Bond Spurs Contentious BCS Board Meeting

by Phillip M. Zema
Those attending Berlin’s School Board meeting witnessed several contentious presentations regarding the District’s policies and economic plans. While discussion sometimes became blatantly confrontational, it must be noted that the meeting highlighted some obvious upsides of the District, especially the growing interest in band-related activities.
On December 8, the Berlin School District will vote on a $19.705 million referendum. The money will be used for renovation/construction projects on the Berlin elementary and high school. The referendum has its critics, and at the meeting, John Nash voiced his concern that the administration was misleading the public. He claimed that at the November 16 public information meeting, Superintendent Gregory said that a specified amount of State aid would be given to the Berlin School District. This aide would, in principle, help offset the economic burden placed on taxpayers. Nash, however, interviewed Carl Thurnau of the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Facilities and Planning Department, and he claimed Thurnau said that he “[had] not reviewed any plans related to the BCSD current referendum.” Furthermore, Thurnau was surprised by the notion that the State had promised funding to the District, and so Nash was deeply concerned that the administration was not being completely honest.
The Board did not immediately respond to Nash’s claim, but Gregory later provided the Eastwick Press with two letters supporting her assertions about State funding. The first was dated October 20, 2008, and came from James Baldwin, the BOCES Superintendent. The letter claimed the State would provide a $1.8 million increase in State building aid if the District consolidated its elementary schools. The funding, he said, would help the Board “contain and avoid increases in local property taxes.” Baldwin also stressed the need for the District to satisfy requirements mandated by the Americans with Disability Act, and he stated that the Board must put a “building proposal before the voters in a timely manner.”
The other letter came from the NYSED Office of Facilities and Planning. Dated October 20, 2008 as well, its author was Carl Thurnau, Director of Facilities. The letter emphasized the need for Berlin to undergo serious renovation projects. Thurnau also claimed consolidation would save the District money, and so he “[recommended] that the District proceed with the closing of the Stephentown and Grafton elementary schools.” The letter also stated that the increase in State aid was “predicated on the closure of the Stephentown and Grafton elementary schools.”
Forum On Referendum
On November 24, there will be an educational forum regarding the referendum. It starts at 6:30 pm and will take place at the Berlin elementary school. Then on December 1, there will be a public hearing on the referendum. It will be at the middle school/high school and starts at 7 pm. The vote will be at the Berlin Fire Hall on December 8 from 12 to 9 pm. The public is encouraged to attend the meetings, as they are designed to provide the public with information concerning the issue.
Rigid Flier Policy At BES?
Last month, after hearing Girl Scout fliers were not sent home with Berlin elementary school students, Girl Scout leader Sue Cass voiced her displeasure to the Berlin School Board. The school’s policy is that if some groups are allowed to distribute materials to students, then all groups – even controversial or dangerous ones – would, by principle, be allowed to as well. Cass claimed other schools lacked such a rigid policy, and she feared the school’s policy might seriously hamper a student’s opportunity to take part in groups like Girl Scouts.
On November 17 Sue Cass once again voiced her concern. Superintendent Gregory responded by saying that students still have access to such information, albeit fliers are not sent home: morning announcements tell students that group-related information is available in the main office, and students have the opportunity to access these materials. Information concerning curriculum-related groups, such as summer reading programs, can be sent home, however.
Cass’s concern was that younger students may be disadvantaged by this policy, as fliers provide an effective means to inform the student’s parents about these beneficial opportunities. Board Member Morelli voiced a similar concern. He said that since bona fide groups, such as the Girl Scouts and 4-H, promote a number of valuable skills and activities, there should not be such barriers against them; moreover, since there already is a criterion for what constitutes a bona fide school club, perhaps a similar criterion could be applied to community groups. Board Members Stewart and Morelli wanted a diplomatic resolution to the matter, but it appears the issue may not be fully closed until, at best, the next Board meeting.
Five Year Plan
Sandra Brown presented the Board with a five year finance plan. This plan factored in historical trends, assumptions about the economy and other variables. The plan estimated that the District’s expenditures would gradually grow from $18,281,716 in 2009/2010 to $22,964,214 by 2014/2015. The 5 year estimate factored in the increase in expenses if the referendum passes. There was some concern that the estimation was too conservative, for it did not factor in the possibility of State budget cuts or an increase in technology costs. The ensuing discussion became contentious and culminated in several harsh comments and finger pointing. In the end, however, it appeared the Board was relatively content with the estimates.
In closing, while the meeting had its heated moments, the District should be happy to hear that the Berlin Central School marching band appears to be re-emerging. The growing interest in the student band is evident by the fact that 70 students wanted to take part in the Veterans Day Parade; those in attendance even got to see a clip of the band’s performance. The Band Director said that up to a hundred students could be part of the marching band.
Furthermore, Dawn Wetmore and the Berlin Invention Team plan to invent a solar powered compost device. Ideally, the project will be completed by June, and the mechanism would serve as a working prototype.