by Alex Brooks
John Bryans, from the CPA firm of Bryans & Gramuglia, gave a presentation of the audit he did of the District’s finances for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. The audit found no problems with the District’s financial practices and no weaknesses in its internal control of its finances. The report offered the opinion, based on its close examination of the books, that the District’s financial statements fairly and accurately represent its financial position.
Transportation
Cost Savings
Business Manager Pamela Hatfield presented an overview of the first month of the new transportation, using the staggered start rather than the country/Village runs used in previous years. She said the buses have traveled 9,388 miles more in the month of September than they did under the old system. Over ten months, at this rate, the extra mileage will increase the District’s annual cost for fuel by $45,940.
However, the District has also found a way to eliminate contract transportation under the new system, which saves the District the $67,000 that it was paying to the outside busing contractor. The District hired one new driver to accomplish this. A senior bus driver retired this year and was replaced by a new driver at a lower rate of pay. In addition, the bus runs were developed so that one less bus attendant is needed, and all of the aides who used to staff the “bus room” are no longer needed. The net change in the cost of salary and benefits is $56,173 less than the old system. So with a combined savings of $125,163 and an additional cost of $45.940 for fuel, the net savings is $79,223. This savings will be reduced by additional costs for tires, oil changes and perhaps some other maintenance items occasioned by the additional mileage.
After Hatfield had finished presenting the dollars and cents difference between the old system and new, both Superintendent Ken Facin and Board President David Sutton said they felt that the new system has brought a lot of benefits to the students. Besides the most obvious one of not wasting time in “bus room” Facin mentioned parking lot safety and greater order at the beginning and end of the day. Sutton said the students coming into the school have a different demeanor when they are not expecting the first half hour to be idle. He said there is “purpose in their step.”
NYS Aid Review
Superintendent Ken Facin said there is some danger of a mid-year change in State aid because of the State’s growing fiscal problems and the District is trying to prepare now for any financial hardships which may be coming down the pike. Two unexpected windfalls have helped to get this effort started. One is that it has been discovered that State aid payments to the District have been lower than they should have been over the last decade, and, to rectify that, the State sent a check for $157,000. Also, Senator Bruno made a grant to the School District of $50,000 a few weeks ago. In addition, a TA lead position which had been budgeted has not been filled, and the tasks assigned to this position have been taken up by other staff, which provides a savings to the District of $27,000. These three things together provide a cushion of $234,000 which can be used to offset any cuts in State aid either in this fiscal year or next. Facin said, “We know the community is suffering from the economic downturn,” and he pledged to do everything he can to deliver a budget next year with little or no increase in taxes. “We are preparing now,” he said, to protect the school and the students from State budget cuts.
Web Site Upgrade
The administration is taking steps to improve the District web site. The plan is to have Robert Allen develop the site and coordinate the maintenance of it, using students in a web design class. The Board approved a $4,000 stipend for Allen to develop the site, and it approved the creation of a Web Design class for the spring term of this (08-09) school year. Facin said he expects a mid-January launch of the new site. The plan is to have Allen’s students take over the management of the web site under his supervision, which will provide an affordable way to maintain the site, as well as a learning opportunity for the students.
Donation For Guitars.
The Board accepted a donation of $1,000 from the Hoosick Falls Performing Arts Booster Club to be used to purchase ten guitars for the Music In Our Lives Program.
The next meeting of the Hoosick Falls School Board will be on Thursday, November 13, at 7 pm in the High School Library.