson, puts 28 students in the "high range." Aronson said Phoenicia elementary Principal Linda Sella told their group that a special education Consultant Teacher (CT) and a Teaching Assistant (TA) would be available in the classroom. "Since we do not have any students slated for fifth grade with IEP's (Individual Education Plan), how can we use a CT?" According to Aronson, Sella explained that the Director of Pupil Personnel Joyce Long authorized it. "However," Aronson said, "is this allowable by New York State?" She added that the CT's and TA's would not be available throughout the full school day. She noted that the district newsletter "promises" that class sizes will be retained throughout the district. "Why are you not delivering on this?" she asked. Aronson requested that the administration go back on its plans to consolidate next year's grade five classroom and keep two separate classrooms in order to meet the goals of the district.
Science labs...
The school board received a list of requested items from high school science teachers on supplies they would like to purchase for next year.
Earlier in the year, a request for upgrading the High School science labs was made by Trustee Donna Flayhan, utilizing $350,000 that was set aside by the previous school board to purchase new plastic lockers. The incoming school board did not agree that lockers should be the priority of upgrades and set out to use the money for other upgrades, or at least to look at purchasing lockers made from a different material. The science teachers requested lab upgrades that totaled $257,000 but according to Resnick this does not include installation or plumbing. Flayhan asked to meet with teachers and administrators before the end of the school year and pick through the list, prioritizing the most important supplies needed. Trustee Rick Wolff disagreed, saying that such spending needs to be part of a larger capital project. Wolff said it was already discussed during a facilities committee meeting.
Resnick looked at it based on fairness. "So you have a pot of money, but what determines the priority for that pot of money? Science is definitely needed but in fact we haven't turned around and asked the other departments their needs." She added that the infrastructure list for the whole school is large. Trustee Michelle Friedel agreed with Resnick. "Who are we to say which discipline area gets allotment of money versus another...I think this district is in need of repair in a lot of areas and before I can just go out and spend taxpayers money, hard workers money, I need to see a short term plan and a long term plan."
Flayhan addressed Friedel, "Who are we? We're the board of education, who are we to speak about science and education in our district? We're the people who have to speak about it, so I think it's very much our place to be speaking about education and science, classrooms and curriculum."
Equipment would need to be ordered by the end of June or the $350,000 will be returned to taxpayers. Trustee Laurie Osmond requested that the board and administrators meet with teachers by next week.
Director of facilities and operations...
The board voted to consolidate Maintenance and Custodial director positions into one position titled, "Director of Facilities and Operations." This will take the place of retiring Maintenance director Jimmy O'Neill and Custodial director Peter Giambrone. Ford said that Giambrone also acted as head custodian for the Middle/High School and now they will need to hire a person to fill that position. School board trustee Rick Wolff asked McLaren if other districts contract the position. She said she researched and discovered only Rondout school district used a contractor for nearly five years, but it did not work out since there was a high turnover of directors and that it ended up being more costly.
Auditorium...
The auditorium renovation is running on schedule. Asbestos has been removed from the tiled flooring. Air samples tested negative toward any harmful chemicals. Ford said demolition is complete and "they are moving along nicely," with a goal of completion on schedule by the beginning of the new school year. ++
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