By Doug La Rocque
After several meetings to discuss and make changes to the 2016-17 School Budget proposal set forth by Superintendent Dr. Stephen Young, the full board last Tuesday night gave its unanimous approval to the spending plan that calls for a 0.59% increase in taxes. [private]Board President Frank Zwack said the District was able to add to its current personnel such new positions as Instructional Technology Specialists, one for each building, a full time third grade teacher, a half time Special Education Teacher as well as a full time position in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment. The budget calls for an increase in employee benefits and salaries of 1.4%. The full breakdown of the budget plan was previously reported by The Eastwick Press. A major change in the school district’s educational approach will take place in the fifth grade next year. Students will stay in the same classroom, but instead of one teacher, several instructors will move between classrooms for the major subjects of study.
The budget proposal for the next school year of $19,560,875 contains an overall spending increase of just under $461 thousand, or about 2.41%. The increase is offset by a large hike in state aid, cost savings from teacher retirements, low energy prices and a mild winter, and reduced State retirement assesments. The budget is slated for a public hearing May 5, with the budget vote on May 17. Because of the budget vote, the regular Board meeting will be pushed back one day to Wednesday May 18.
Concerns about
Transportation
A recent legal ad placed by the District seeking bids for transportation services had one public speaker asking if the Board truly planned to do away with the District’s program? Cathy Goyer of Grafton wondered why they would even consider such a switch to a private bus service. Board President Frank Zwack explained it was never really their intention, indicating the Board is looking to put together a bond proposal for a new transportation hub, and that one of the NYS Education Department criteria for such is to prove a switch to private bus companies is not financially advantageous. He said the Board is simply seeking such proposals to prove their plan is the most economical route to take.
A List of Accomplishments At Berlin Central
Just prior to the school board voting to accept the budget proposal, Superintendent Young read from a list of items to which the district points with pride. Chief amongst these was a five-year average tax levy increase of 1.1%, the successful implementation of a 6.8-million-dollar capital projects program, brought in under budget and a self-sufficient Food Services Program. Also highlighted was a graduation rate of nearly 90%, the establishment of new learning centers, ongoing support services for students and Regents Mastery Rates improved by nearly 11%. The full list will soon be on the District’s Web Page.
Other action saw the Board approve several appointments and the 2016-17 administrative budget for Questar. They also approved all items on the consent agenda, with Board member Katie Fiske however, objecting to the budget transfer of $36,000 to the substitute teachers line. Fiske told the other Board members, she was under the impression less, not more subs would be needed this year, and could not support the transfer until she was given a more detailed breakdown. Grafton residents Jonah Vitale-Wolff and Leah Penniman asked the Board if the District could transport their children to the Woodland Hill Montessori School in East Greenbush, as other students are transported to private schools. The Board said at this time. because they were out of the 15-mile state limit, it would not be possible, but promised to look into it further. The Board then went into executive session before adjourning for the night.[/private]