Independent Audit Of HFCS Finances Gets Highest Rating
by Deb Alter
The first order of business at the September 17 HFCSD Board meeting was the Annual Independent Auditor’s Report. Alan Walther, the representative of the Bonadio Group presented the report to the Board. He said the process and the report were lengthier than usual because of some new criteria and requirements from the State. The report was excellent, giving the District an “Unmodified Opinion,” which is the highest rating possible and means that the District is in complete compliance in all areas of the audit with no deficiencies. Board Member John Helft asked Walther if it was unusual for a district to get a totally clean audit, and Walther replied that it is, and that HFCS is “head and shoulders above with the extra-curricular accounting.”
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“It is a fabulous audit. We are doing things financially that other districts don’t do,” remarked Board President Greg Laurin. Superintendent Ken Facin added, “It was a team effort, led by Pam Hatfield [District Business Administrator] and Emily Sanders [District Treasurer]. HFCS accounts for every penny of extra-curricular fundraising monies, something that most school districts don’t have a hold on.
Facin reported that the start of the new school year has gone very well, with students, teachers and administrators all working together to make it so. The new mindfulness practices have been well-received by both students and teachers. Pat Dailey, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, agreed that the opening of school has been “fantastic.” High school teachers are now teaching six classes each, there are 72 college-level courses offered (including APs), There are many new teachers, especially in the high school, and they are fitting in well, bringing valuable field and classroom experience with them. There are 38 electives, 50 students enrolled in the STEM program (robotics, engineering, etc.), 180 students in band and 100 in chorus.
Sue Conety, Grade 5 special education teacher, represented the Hoosick Falls Teachers Association. She said that the new contract had been approved and that teachers and administrators were working on a new APPR plan for next year. They will use last year’s again this year. Facin explained that the District has asked the State for an extension on the new APPR; everyone wants a plan that works for teachers and kids. He noted that the State Education Department itself has not released its own criteria for the APPR. Conety also said that elementary teachers were getting used to the new trimester schedule and using the 1-4 grading system.
Junior Class officers and Prom Committee members presented their plan for the junior prom, scheduled for May 14, 2016. The proposed theme is “Around the World.” They need a minimum number of attendees to keep the cost of the venue (J.P. Cruise Lines out of Troy) down, so they will be inviting members of the senior class, and possibly other grades as well.
Two new teacher appointments were approved: Sheila Ramirez as Teacher of Spanish, and Kevin Weeden as a Teacher of Math. Weeden was at the meeting and said that he was extremely excited to be teaching at his Alma Mater. Facin remarked, “I couldn’t be more excited to have an alum come back to teach. I worked with him at Cambridge and I know how excellent he is.”
Board Member Andrew Beaty said he had received several calls asking the District to use a local bank for collecting school taxes. There is a fee for paying by credit card or by echeck. The only way to pay without a fee is by mail. Facing said that it was absurd for people to have any extra fees added to their taxes and that he would look into the situation.
The Board approved revised goals for the 2015-2016 school year as follows:
2015-2016 Student Result Targets: 90% passing and 40% reaching mastery on all NY State Regents Examinations, 90% graduation rate, 90% Regents Diploma rate with 50% earning Advanced Regents Diploma distinction, 3.0 or higher class average in each Advanced Placement course, and all varsity teams will qualify as Scholar Athlete Teams.
Superintendent Facin said the coaches have always pushed their athletes to strive for academic excellence, but now they are setting a formal goal. “It is the ultimate championship,” said Facin.
Brian Bushner, the new Community Communications Manager will be doing biographies of Board and staff members that will be posted on the website. He will also be representing the District at Hoosick Rising meetings to keep the community apprised of all the positive things happening in the Hoosick School District, as good schools are an important building block for building a community. He has also created a Facebook page and Instagram and Twitter accounts for the District.
Facin said that the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) which then became the Every Child Achieves Act, is being debated again in Congress. He said he had signed on to a letter to Congress from The Council of School Superintendents supporting more local control of schools, giving accountability back to the states and going back to standardized ELA and Math testing in only fourth and sixth grades and at the high school level.
The next Board Meeting will be on Thursday, October 15. [/private]