by Deb Alter
The first draft of the 2016-2017 budget was presented at the February 25 Board Meeting. Business Administrator Pam Hatfield emphasized that it is just the initial rollout, and the budget is still being developed. Many variables beyond the control of the District are still in question, the biggest of them being state aid. The State budget is due on April 1, so more solid information will become available by then. Hatfield said that a simple rollover of the budget with a few tweaks would be a 4.5% budget-to-budget increase. This would be a little over a million additional dollars, of which so far additional State operating aid has promised to cover only about $160,000.
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Superintendent Ken Facin said that he and other school superintendents have been lobbying the state government and advocating for the gap elimination cutback to be completely terminated this year and to restore earlier levels of foundation aid. Many observers are expecting State aid to schools to increase by the time the budget is finalized, but of course districts can’t plan for that unless and until it happens. Facin said, “We need to be especially cautious this budget cycle because there has already been so much stress and worry in the community this year.” He said he would like to see a 0% tax increase in the new budget while still maintaining the breadth and quality of programs. He expressed confidence that the District will be able to resolve its budget issues this year in a way that hurts neither the school nor the taxpayers.
The District has until April to get the budget into its final form, and the School Budget vote is on May 17. Three Board seats are up this year and will be voted on that same day.
The tax levy cap calculation comes out quite low this year. In order to have its budget approved by a simple majority, the District will have to limit the growth in the tax levy to 0.39%
Student Achievements
Bob Allen, the Junior/Senior High School Band director, introduced the two young musicians who had been selected to perform in Saratoga Springs on November 21, 2015 in the prestigious New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Area All-State. The audience was treated to a performance by these two talented students, Darrell Holovach (saxophone) and Devin Weingold (French horn). Playing with them were Steven Surdam on drums and Bandleader Allen on keyboard.
After the performance, the Student Leaders who led the televised assembly/press conference on February 12 were lauded for their articulate and poignant plea to Governor Cuomo to help fix the water problem in Hoosick. The participating students were Anna Wysocki, Bernie DeVito, Stephanie Merwin, Jocelyn Harwood, Clare Myers, Julia Helft, Megan Flynn, Will Clifford, McKenzie Bradley, Emma Ganger-Spivak, Heidi Bossoni, and Jeff Brewer. A juice-and-cookies reception followed.
Laura Pushee gave the HFTA report. She said the APPR plan should be in place by the end of the year. She congratulated the students on their performances and said that the Mindfulness Conference on Superintendent’s Conference Day was successful.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Ken Facin reviewed what has been happening since the last Board meeting. He spoke about the success of the Mindfulness Conference and the District’s work with Dr. Gil Noam and his organization, and Dr. Roberta Bennett.
Facin said the DEC has hired an engineering firm to design a carbon filtration system for the school, the bus garage, and soccer fields, and the District has hired an independent engineering firm to oversee the DEC. Installation is expected sometime in March; he is working on a schedule with the DEC.
Other Business:
Melissa Zimmerman was approved as a Teacher of Music (probationary) to replace Bill Brown who left mid-year.
The Board voted to accept three donations of $1,000 each from the PTA: for the Parents as Reading Partners Program, for the sixth grade trip to Boston, and for the senior class trip.
The next regularly scheduled School Board Meeting is Thursday, March 17 at 7 pm.[/private]