Budget Still Uncertain, But Outlook Improving
By Alex Brooks
A $1.3 million decrease in State aid for next year is supposed to be made up by $3.8 billion in Federal aid to New York State passed in December. But Business Administrator Emily Sanders also said another $6 billion in Federal aid has already been figured in that is supposed to be in Biden’s $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package that is now being considered by the Congress.
Sanders said she hoped to have more accurate allocation numbers in a week or so. She said she expects a surplus this year of about $800,000, which along with existing cash reserves should allow the District to match the fund balance used to offset taxes last year, which was $1.2 million.
Board member Joe Patire remarked that the situation is “not as bad as we feared,” saying it sounds like we are OK for this year, but next year’s budget could be challenging. Dailey said the situation has a better feel than it did a few months ago, but he is concerned that the State is so dependent on one-time Federal aid packages. “What about next year when we don’t have that?”
Patire said he is glad the District didn’t take drastic measures in September, as some other Districts did.
Capital Project
John Helft said bid requests have been sent out for the District’s Capital Project. The opening of the bids has been pushed back to February 10 to give contractors more time to formulate their bids, so the Board will know where it stands concerning the cost of the project by its next regular meeting on February 11. Dailey said he has been meeting with Construction Manager Jeff West, a VP at UW Marx, Inc., to plan the capital project. He said they hope to finish almost all of the work in the Elementary School this summer, if possible, but that is a tentative assessment, subject to consultation and confirmation with the contractors, once they are hired. He said all wiring and lighting will be completed this summer. He said some preliminary work will start before school is out, working only at night when no one is in the building.
Dailey said he has spoken to Hoosac School Headmaster Dean Foster about using either Hoosac School (or possibly ISA, the old St. Mary’s School building) for summer school this year, but plans are not firmed up yet.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Pat Dailey said, “We don’t have as many clubs going as we would like. The students would really like to have some of the extracurricular activities back. But he said the ski club is going on, and it is very popular. The day before the meeting 54 students went to Jiminy Peak in three buses. Although the lodge is closed, Dailey said the mountain has opened up some indoor bathrooms, so freezing port-a-potties are no longer the only option.
He said bowling started January 4, and it is the only sport happening right now. Fall sports are supposed to be played in March and April, and spring sports start May 1.
Dailey noted that vaccinations are now available to teachers in New York State, and some of the teachers have been vaccinated, and many more have appointments to get a vaccine, although some of those are in April. He said there are perhaps 25 to 30 of the teachers who are still struggling to get an appointment, and some must go to Utica or Plattsburgh to get their shots. But he has heard that it goes quickly and efficiently when you get there, and he has been glad to see progress in vaccinating the staff.
The meeting began with Chris Zakrzewski, representing the HFTA, saying teachers are struggling to reach as many kids as they can in a difficult time. She said reaching out to kids to get them engaged and connected is challenging when they are not in the same room as the teacher. She talked about some of the strategies and technologies that teachers are using to engage kids when teaching remotely.
John Helft said he is happy that the school was able to continue its hybrid plan despite higher levels of COVID in the community.
In Other News
• Dailey said now that the cold weather has arrived, the new boilers have been fully vetted and they are working great.
• The Board passed a resolution agreeing to continue the sports mergers with Tamarac for the 2021-2022 school year in Football and Cross Country Running.
• Prior to the meeting, the Board held a public hearing on its Smart School Investment Plan, and during the meeting it approved the plan by vote of 7-0.