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Below are questions, answers and
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the 2012-13 budget and other issues that the district has received from the staff and community over the school district website. |
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May 15, 2012
COMMENT: Wow! Another back-breaking school tax increase in Glenville. Intentionally childfree people are the last minority that our society thinks it's still okay to oppress. People who want the luxury of children should pay for their education as is the norm in more equitable countries. Childfree people should get the annual tax deductions since we don't selfishly breed children and expect others to pay for those children's education. Can't wait to move out of this prejudiced-against-childfree-citizens, tax-you-to-death town! At least I wasn't the only person casting a "No!" vote today.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. Schools provide many benefits to community members beyond the obvious - providing an education to children for 180+ days per year. Good schools maintain property values because homes are attractive to new families. When families purchase homes in a community, businesses sell products to those families. That leads to a snowball economic benefit for everyone.
When you say “Childfree people should get the annual tax deductions,” we are not sure what you mean by that statement.
Two points:
▪ Anyone who owns a home is eligible for the state’s STAR school tax reduction program, which reduces a home’s assessment before the school tax bill is factored. All residents – with and without children – qualify for that STAR deduction. Applications are available at the town clerk’s office.
▪ School taxes are tax deductible on federal and state personal income tax returns for those who itemize. Again, with or without children, residents receive that annual tax deduction in personal income taxes.
The school district conducts an annual exit
survey after the budget vote. We hope you participate in that
because it gives the school administration and Board of Education
insight into the community’s thoughts on several topics.
Last year’s exit survey (this year’s results are not yet
available) showed that:
▪ 19.7% of the 359 community members who filled out the survey and voted YES indicated that they did NOT have children while 32.5% of those YES voters said they had children older than high school age. That category - community members with children older than high school age - was the largest YES voting bloc last year.
▪ 27.5% of the 80 community members who filled out the survey and voted NO indicated that they did NOT have children while 20% of those NO voters said they had children older than high school age.
The school district is sensitive to the tax burden facing the school community and spent several weeks this spring developing a budget that cut $2.3 million in spending and kept the tax increase below 3 percent. Schools throughout New York are facing issues such as stagnant state aid after three years of significant reductions, the loss of federal assistance to schools and rising costs for state-mandated pensions.
The district is grateful that a majority of the community felt it has done a good job both this year and over the past several years of reining in costs in the face of several fiscal challenges.
May 2, 2012
COMMENT: I understand that one of the areas cut by the budget involves an administrative reorganization with two fewer positions. Some of those changes have been announced. When will the rest be announced? Will we have this information before we vote on the budget? How can we make an informed vote without knowing the ramifications to our leadership team?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. Yes, the 2012-13 budget reduces the administration by two positions – the technology director’s responsibilities are being rearranged and the high school dean of students position will be combined with the athletic director.
All other positions will be in place, though their descriptions may change. Other changes may be announced in the next two weeks.
The district has already advertised to hire a new high school principal and will be advertising for the dean of students/athletic director post.
The individual who is performing a particular job should not impact your ability to make an informed vote about the budget itself since the two are not really connected. The two specific changes that do impact the budget have been announced and all new principals, except for the high school, have also been determined already. That information is here: http://www.scotiaglenvilleschools.org/News/2011_12/adminchanges4_4_12.cfm
We hope the community will consider the budget on its merits in these very difficult times and not on who may be sitting in a particular chair.
arborvitaes planted at tennis courts
April 11, 2012
COMMENT: I have noticed in the past couple of days that trees have been planted along the tennis courts at the High School. I do not understand why the district is spending money on trees and labor to plant them when so many potential cuts are being discussed. Since the trees are being planted on the sports field why couldn't the money have been used for other safety concern on some of the sports fields? For example, the unevenness on the baseball fields.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. The district planted 86 arborvitaes along the back side of the tennis courts as a wind barrier. The fence has wind screens, but they have been destroyed and replaced twice in the past two years because of the high winds that come across the fields. The six-foot trees that were planted will serve as an additional wind barrier and also preserve the wind screens in the fence. The cost was $35 each. They were installed by Scotia-Glenville buildings and grounds staff. They were purchased from Lowe’s Home Improvement. That cost, $3,010, would not begin to deal with the problems of the uneven baseball field. That project has been studied over the years but would require entire excavation and replanting of that field, at a cost much higher than the trees and one that would need to be considered as part of a larger building and renovation project. As you can imagine, routine maintenance items must continue to be performed despite budget reductions.
April 4, 2012
COMMENT: Cost of Athletics. Some numbers were mentioned at Monday night's board meeting regarding the cost per student of different programs. I think I have seen numbers in the past but don't know where to find them. Could you please tell us the cost per student of various athletic programs and the cost per student of various enrichment/gifted programs?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. The school district currently spends $203,189 on its varsity sports program, which involves 444 students at a cost of $452 per athlete. The JV program costs $63,155 for 199 athletes at a cost of $317 per athlete. The modified program costs $81,846 for 292 athletes at a cost of $280 per athlete. Those costs include supplies, busing, coaches’ stipends, equipment, officials and rental fees, etc.
The individual sports vary depending on the number of contests, need for supplies and facility rentals, from a high of $1,495 per athlete for varsity wrestling (which has been eliminated in the proposed 2012-13 budget) to a low of $175 per athlete for modified boys and girls cross country. Swimming, which was also eliminated in the budget, spent $1,348 per swimmer.
As for enrichment and gifted programs, each child in the Young Scholars program for grades 4 and 5 costs $2,300. The school district receives about 62% state aid reimbursement on that figure during the following school year, bringing the cost down to $874 per student. That figure does not include transportation.
The 155 students in the grades 1 to 5 OPAL enrichment program are seen by the current OPAL teacher during the week. That works out to a cost of $451 per student. That does not include the additional costs of the four elementary librarians, who spend one-half day per week with grades 3-5 OPAL students.
April 3, 2012
COMMENT: Sorry for the delay with this message regarding the 123 Success Program offered at Lincoln Elementary. My 8 yr old daughter Caroline participates in the program for the second year as a third grader. This valuable program is designed to help children adjust socially to the school setting, children with issues in such areas..building their self confidence, giving them coping strategies and therefore reducing their level of anxiety at school. It gives them the tools they need to create good relationships with their peers. How smart is this idea at the elementary level? Not just smart, essential. Please consider, making cuts elsewhere, and keep the 123 Success Program at Lincoln Elementary, its benefits shine in the students it fosters, now and into the future. Thank You for Your Time.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. The budget approved by the Board of Education on April 2 does not include funding for the 1-2-3 Success program. The expectation is that social workers and other adults will be able to work with students in that program to meet their needs. Each child’s needs are very specific. However, some of the students are already involved with other programs that also meet some of the same needs.
April 2, 2012
COMMENT: I'm anxious to learn more about the formation of an Education Foundation and have started doing some research on my own. Please post when and where the informational session will be held so those of us that want to be involved, can be. One BOE member stated something that sounded like the Education Foundation committee would be "hand picked" or "recruited".... I feel the best way to get this project off the ground is to open it up to ANY AND ALL interested community members. It would not be fair nor ethical for the Education Foundation to be an extension of the BOE member's personal (or fiscal) agendas!
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. We will get that information out when it is determined – when, where, what time, that kind of info. As you know, the school district cannot operate a foundation or be an active participant in its structure. The more folks who are involved in this, the better for everyone in the long run. We agree with you – the district is not in a position to either ‘hand pick’ or to ‘recruit’ for a foundation. It has to have a life of its own.
Partial state aid AND PROGRAM restorations
April 2, 2012
COMMENT: It is absolutely absurd that someone (comment below) would recommend using the additional state aid to lower their taxes even further than 2.93%, yet then suggest that unions make concessions, and that if they don't, they don't care about programs for the children or their colleagues. Clearly the writer is only concerned about their own self interest, and should stop pointing fingers. And for the record, I am not a teacher--just a parent and taxpayer who is concerned about the programs that benefit all children.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. The Board of Education members have to balance the needs of students and the fiscal realities of the community. The proposed budget, as you know, reduces about $2.3 million in expenditures while maintaining at least part of most programs and continues to offer opportunities to students.
That leaves an estimated tax levy increase of 2.93 percent – about $95 for the typical homeowner in Glenville.
Concessions from employees have become common in the private sector over the past few years but has been done over the years, especially by auto workers and employees at other manufacturing companies.
There is still a process for concessions to happen: executive boards and union leadership must agree to bring the proposed concession to its membership for a vote. Then employees must be afforded the opportunity to vote in favor of or against the concession, since it will impact their personal finances. It is not a fast process.
We feel that all of our staff cares about children and their programs. The staff's support for concessions isn't a direct indication of their feelings about the school district's programs. Our staff faces the same personal fiscal realities as the rest of the community and may not be able to afford a particular concession.
April 2,2012
COMMENT: "Students have no options to replace guidance services on their own."
Your answer to a previous comment (below) about replacing the middle school guidance counselor is not entirely true. Our students will have many options left within the district. Many children find guidance in other staff members that might include teachers, librarians, aides or even the nurse. Outside of school, students can have their personal issues that were mentioned by the 7th graders at the meeting by family members, church or community group members and neighbors. Not every issue that a child has must to be dealt with at school.
The guidance department has yet to see a reduction within it's department.
Board member Gary Normington said despite what is being cut, the school system is doing comparatively well. “I am amazed at what is being able to be preserved.
Taxpayers and parents are saying, “It is just unsustainable to keep raising taxes year after year.”
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. You are correct that other adults in the school setting also provide guidance to students in a variety of ways. The reference was to simply to mention the number of students for which the guidance counselor is responsible.
And while you are correct that “not every issue…should be dealt with at school,” adolescents bring many issues to school with them regardless of how parents think they should deal with the issue. That is where a guidance counselor is helpful to them. If the issues are not resolved in some way, that child’s studies will suffer.
We agree that it is unsustainable to continue raising taxes every year. Scotia-Glenville has been responsible in that manner. While state aid has been reduced and fixed costs have risen, the Board of Education and administration have kept the lid on taxes and spending. Scotia-Glenville’s tax rate has risen by an average of 1.02 percent for each of the past six years and spending has increased an average of 2.02 percent for each of those years. While nothing to brag about, that level of restraint has not been shown by many other area school districts.
April 2, 2012
COMMENT:
With the recent news from the state
to increase the aid for our district I would like to suggest the
following. Remember that we will be back next year looking at
reducing our programs even further.
The items that are added back into the budget are to be only items
that directly impact the students.
In order of importance to students in general
- Late buses- without these buses students lose valuable time with
teachers and other staff to get extra help, work on labs, make up
tests, work on computer projects, belong to a club, etc.
- Middle school computer lab assistant- this position is vital to
many students success in MS. All students can get their computer
needs meet here during school and after. Many students lack the
equipment and skills to replace this at home. What will be the
point of having computer labs without a skilled person running
them? Not all teachers are able to fully run the computer
programs.
- Elementary librarians- without full time librarians there will
be times when our libraries are closed to the entire school
population. This would also allow iOpal to run in some form.
- Fitness center staff person- Without the fitness center being
staff by a person other than the coaches it will be impossible for
athletes to use the center if they are injured and unable to join
in routine practices which is a very common use of the center
after school.
- Driver’s education- many students will not be able to afford
this anywhere else and it is an important part of a young driver’s
education.
As far as the guidance counselor at the middle school, the
district employs more than enough support for students in the
guidance department and social workers to serve our needs of our
students both in the middle school and the high school. People
will decide to move away or stay based on programs we retain, but
the preservation of one guidance counselor’s job will not make one
bit of difference to them.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. Board of Education members have indicated at its March 26 meeting that they would restore an elementary librarian and the middle school guidance counselor positions.
Their thinking about what to restore went along the same lines as your thoughts – which impact the most students? Those two positions impact hundreds of children – the elementary librarian, being one of three remaining librarians, would impact one third of the elementary population – about 400 students. The middle school guidance counselor works with students in grade 7 – and there are 215 of them.
Part of the decision also comes down to options – do students have options to fill some of the other items you’ve mentioned? For example, students who need to stay after school may be able to get a ride home after school. Drivers’ education is available from private schools at a cost, and the school district had raised the summer cost last year in an attempt to make that a self-funding program. Students have no options to replace guidance services on their own.
April 1, 2012
COMMENT: At last week's budget meeting each board member and Susan gave a list of items that might be put back into the budget if more money became available. During the public open comment section of the meeting, a few current 7th graders spoke very passionately about their guidance counselor, whose position would be eliminated in the current proposed budget. While they did a fine job expressing themselves at probably their first public speaking event, we should not be swayed by their words.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. As you know, Board of Education members indicated then that they would consider restoration of the elementary librarian and guidance counselor positions – assuming an increase in state aid and concessions from Scotia-Glenville labor unions. They were looking at the ‘biggest bang for the buck,’ which positions impact the most students from day to day.
The elementary librarian, being one of three remaining librarians, would be split between the four elementary schools and impact one third of the elementary population – about 400 students. That position would also allow for partial restoration of the iOPAL enrichment program. The middle school guidance counselor works with students in grade 7 – and there are 215 of them.
April 1, 2012
COMMENT: I have seen news accounts indicating that Scotia-Glenville Schools is going to be receiving more state aid then previously planned. How will this windfall be used? The cuts have already been made, so will this help reduce my taxes in September lower than the 2.93%? Also, why have the unions not made concessions ? Don't they care about saving jobs for their members along with programs for the children? My workplace has done this already for 2 years now.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. The figures mentioned in the news accounts would not be any kind of ‘windfall’ in state aid. In January, the governor’s budget included a small increase in state aid for schools – about $130,000 for Scotia-Glenville. The information announced last Friday added about $150,000 more in state aid – more than the governor’s increase in January.
In total, the school district may receive about $300,000 total in additional aid out of a total of about $16 million in state aid – a pretty small increase overall. On top of that, the state is still taking back $3 million in what is called ‘gap elimination adjustment,’ essentially a giveback to the state to help plus it’s fiscal hole.
The Board of Education on March 26 indicated it would put a share of the additional state funding toward restoring either a guidance counselor at the middle school or an elementary librarian. Board members also mentioned other programs, such as Young Scholars, that they would like to fund.
So far, about $2.3 million in spending reductions have been made to the 2012-13 budget. The board is expected to adopt a final budget at its April 2 meeting. Voting on the budget by the community will be held on Tuesday, May 15, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
As for labor concessions, all of the unions have been asked for some type of concessions. At this time, those are being considered by the labor unions but no votes have been taken as of yet. Over the past two years, all eight unions at Scotia-Glenville have agreed to a lower-cost health insurance plan, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars, as well as other smaller-savings concessions.
The savings from concessions this year would also go toward the cost of restoring or partially restoring some of the more critical programs that have been cut.
TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT REDUCTIONS
March 27, 2012
COMMENT: I am very concerned about the potential technology cuts presented in this years budget. Some of the courses listed Arc. Drawing, Design and drawing for Production, and Cad drawing are the building blocks for students to move on to a career in engineering. What are the possibilities that these courses would be restored if funds became available? Also I have serious worries about middle level class sizes in the current technology class sizes. Could putting 25+ students in a technology class with machines be a serious safety risk? I have also heard that some of these classes will also be running back to back 50-60 students working at once?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. Some of the options in the technology department were eliminated because of low enrollments. All classes must have at least 15 students in order to be offered. They may be available elsewhere, either at Schenectady County Community College or at the Career and Technical School (BOCES) for juniors and seniors.
If funding were restored, the Board of Education has indicated a willingness to restore a few positions, but not in the technology department.
The middle school technology classes currently have class sizes ranging from 13-26 per period. As you know, students are required to take technology during their middle school years. With the loss of one teacher in that department, the tentative schedule runs show class sizes averaging 24-26 per section next year.
The idea of “classes will also be running back to back 50-60 students working at once” is still being studied within the limitations of the class schedule.
During one period, it may be possible to have a group of 25 grade 7 students in the classroom part of the shop area or in the computer lab while grade 8 students are working on machines in the shop.
Under that scenario, there would be two teachers for each group of students during that same period.
BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTIONS
March 27, 2012
COMMENT: I am wondering which BOE members come up for re-election this year and when that vote is taken. I'm assuming the BOE positions are voted on at the same time as the budget, but want to be sure I have correct information.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. This year, the seats now held by Gary Normington and John Yagielski are up for election. Board members are elected for three-year terms. And, yes, the voting on the members of the Board of Education is held at the same time as the budget. This year, that is Tuesday, May 15, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the old high school gymnasium.
LOSS OF GRADE 3 SECTION AT SACANDAGA
March 26, 2012
COMMENT: With the loss of one 2nd grade teacher at Sacandaga who handles the bubble of children, how will the increase in class size be handled?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. The students in the current four sections of grade 2 - 79 children at last count - have been in four sections since kindergarten. This year, each section averages fewer than 20 children, split evenly.
Next years class sizes will average 26/26/27 students each in three sections. There are discussions being held about how best to serve the students and continue meeting their needs.
As a note, the other grade 3 classes at Scotia-Glenville have, on average: 24/25 students at Glendaal; 24/24 students at Glen-Worden; 24/25 students at Lincoln; and 21/21/22 students at Sacandaga.
Scotia-Glenville uses class size guidelines of 22 students for kindergarten and grade 1; 23 to 24 students for grades 2 and 3; and 25 to 26 students for grades 4 and 5. The superintendent has asked principals to be open to exceeding those guidelines by two to three children per class, depending on the specific needs of those children.
That is where Sacandaga's grade 2 will be in the 2012-13 school year within that over-range. The situation and enrollment in those three classes will be monitored closely throughout the spring and summer.
Teacher aide and assistant reductions
March 26, 2012
COMMENT: How are the specific teacher aide and assistant staff picked for reductions? Are you bound by the same legally-binding labor contract that determine reductions for teachers based on the number of years a particular teacher aid/assistant has been in the district? Can teacher aide/assistants be moved from one position to another based on seniority to avoid layoff when a specific position is reduced thereby retaining experience that is irreplaceable.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. Aides and monitors and teaching assistants each have a labor agreement (contract), which defines their terms of employment. Aides and monitors (inclusive of teacher aides) are usually annual appointments, though many student specific aides return year to year.
Teaching assistants are appointed to work a specified number of hours (seven hours is full-time). Teaching assistants earn seniority based on whether they are part-time or full-time.
When layoffs occur, as they are now, part-time teaching assistants face lay-off before full-time assistants. In addition, seniority and order of lay-off depends upon the total hours worked and date of hire. Full-time teaching assistant lay-offs must be done in accordance with education law.
Due to the two types of positions being in different collective bargaining units, individuals are not able to 'bump' someone out of a different unit.
As for how positions were selected for reduction, teaching assistant reductions are based on seniority – with part-time being let go first and then full-time next. Student-specific aides are reviewed annually by the Committees on Special Education or Pre-School Special Education and brought back depending on the child’s needs. Monitors generally return year after year depending on the number of hours needed in a particular year.
ADMINISTRATIVE REORGANIZATION
March 22, 2012
COMMENT: When will the details of the administrative reorganization be made public?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. The reorganization is still being developed and will likely be made public soon, pending current negotiations with some of the individuals. The superintendent hopes to announce at least a part of it by the second week of April.
The 2012-13 budget proposal includes a reduction of two administrative positions – leaving 16 administrators in the 2012-13 budget. Two years ago, there were 20 administrators.
Last year, two elementary principals retired and were not replaced. This year, the middle school principal, high school principal and director of fine arts either retired or have announced their retirements. The director of technology left for another job.
That a total of six positions that will be officially vacant as of June 30.
PROPERTY TAX LEVY CAP
April 19, 2012
COMMENT: Go above the tax cap. Its the only way to continue to provide necessary experiences for our children!! Please don't cut any more- many tax payers are willing to chip in a little more to preserve Scotia-Glenville's fine reputation.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your
comments. The budget
approved by the Board of Education on April 2 does not exceed
the state's property tax levy increase cap for Scotia-Glenville of
2.93 percent. The typical homeowner with a $160,000 assessment
would pay an addition $95 per year or $8 per month under the plan
if it approved during community voting on Tuesday, May 15, at the
high school.
Several people asked the board to exceed the cap but board members
to comply with the state legislation. If the budget were twice
defeated, the board would be forced to adopt a contingent budget -
requiring an additional $745,000 in spending cuts - under the new
law.
The $2.3 million in reductions made to the 2012-13 budget impact many members of the school community but the plan still provides college-credit courses and other opportunities for students.
March 27, 2012
COMMENT: I am bothered by the oft-repeated comment that the budget process is "not a popularity contest". It insinuates that community members believe that it is, and frankly, it is insulting.
Hard-working community members have taken the time to gather their thoughts, attend board meetings, write letters, pass petitions, and speak out during meetings and forums (some who are visibly uncomfortable doing so) and the defensive tone of some of the responses on this page leaves community members feeling as though the board and administrators really don't want to hear from us.
I am also surprised at the comment that the only true poll will be on May 15. That is simply not accurate, given the many, many community members who supported a tax increase above the cap. The May 15 "poll" bypasses those voters completely, since they will never even be given a chance to vote in favor of what they truly supported.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. We know there are passions on all sides of the budget issue. The reference to a ‘popularity contest’ simply means that the Board of Education cannot base its decisions on the small number of people sitting in front of them. If that were the case, specific groups of folks would pack board meeting in an effort to influence the decisions being made at the table.
There are 12,000 potential voters in the school district; last year, 1,862 turned out to vote and 1,275 of those voters approved the budget. As you can see, that is a small portion of the eligible voters in the community. The Board of Education has to remember the other 10,000+ people who didn’t vote or come to meetings.
Under the new state property tax levy cap, a supermajority vote of 60%+ approval is needed on May 15, if the tax levy exceeds the state-mandated 2.93%. That plurality has happened three times in the past 10 years – and the proposed tax increase was lower than the proposed increase. With the state cap, there are only two chances to convince community members to support the school budget - the only government budget put up for a popular vote every year. If both budget proposals are both unsuccessful, the tax levy remains the same as now and would require an additional $745,000 in reductions in 2012-13.
As you may know, the Board of Education has decided to present a 2012-13 budget proposal that falls under the state levy cap and leaves the proposed reductions in place, unless there is an increase in state aid or employee consessions.
We are sorry that you feel responses on this page are "defensive.” The board and administration continue to read everything being said on this forum and listen to all comments being made in the public settings. The purpose of this forum is to hear from the community, to allow others to see what their neighbors are thinking on a variety of topics and to provide accurate information so that others can make decisions for themselves.
March 26, 2012
COMMENT: More comment than question--I would like to clarify a statement made by Superintendent Swartz at last night's BOE meeting. She said that many of the people who were in support of going over the 2.93% tax levy cap would have only approved a budget of over that amount if our specific "pet" programs were restored/included.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
While there are certain areas that are more important to my children than others, I would have supported an increase in the tax levy cap regardless. I am interested in preserving the quality of education for all of the children (and future children) of our district.
For Superintendent Swartz to put the opinion of one person out as fact, based on assumption, is irresponsible and unbecoming of someone who is supposed to represent the entire cross section of the community she serves.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. As you can imagine, there are many folks on all sides of this issue – those who would support an increase as long as the additional money was targeted to specific programs and others who would support exceeding the cap for the general welfare of all of the school district’s programs and students.
Her comment was not made as a matter of fact. She made the statement in the same vein as others at the meeting who had spoken generically about “their neighbors” or “their friends” who would or would not support exceeding the spending cap.
Preparing a budget is not a popularity contest; the only true opinion survey will be taken during the community vote on Tuesday, May 15.
The Board of Education on Monday decided unanimously to keep the proposed tax levy increase within the state-mandated cap of 2.93 for the 2012-13 school year. If additional funding were to become available, board members expressed a desire to restore funding to a few programs.
March 23, 2012
COMMENT: This comment is in reference to the recent comment submitted and posted about NYSUT (below).
I have been one of the most vocal proponents/supporters at BOE meetings to exceed the tax levy cap to save programs, and I am not a teacher and have nothing to do with NYSUT. I am a small business owner who lives on a 'very' modest income. My family can certainly not easily afford an increase in our taxes, but we also know that we cannot allow program cuts to continue as they have been and keep quality education for the children in this district.
Thinking that these cuts won't affect every single person in this district (including home owners and taxpayers without children) is extremely naive.
In addition, at the last BOE meeting there was a vast cross section of people that spoke in favor of exceeding the tax levy cap and saving programs, including a high school student who had availed herself of social work services, a grandfather, at least two fathers, teachers from other districts who were losing their own jobs, etc.
In addition, I was able to collect over 50 signatures in just one hour in support of exceeding the tax levy cap. Given more time I'm sure we would be able to garner a significant amount of support for the idea.
Unfortunately, since, according to the district website it seems as if the decision is being made on Monday, 3/26, we will not have the opportunity to find out.
I would also be curious to know of the people polled on the writer’s street, who believe that the current budget is “acceptable,” how many of them have been attending the meetings and have a comprehensive view of the budget and just how much impact it will have.
I also wonder when we started setting the bar at just “acceptable” for the education of our children. While it is clear that not everyone will agree with or to a tax increase, to think that the minds of all of the community members that have spoken out at meetings are being controlled by NYSUT is just silly.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. All of your points are well received and will be taken into consideration by the Board of Education as it struggles to make decisions. The administration, for its hard, has weighed all of the reductions and, as the superintendent said at the last meeting, she is comfortable with them and that the cross-section of programs for which Scotia-Glenville has been known will continue to be offered in the 2012-13 school year.
As has been written here, the state Property Tax Levy Cap has put school districts in the position of weighing an inflexible tax levy cap against the individual needs of school districts. Having a single formula for a cap implies that all schools face the same issues and have the same resources. The cap will only be changed in the future if community members contact their legislators. Here is the page for contacting our representatives.
However, in the end, the Board of Education members – who are also parents and homeowners in the district - will weigh all possibilities and make the decision that they feel are in the best interests of the entire community.
March 22, 2012
COMMENT:
I was speaking to a good friend of mine who serves on a local
school board (not Scotia-Glenville). NYSUT has been organizing the
teachers to show up at board meetings to push for more than the
levy.
Board members have also been getting flooded with emails (from
community members, but when you dig a bit deeper, you find out
they also teachers).
I guess it never dawned on me that all those teachers showing up
at the board meetings was an organized effort by NYSUT - chalk it
up to my naiveness. Anyway, the message I heard from my friend is
if you support 2.93 percent, make sure your board members know
that. They are getting overwhelmed with folks that want to go
higher than that . . .all courtesy of the union.
As suggested by a very vocal speaker at the last meeting, I have
spoken with most of the folks on my street and the overwhelming
feeling is that the current budget is acceptable and going over
the cap would result in a "No" vote from most of them. Be sure
that my street is a better cross section of S-G residents than any
BOE meeting I have attended.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. The superintendent will be asking the Board of Education members on Monday, March 26, to give her an indication of whether they want to keep the budget reductions as they have been announced – and stay under the 2.93 percent state Property Tax Levy Cap – or exceed it.
As has been written, exceeding the cap would require a 60 percent approval from the community. That mark has only been reached three times in the past 10 years – including last year’s 68 percent community approval of the budget.
Board of Education members know that they represent the entire community, not just the folks sitting in the room in front of them. They need to consider the interests and needs of all 2,700 Scotia-Glenville students, their families and their neighbors.
March 22, 2012
COMMENT: What will be happening at the meeting on Monday night (March 26) and when will the BOE determine whether or not they will go over the 2.93% tax levy cap?
RESPONSE:
At this point, the Board of Education is hoping to adopt a final
budget for the 2012-13 school year on Monday, April 2. Board
members will likely discuss the state Property Tax Levy Cap at the
March 26 meeting, which will be held at 7 p.m. at the Middle
School. Board members will also likely offer their impressions of
the reductions made in the draft budget next Monday, the 26th.
The superintendent has asked that they give her an indication of
where they want the tax levy increase to be – either higher or
lower - so that paperwork can be prepared for budget adoption on
April 2. At this stage, her proposed spending reductions brings
the levy increase to the state-mandated maximum of 2.93 percent.
A budget must be adopted at least 30 days before the statewide
scheduled vote, which is Tuesday, May 15, this year.
CONTINGENCY BUDGETS
March 22, 2012
COMMENT: I attended the forum last night and heard Superintendent Swartz say again that if the first vote fails on May 15 the BOE could choose to go directly to a contingency budget. Why would they do that? It doesn't make any sense for them to choose the least favorable option for our children when they have another opportunity to pass the budget.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. The superintendent was describing the options that every Board of Education has after a school budget is defeated – present another budget or adopt a contingency budget. She cannot speak for what members of the Board of Education, who are elected by the community, may want to do at that time.
With the Property Tax Levy Cap legislation, a contingency budget would not allow for any increase in the tax levy, equating to an additional $745,000 cut in spending for Scotia-Glenville in 2012-13. Plus, a contingency budget would restrict equipment and supply purchases.
So, a contingency budget would likely be “the least favorable option” under the new property tax levy cap legislation adopted last June by the state Legislature.
However, if the budget were defeated by a
tremendously lopsided vote, revising it for a second vote may not
make sense at the time either because it may not be any more
successful.
Again, these would be decisions faced by the elected members of
the Board of Education.
TRANSPORTATION GUIDELINES
March 21, 2012
COMMENT: I see that you have made cuts to the transportation department in the form of eliminating field trips and late runs. Why are we not considering widening the distance for walkers at the middle school and especially high school levels? Many districts have busing guidelines that are well over a 1/2 mile cutoff. Some of our students are bused from an even shorter distance if they live across Mohawk Ave - couldn't we expect that a HS student can safely cross the street?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. Minimum transportation guidelines are set by the state, but Scotia-Glenville exceeds those – meaning that we do bus children who live closer than is required by law.
State law states that districts must “provide transportation for all eligible resident pupils in grades K-8 (elementary and middle school) who live more than 2 miles from school and for pupils in grades 9-12 (high school) who live more than 3 miles from school.”
Guidelines from the state also say that
virtually all school districts bus children who live within those
guidelines.
Scotia-Glenville needs to be concerned with safety – we want
children to make it to school safely every day.
This district is split by some very busy streets in the morning – Sacandaga Road, Route 5/Mohawk Avenue and Route 50. In many areas of these roads, there are no sidewalks or walking areas.
To have children walking on these roads during rush hours would be unsafe and would likely lead to situations in which students are either struck or almost struck by a vehicle.
Busing children to school is a way to ensure that they arrive safely.
REJOIN SUBURBAN COUNCIL TO SAVE MONEY?
March 21, 2012
COMMENT: At the BOE meeting on March 12, a community member voiced an interest in rejoining Suburban Council as a way to save on transportation costs. As it stands now, our teams travel unreasonable distances to participate in the Foothills Council. Can this be considered, and if yes, who is responsible for applying?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. The athletic department has looked at rejoining Suburban Council several times since the district switched to the Foothills Council in the mid-1990s. Part of the reason that was done at the time remains valid – Scotia-Glenville’s high school, at 900+ students, is closer in size to the Foothills teams than the Suburban Council teams, which include Shenendehowa High School at 2,700+ students, for example.
It should be noted that some Suburban Council schools, like East Greenbush, Averill Park and Saratoga Springs, would be about the same distance or further from Scotia-Glenville than some of the Foothills teams, like Gloversville and Johnstown. However, the northern teams like Queensbury, Hudson Falls, Glens Falls and South Glens Fall do approach 50+ miles one way.
The Suburban Council leadership has to accept an application to rejoin; the application would be submitted by the school district upon advice from the athletic director.
COMMUNITY FORUMS HELD TOO LATE
March 21, 2012
COMMENT: It seems to me that it is too late in the process for you to be seeking community feedback. If you truly desired the community to have a say in this process, you would have sought input in January at the latest. These community forums are too little too late and will have no impact on this year's budget process.
Every year we request the ability to be involved in the process, and every year the timing is manipulated so that our input has no effect. Presenting your proposal 2 weeks before you expect the BOE to adopt is unfair to the BOE members and the community.
Furthermore, starting the process so late in the year has eliminated many possibilities such as closing a school and going to an 8 period day because there is not time to implement the changes before the fall. The whole system needs to be revamped. We need a long term plan to address the continuing reduction of state aid and the unreasonable tax load on residents. This cut back is not a surprise to the administration or the BOE. For the last two years you have discussed this at your public meetings.
We need a proactive plan that looks ahead at least 5 years and enacts changes in the way we do business that allows us to offer a quality education at an affordable cost to taxpayers.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. Budget information is gathered in November and December of each year. The administration then pulls together proposals and ideas for the next year’s budget – that will take effect months away. To have asked the community for input in January would not have accomplished very much – at that point, the school district did not know most of the information that they need to develop a budget.
Administrators were just beginning to get a look at all the pieces of the picture – state aid, spending trends, rising costs, etc. Even continuing through the summer, estimated costs will continue to change. For example, students courses won’t be finalized until August.
Since school districts do not have all the information at the same time – state aid is proposed in January but not finalized until April; health insurance rates are estimated throughout the spring. Pension rates are announced in late winter.
By holding the forums earlier, they would become a popularity contest – which group can get more supporters to meetings and speak the longest. That is now how budgets are developed.
By holding the forums after the superintendent and administration has made decisions about reductions and considered all possibilities that would affect the programs, there is a better view of the entire picture. That is the job of the paid educational administrators. Folks can deal with and react to facts instead of simply offering vague ideas about where reductions should be made.
Having said all of that, community members are welcomed to attend Board of Education meetings and voice concerns throughout the school year. They are held twice a month – and weekly in March. That is more than two dozen opportunities each year to be heard by the leaders of your school district.
FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK?
March 18, 2012
COMMENT:
I came across this link to a 4 day school week. Sounds a
little crazy, but the more I read about it, the better it sounds
especially when faced with other alternatives.
Just thought I would throw this out there:
http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/educ/school-calendar-four-day-school-week-overview.aspx
.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. Four-day weeks have been discussed in New York state but are not legal at this point. A shorter week does decrease transportation costs but usually doesn't save on salaries because students are required to have a certain amount of seat time each week - whether that is spread over four days or five. Typically, schools with four day weeks tack those extra hours lost from the fifth day onto the other four days in some manner - they either start school earlier or go later in the day. If one district is on a four-day week while others are on five-day weeks, it would be difficult to schedule after-school sports and other activities betweent hose schools.
LISTENING TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY
March 18, 2012
COMMENT: I was at the BOE meeting last Monday evening (March 12, 2012) and took an opportunity to speak during the open floor, as did several other community members.
Further in the meeting Mr. Crapo said that the people who spoke certainly were not a cross-section of the community, nor did we represent the community. I found it offensive that #1, he would assume he knows who we are and that we are homogenous or interchangeable and #2, that he would choose to marginalize the people that make the effort to get there and be involved in the process.
I understand that there are several different viewpoints in the community and that people have different values/perspectives/choices. I also know that those same people have the same opportunity to be at those meetings and be heard. If they want a voice in the decision-making process, they need to make a choice and use it.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. The context of Mr. Crapo’s comment was after several parents had indicated a willingness to approve a budget that exceeds the state’s Property Tax Levy Cap of 2.93 percent. He said he felt he needed to speak for people who were not at the meeting and may be struggling to pay bills or are on fixed incomes.
The Board of Education has the option of proposing a budget that includes a levy increase greater than the state-mandated figure.
If the community defeats that proposal on May 15, a second vote on an altered budget would be scheduled in mid-June. Unlike the days before the Property Tax Levy Cap, a contingency budget – were one needed after that second unsuccessful vote – would mean the levy would not be allowed to increase at all in 2012-13. That would involve an additional $745,000 in reductions.
There was never any intent by Mr. Crapo or anyone to marginalize or dismiss the comments being made or the community members who came to the meeting.
Developing a budget is not a popularity contest. Since the entire community considers the budget, board members must consider the community beyond those sitting in front of them at a meeting.
DOES CLOSING A SCHOOL IN THE FUTURE MAKE SENSE?
March 15, 2012
COMMENT: I was just wondering if when looking at next years cuts, if we are not going the wrong way. Its been proposed that one of the elementary schools will close. That means that 2 levels at the MS level and 1 level at the high school will be receiving additional classes that would not be mandated at their current levels. (5 & 6 are not mandated to have the instruction that the MS presently holds, and 8 & 9 would now have to meet the higher mandates of the HS level.)
I have only read the meeting information and have had discussions with some other parents and was just curious if this is what the plan is, and weather the above has been taken into consideration. And if so, how does this make sense cost wise?
On the same note, closing GD or GW, and not looking at LN, seems more costly as well. Busing in and around the village vs either of those other locations seems much more cost effective. When you see where each of those schools children live it seems moving them further would cost more. As well as having yet another younger class at the middle school seems tragic and again, more costly. Thank you.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. NOTHING would be happening before September 2013 – 18 months from now at the very earliest – regarding any reconfiguration of the six schools. That process needs to involve parents, staff and community members. It was a suggestion that the superintendent mentioned at the February 27 meeting regarding the future need to reduce costs. There will likely be other proposed options once that discussion begins with the Board of Education and the community.
She was thinking ahead to the struggles that will face schools in the coming years because of the state’s property tax levy cap, which in 2012-13 will limit the tax levy increase to 2.93 percent at Scotia-Glenville. When costs - many of them out of the school district’s immediate control like salaries, mandates and pensions - are increasing at a faster pace than inflation and faster than schools are now allowed to raise revenue to cover, there will eventually be a shortfall that cannot be covered without drastic and dramatic actions.
Creating three kindergarten to grade 4 schools and shifting grade 5 students to the middle school (which was done this year by neighboring Schalmont CSD) and also shifting grade 8 students to the high school is just one option. That option would allow the closing of one elementary school.
Again, while there has been no discussions about which elementary school may close, the reasoning behind not closing Lincoln would be that most Lincoln students now walk to school. To add at least four large buses and bus routes for an additional 200+ students may have a higher cost that busing current Glendaal and Glen-Worden students further. However, again, none of that has been studied and that would need to be done before any decisions are made.
Your comments are well received and will be part of the discussion when we reach that point.
WHAT CAN BE DONE? HOW ABOUT FUNDRAISING?
March 14, 2012
COMMENT:
I have been reading all of the
information and it seems like there are no easy answers. There are
going to be some tough, unpopular decisions ahead. What can be
done? Is there anything we can do to change things? Is fundraising
a possibility? Do you think the state will cave and provide more
assistance at the last minute?
I can't make meetings on Monday nights, but will be following
things closely.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. General fundraising for public schools is generally not allowed. Parents could not, for example, fundraise in order to pay for an academic program or teacher salaries.
Dedicated donations can be made to the school district, however, to purchase specific items. For example, there was a Scotia-Glenville alumni a few years ago who donated money to purchase kilns for the art rooms.
The All Sports Booster Club and Friends of Music raise money from the community to supplement those programs with a specific purpose.
The state may end
up providing more state aid at the last minute, but it would not
come close to filling the so-called Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA)
that is tacked onto the district’s state aid. For
Scotia-Glenville, the state is taking back $3.2 million through
the GEA to fill it’s own gap in state revenue. Over the past three
years, Scotia-Glenville has been cut by millions of dollars as the
state’s own fiscal house has fallen apart.
We will continue to post the budget process every step of the way.
HOW MUCH IS IN THE FUND BALANCE?
March 14, 2012
COMMENT:
How much money does our district have it it's fund
balance? What is the amount the state allows us to have? How much
of this fund balance will be applied to the 2012/2013 budget?
The tax levy represents a portion of the revenue for our school
district. Are the other sources of revenue (state aid etc.)
remaining flat in 2012/2013?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. School districts, unlike towns and counties, are restricted to a 4 percent fund balance in their budgets. School officials are forced to budget 18 months ahead of expenditures. Most school districts follow a conservative approach in estimating expenditures and revenues in the coming year.
The fund balance is the amount of money left at the end of the budget cycle or fiscal year, which is June 30 for school districts. Districts appropriate the fund balance as part of the next year’s school budget to reduce the need to raise taxes. Budgets are developed by the Board of Education and proposed for approval by the community.
For Scotia-Glenville, the statutory 4 percent figure was $1.89 million in the current budget.
The school year fund balance by June 30 of this year, estimated at $2.173 million, will be added to the $1.525 million that the school district had on June 30, 2011 for a total $3.699 million in fund balance to reduce next year’s need to raise taxes in the 2012-13 budget.
As allowed by law, boards of education are also allowed to establish dedicated reserve funds that can only be used for a particular purpose and to pay for a particular portion of future budgets.
The 2012-13 budget would use $25,000 from a dedicated Workers’ Compensation Reserve fund, $705,000 from a dedicated Retirement Reserve fund and $100,000 from a dedicated Tax Certiorari Reserve fund.
Use of the fund balance and reserve funds would total $4.529 million and would be applied to the 2012-13 budget to supplement other revenue and reduce the amount the tax levy would need to be raised.
The property tax levy represents about 54
percent of the total revenue received by the school district.
The remaining 46 percent comes from a variety of sources.
Net state aid from all sources – Foundation Aid, building aid, special education and other reimbursements - would increase by $473,000 or 3 percent. Foundation Aid, the major source of school aid, has been frozen for four years.
The other aids are reimbursement for money the school district has already spent.
Transfers from the reserve funds would be $720,000 less than this year because those funds are being depleted as each year goes by and the state continues to freeze state aid.
Other sources of revenue, like interest and charges to BOCES for using classrooms, would decline by $10,000 in each category.
In addition, the school district received an $805,000 Jobs Recovery Grant in the 2011-12 school year that paid for 10 staff positions. That $805,000 and those positions were restored to the general fund budget in the 2012-13 budget.
Loss in revenue is only half of the equation. Every school district’s budget shortfall is a combination of higher costs and lower revenues.
Scotia-Glenville’s expenditures – everything
from negotiated salaries to state-mandated pension costs –
continue to increase each year. Those ‘rollover’ costs – assuming
no changes were made to programs - would increase by $2.875
million in 2012-13. That would have required a nearly 12 percent
increase in the property tax levy – while the school district’s
state-mandated property tax levy cap is 2.93 percent.
That gap creates the funding shortfall that the district is
facing.
RETHINK FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN?
March 19, 2012
COMMENT: It is interesting that you make the argument for full day kindergarten by saying "A half-day program is a step backward for that child. When Scotia-Glenville offered only a half-day program, many parents simply sent their children to full-day programs offered at private and parochial schools, returning them to Scotia-Glenville in grade 1." That sounds like a solution to me. If parents want a full-day kindergarten although research shows that there is no benefit to the average student, then they should pay for it.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. As you may be aware, studies vary about the benefits of offering full-day kindergarten - or offering kindergarten at all. For some students, it is very important to get a firm foundation in school while others may thrive without it. That is true of many programs offered by a public school district - they are offered here because schools are responsible to meet the needs of all students at all learning, academic and income levels. In order to offer a comprehensive program to do that, some programs may not benefit some children but will benefit others.
To offer a hybrid or two-tier kindergarten program, in which some children come to school for a half day while others attend full day, would become difficult to manage and would increase transportation costs as children would be bused all over the school district.
The district previously offered Transitional Kindergarten, win which students attended school for a half day for the first half of the year and full day for the second part of the year. From a staffing perspective, full-day and transitional kindergarten require the same number of teachers.
March 19, 2012
COMMENT: There is a rumor that kindergarten will be cut back to a half day program again to save costs. Is this accurate? If so, when would it being (this school year or next), and which schools, any or all, would it affect?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. The proposed 2012-13 budget continues funding for the district's full-day kindergarten program as it is today. A full-day kindergarten program is important to the district's early childhood education program to prepare children for the rigors of elementary school beyond kindergarten. Beginning this year, there is an intense effort to ensure that every Scotia-Glenville child is reading at grade level by the end of grade 2. Strong reading skills are key to future success in school and beyond.
Reducing the kindergarten program was one of the many options that could have been considered, as is happening in other school districts, during these difficult fiscal times for schools as they try to comply with the state's Property Tax Levy Cap.
March 13, 2012
COMMENT: I sat on the committee several years ago that looked into 1/2 day kindergarten vs full day kindergarten. We looked at research regarding academic outcomes of both models and found that the data does not support the position that full day kindergarten improves academic outcomes in K-3 readers. The only group of students who benefit from full day are those with special education needs.
The committee at the time was split on whether or not to go to full day and the recommendation passed by one vote on the committee. Those who believed that based on research and costs involved 1/2 day was the better option, only agreed to support the move to full day kindergarten if it was a transitional model. At the time we had a full day program for children with special needs who were identified in the kindergarten screening process.
Today, we could compare ourselves with Burnt Hills district and the outcomes that they have K-3. They currently have 1/2 day kindergarten and are a similar size district. They offer Y care for the second half of the day for those children whose parents desire a full day/daycare experience for their children. This is a viable option for us to consider.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. The superintendent is exploring all options when considering reductions in the budget. The move from half-day to transitional kindergarten in 1999, and the move a decade later from transitional to full-day kindergarten, were both based on improving the preparedness of children to tackle coursework during their elementary, middle school and high school, being ready to face and cope with challenges, work cooperatively with other children – basically, providing them with more time to be focused on task.
Academic results cannot be measured only on standardized tests – which students begin to take in grade 3.
When children enter kindergarten, there is a wide spread in abilities – some know how to read books while others don’t recognize letters. Many children also already attend full-day pre-school programs. A half-day program is a step backward for that child. When Scotia-Glenville offered only a half-day program, many parents simply sent their children to full-day programs offered at private and parochial schools, returning them to Scotia-Glenville in grade 1.
The job of the kindergarten teacher is probably among the hardest in the school district – to narrow that gap between the children and prepare them for more intensive learning in grades 1 and beyond. As children progress through the grades, that natural gap between their individual abilities ideally becomes narrower each year.
Comparing school districts is difficult because, for example, the demographics of our families are different than at the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake School District. That is why we offer a breakfast program, for example, while BHBL does not. We hope that the ability of children to begin their day with a hot breakfast – whether provided at home or school – makes them more equipped to do a better job of concentrating in class.
By providing children with a stronger start, whether with a hot breakfast or a more-inclusive academic program, the district feels children are better off in the long run.
MAJOR BUDGETARY INCREASES
March 18, 2012
COMMENT: In a March 14 Q/A you list a number of increases in next year's budget over this year's. Are any of these increases unique to the coming 2012-13 school year or should we expect that the same kind and size increases will confront us a year from now, requiring additional cuts of the same magnitude as this year's?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. As schools have mentioned, many of those costs – TRS and ERS pension contributions, health insurance, special education costs – could be expected to be there next year and beyond next year because they are mandates from the state. The magnitude of the increases depends on issues outside of the school district’s control – ERS contribution rates are set by the state comptroller; TRS rates are set by a governing board; health insurance costs depend on the market place; special education costs depend on the number of students receiving particular services.
Debt service costs would likely stabilize or slightly decline each year – those are part of a long-term borrowing for the capital project similar to your home mortgage.
The loss of the $800,000 Jobs Recovery Grant funding is an issue only this year. We are going through the pain right now of making up that difference. Next year, that funding would be accounted for in the general budget.
The one recurring issue will be the new state Property Tax Levy Cap. As has been mentioned, the cap only allowed the tax levy to increase by $745,000 next year. That amount barely covers inflationary increases each year – without accounting for the fixed costs mentioned above. After three straight years of tapping fund balances and other non-tax sources of income, school districts are out of options without turning to tax increases in the future.
March 13, 2012
COMMENT: According to an early budget presentation, to maintain existing services, the 2012-2013 carry forward budget would need to increase by $2,875,274, or 6.11%. Can you provide specific information regarding the top budget expenditures and the dollar amount they are increasing by? ex: staff benefits, debt service, staff salaries etc.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. The situation this year is a combination of reduced revenue and increased costs. The carry forward figure you cited is the net of both of those factors.
As it stands, Scotia-Glenville needs to cut $2.3 million from its proposed budget - $845 per student – in order to comply with the state’s property tax levy cap. The state formula allows for a maximum tax levy increase of $745,053.
Here is a list of areas that have changed from the current budget to the proposed budget:
▪ Debt service increase to pay for approved May 2010 capital project, $861,000 (there is an increase in state aid to cover part of this cost, though the school district’s building aid reimbursement was reduced by the state this year);
▪ Teachers are not receiving a “cost of living” pay increase in the 2012-13 school year. However, all teachers by law receive a state mandated ‘step’ pay increase for each year of additional service. The ‘step’ increase (along with required higher social security and pension payments) for teachers alone will total $536,000 in the 2012-13 budget.
▪ Health and dental insurance increase (district share), $298,000;
▪ Teacher Retirement System (district share), $226,000;
▪ Employee Retirement System (district share), $203,000 (part of this amount can be deducted from the property tax cap formula);
▪ Increase in out-of-district costs for children with special needs, $144,000;
▪ Other contractual increases (items the district has contracts for, not personnel), $434,000;
In addition, the school district received an $805,000 Jobs Recovery Grant in the 2011-12 school year that will not be available in the 2012-13 school year, creating that sized shortfall in funding.
WE NEED FORWARD THINKING TO DEAL WITH FISCAL CRISIS
March 13, 2012
COMMENT: I applaud Board member Andy Crapo for asking the harder questions at last night's BOE meeting (http://www.scotiaglenvilleschools.org/budget/2012_13/budgetboe3_12_12.cfm).
He was trying to put in prospective the realities of the financial situation the district and our community is in and will continue to face in the years to come.
The fact that he wants the district to begin dialog with other districts, parents, and businesses to replace the learning opportunities that will be eliminated, shows that he is thinking and responding to the crisis. Our administrators, teachers and other Board members should take note and begin this forward thinking also.
Business as usual will not do anymore. Learning through cooperation, embracing new education technologies and innovative and cost effective methods need to be explored. Our students have the desire and passion for all of the new innovative ways of learning, but the adults in our district need to open their minds and not just worry about the reductions, but explore and embrace new ways of educating our students.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. As the administration and Board of Education develop the 2012-13 budget, all options are being explored as much as possible and practical.
Schools are very regulated and restricted. Particular things, like charging parents for services, can not be done under current NYS education law. Speakers and others can be brought into classrooms for presentations, for example, but can not actually regularly teach the classes themselves. Even sharing courses with other schools becomes problematic because, in both instances, they would likely be a violation of the teachers' contract. The district is prohibited from purchasing the same services now provided by a staff member from another organization, without a signoff from the labor union.
Having students take on-line courses, while seeming like a forward thinking, technolgical idea, are only allowed for credit recovery - meaning the child has already been exposed to the material in a regular class. And credit recovery options must be overseen by a regular teacher. Scotia-Glenville used the Nova Net system last summer for seniors who needed to recoup courses so they could graduate.
SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM MEDICAID
March 12, 2012
COMMENT: Does Scotia Glenville seek Medicaid reimbursement for all eligible services? Does the district have a documentation system in place so Medicaid in Education requirements can be met? Has the district sought retroactive payment in accordance with the new Medicaid in Education laws? What would the potential savings be if all services were reimbursed?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. Scotia-Glenville aggressively pursues all means of reimbursement for Medicaid and Medicare costs that are allowed to school districts.
The current budget expects to receive $30,000 in Medicaid reimbursements (for students receiving occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychological services, etc.) and $70,000 for Medicare reimbursements (to supplement certain retirees’ health coverage). That is the total $100,000 in federal reimbursements that have been budgeted.
The state has changed the rules in the past
few years, disallowing certain reimbursements such as counseling.
In addition, during the 2010-11 school year, $145,689 was reduced
from Scotia-Glenville’s state aid because of mandatory
reimbursements under the state’s
Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) program.
A few years ago, the district was routinely receiving more than $100,000 in Medicaid reimbursements alone.
All services are being billed under Medicaid for which the district is entitled. The district pays $325 per month for an advisor to review the submissions to ensure they meet all of the requirements. The district works with the Capital Region BOCES to formally submit the information to the state every month, though payments from the state have been slow or non-existent over the past two years.
POSTING FORMAT FOR COMMENTS
March 12, 2012
COMMENT: I appreciate the administrators in the district who are taking the time to respond to each question or comment submitted on the webpage. Is there a way to set up an interactive forum where we could hear feedback from BOE members on some of these issues and ideas?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. As you may know, this was discussed by the Board of Education. The issues with an interactive forum are two-fold:
▪ Each Board of
Education member could express his or her individual opinion, but
it carries no weight of the entire board. That is basically what
is done at board meetings – each member expresses an opinion.
Until there is agreement or voting on a particular topic, there
are just seven individual opinions. The fear with a forum is that
the public may read, for example, of one board member’s opinion
but feel they are speaking for the entire board.
Managing such an enterprise would also be difficult because, in
many instances, board members would need information from the
administration to answer a question.
▪ An open forum
on the website would also allow inaccuracies or other problems to
creep into general discussions without being immediately corrected
– even with the strongest moderation possible. That has happened
several times this year and last – a person may post a comment
that is incorrect, derogatory, mentions names, etc.
The advantage to this type of forum – in which the community asks
questions and the administration answers them factually after
doing research – is that the questions are asked and the questions
and answers are posted at the same time. That gives the reader a
more complete view of the issue involved.
March 5, 2012
COMMENT: I would like to request that questions, answers and comments be listed by the date submitted rather than by category. The links to specific issues and topics could still exist at the top of the page, but this would make reviewing all posts much easier to keep up with. Thank you!
RESPONSE:
Thanks for your comments. This area is designed as an issues forum
versus a blog, which is typically posted by the date submitted and
deals with a specific issue for that day or topic. As an issues
forum, the date submitted is irrelevant.
We have compiled the same comments and answers by date at this
link. [MORE]
The broader categories (and specific
budget areas mentioned) are accessible from the top of the
page. The broader categories are
posted by the date submitted. If a comment fits within an
already-existing category, such as budget reductions, those are
dated and posted under that category.
PAYING MORE THAN THE SCHOOL TAX DUE
March 3, 2012
COMMENT: Last year at a budget forum several people expressed a willingness to pay more school taxes. If a district resident wished to pay more school taxes than the amount on their tax bill, how would they go about doing so?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. Unlike a mortgage statement, in which you could pay additional principal or interest, the school tax bills generated by the town of Glenville every August do not allow for additional payment of school taxes. However, community residents will often donate specific items or target a financial donation for a particular purpose. For example, an alumni two years ago donated money to be used toward the purchase of kilns for art classes. Community members also make targeted donations by contributing to the activities of the All Sports Booster Club or Friends of Music.
ALLOWING VARSITY ATHLETES TO WAIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES
March 1, 2012
COMMENT: State Law allows for 3 season Varsity athletes to opt out of PE classes receiving their PE credit from their athletic pursuits. Other districts in our area allow for this. This would reduce the number of PE teachers required. I think we should adopt this policy and reduce the number of PE teachers.
RESPONSE:
Thanks for your comment. Title 8, Chapter II, Section 135 section
(Health, Physical Education and Recreation) of state law that
allows for this waiver is open to interpretation and is currently
being reviewed by the state. Scotia-Glenville will continue to
monitor these revisions as a possible means of saving money in the
future.
Title 8 says secondary students must attend physical education
classes at least three periods per week during the first semester
and two periods per week during the second semester in a school
year.
Instead of attending physical education classes, students in
grades 10-12 may meet the state requirement if they have
participated in “…a comparable time each semester in extraclass
programs for those pupils who have demonstrated acceptable levels
of physical fitness, physical skills, and knowledge of physical
education activities” or “…a comparable time each semester in
out-of-school activities approved by the physical education staff
and the school administration.”
Because the state’s rule is so general, there have been a variety
of interpretations of that waiver.
▪
Some school districts have interpreted this
provision as meaning students in grades 10-12 who play varsity
sports would be exempt from taking physical education classes.
▪
Other districts have allowed the student is exempt
from class – only while a sport is in season. Between seasons, the
student attends physical education classes.
▪
Still other districts have said the student would be
exempt from physical education classes while studying the
particular sport in which they participate but must attend classes
at all other times. For example, if a class is studying football,
the player would be exempt during that period of time only.
Over the past few years, Scotia-Glenville physical education
classes have been stressing life-long activities, like
snowshoeing, fitness training and other activities for which there
are no varsity teams.
The district will continue to monitor changes in this provision to
see whether it would save money to allow such waivers at
Scotia-Glenville.
ATHLETIC CONTEST CHAPERONES
February 29, 2012
COMMENT: Why do you pay "athletic contest chaperones" almost double per hour than what you pay teacher aides? Where is the priority here? A "regular" person could never get this as a second job. PE/teaching staff and friends are always on the list - on top of their already high salaries.
RESPONSE:
Thanks for your comment. There is no 'priority' being shown by the
school district in this matter. The part-time hourly pay rate for
chaperones/supervisors at senior high athletic contests - $17.38
per hour - is negotiated as part of labor agreements. As well, the
pay rate for teacher aides is negotiated by their labor union.
Scotia-Glenville values all of its employees and the work they do
with children every day.
The Board of Education approves the lists of
chaperones/supervisors each year. The chaperone/supervisor list
includes monitors, secretaries, retirees, teaching assistants and
teachers. They are hired on their own time to sell tickets,
supervise activities at the games, manage crowd control, run the
time clock, call the games and clean up after contests. The
district used to hire off-duty police officers to supervise at
some games, but has generally stopped that to save money.
Girls’ basketball games typically need 5-6 chaperones/supervisors;
boys’ basketball games need 6-7 chaperones; and football games
call for 6-8 chaperones/supervisors. The number of
chaperones/supervisors depends on the expected size of the crowds
and ticket sales. Some other school sporting events also use
chaperones/supervisors on occasion.
The $3 adult ticket charge and $2 student and senior citizen
ticket charges for the basketball and football contests are to
cover the costs of the chaperones/supervisors. In fact, gate
receipts have exceeded the costs of chaperones/supervisors for the
past several years.
It is true that employees tend to have a preference for these
positions. That is because they have, in general, had their
criminal backgrounds checked and been finger printed since they
are working closely with students during the day. In addition,
they know many of the students and parents who attend the events,
making it easier to control the crowds.
SALARIES
May 9, 2012
COMMENT: We don’t need a dean of students. We never had one in our days growing up and were fine. Do you know how much money that would save?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. The dean of students at the high school handles discipline in conjunction with the assistant principal. Students today have many issues that are brought into schools that require administrators to deal with police agencies, parole officers, etc. The dean is involved with those types of activities.
The proposed 2012-13 budget combines the dean position at the high school with the athletic director’s position, saving a net of one administrative post. The current dean of students’ salary is $78,096 and the current athletic director’s salary is $99,720. Because the combined post has not been advertised, the salary for that has not been set.
April 26, 2012
COMMENT: In an April 5th Daily Gazette article by Michael Goot, SGTA President Eric De Carlo claimed that Scotia-Glenville teachers are "among the bottom tier of schools" with respect to pay. Is this true? How do the pay and benefits of our teachers compare to those in other schools in the Capital District?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. It is difficult to compare teacher salaries since they are not cumulatively available in one location. The closest available is the annual report in The Business Review.
The 2011 Business Review report, released in June 2011, shows that Scotia-Glenville’s teachers had a median (half of the salaries are higher and half are lower) salary of $56,098. That placed S-G teacher salaries at #32 highest out of 93 area school districts surveyed. In 2010, Scotia-Glenville’s teacher salaries ranked #40.
In Schenectady County, median teacher salaries at Niskayuna, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake and Schalmont were ranked higher than Scotia-Glenville’s median teacher salary. Albany ranked #1 in median teacher salaries at $70,371.
Check out that information here - http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/morning_call/2011/06/schools-report-teachers-salaries-up.html
The same report ranked Scotia-Glenville, based on test results and graduation rates, at #23 out of 85 area school districts.
March 27, 2012
COMMENT: I understand that the high school principal's salary is already budgeted for. I am curious as to how much it is anticipated the search will cost and where those funds will come from?
RESPONSE: The salary for the new high school principal has not been determined at this point. The only costs for hiring the new principal would be in the newspaper advertising and, if group interviews were conducted, the cost of replacing some staff members while they conduct the interviews.
The current principal is paid $124,080 per year with benefits (health insurance, pension costs, Social Security and Medicare) totaling $31,273 per year. The total budget impact of the current position is $155,353 per year. It is unlikely that her replacement would be paid at the same level, since the district would likely not hire an individual with her many years of experience and expertise.
The difference between the current budgeted amount and the projected new salary and benefits would more than pay for the mentioned costs of conducting the search for a new principal.
March 21, 2012
COMMENT: I would like to know where I can find what the salaries are for those throughout the school district. I have been in jobs were when the company is in trouble that there was actual reduction in pay. Has this been addressed as a possibility. I know the teachers union has strong hold these types of items but when somebody it making 50-60-70 thousand a year for and only working 9 months maybe it is time to look at tightening the belt this way.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. The Empire Center, which is a private organization, maintains the SeeThroughNY website - http://seethroughny.net/ - which lists all public salaries, including school districts. The information is dated in some instances.
Scotia-Glenville has eight labor unions that represent the 500 employees who work here and they are all represented by labor contracts that detail their salaries, benefits and working conditions.
A school district or any employer cannot unilaterally alter a labor contract without being accused of unfair labor practices, a violation of labor laws. All changes to contracts have to be negotiated and agreed to by the union membership.
Scotia-Glenville has sought concessions from the eight labor unions, both this year and in the past, to help bridge serious fiscal shortfalls. The unions, for example, have negotiated a more favorable health insurance option that saves the school district and employees themselves money each year. Teachers are also not receiving a ‘cost of living’ pay raise next year, but will continue to receive a state-mandated ‘step’ pay increase that averages 2.9 percent.
February 28, 2012
COMMENT: Stop giving the Superintendent a 2% increase every year!
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. The superintendent’s salary agreement is negotiated each year with Board of Education members who are elected by the community. The superintendent and board members are aware of the fragile state of the economy, the fiscal pressures on our community and work diligently to find ways to do more with less. Those considerations are kept in mind any time there is a negotiation with any of the eight labor unions that represent the district’s employees.
Susan Swartz’s current 2011-12 salary is $154,187 – 0.33 percent (one third of 1 percent) of the district’s overall $47.1 million budget. Since July 2007, she has received a total salary increase of $17,687 or 11.5 percent. That works out to an average of 2.3 percent per year. Her most recent increase was 2 percent.
She is the chief executive officer of this $47.1 million organization. She is responsible for more than 500 staff members and more than 2,700 students in six school buildings.
The Business Review’s Schools Report 2011 looked at school districts in 11 area counties. The report showed that:
▪ Scotia-Glenville ranked 23rd out of 85 area school districts based on several criteria such as test scores and graduation rates.
▪ Scotia-Glenville’s median salary for its 234 teachers ($56,098) ranked 32nd out of 93 area school districts.
▪ Scotia-Glenville’s superintendent salary ($154,187) ranked as the 26th highest out of the area’s 93 superintendents. The highest-ranking area superintendent last year received a salary of $230,249.
POSTING OF BOARD OF EDUCATION AGENDAS
February 22, 2012
COMMENT:
On February 10, 2012, the Scotia-Glenville website posted that "In
light of recent changes to the state Open Meetings Law,
supplemental files to Board of Education agendas will be posted
before each meeting. The files will be accessible through
highlighted links on the posted agendas."
I was thrilled to hear this as I had long felt that attending a
Board meeting was frustrating without knowing what most of the
supporting documents contained.
Then on February 21, 2012 another post by the school district
appeared on the school website imploring "To make our schools
better, the entire community must get involved". Basically asking
for the public not to sit by passively, but to become involved and
informed, ask key questions, and to support quality education.
In order to do this the public must have access to the information
in a timely manner. The tentative agenda that is posted in various
locations in the community is not adequate in this day and age
where information is easily disseminated electronically. It is now
less than 24 before the scheduled February 27, 2012 Board meeting
at Lincoln Elementary School and no agenda has been posted on the
school website.
Is it too much to ask that the district provide a copy of the
detailed agenda and the supporting documents the Friday morning
before a Monday Board of Education meeting?
RESPONSE:
Thanks for your comment. Compiling
a Board of Education agenda involves dozens of people to compile
information and resolutions to be presented to the board. Sometimes,
that process takes until late in the day on Friday or as late as
Monday until the agenda is complete. That was the case this week.
The February 27 agenda is now posted here.
The revisions to the Open Meetings Law does not say when
the information must be made available, simply that it must be
provided before the board meeting.
TARGET AND TAX BASE GROWTH
February 19, 2012
COMMENT: Will the new Target being built on Route 50 offer any additional tax revenue that could potentially help Scotia Glenville not make as many cuts?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. In the pre-tax levy cap days, a large company coming into Glenville or any growth in the tax base would have meant more tax revenues collected as a whole, thereby spreading new costs across a larger tax base and reducing the need to cut spending.
However, now that school districts are limited as to the amount that a tax levy can increase in any year, growth in the tax base no longer has the same impact it did in previous years. Growth in the tax base in now one of eight factors used to calculate a district's annual property tax levy cap. For the 2012-13 school year, Scotia-Glenville's tax base growth was 1.00, which means the tax base in Glenville has not grown in the past year according to the state. That may tick up a bit next year when Target is counted in the tax base, but it will not have the same impact as in the past.
As well, the Target project will have a Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement approved by the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority. A PILOT - used as a way of luring new businesses to a community by easing their initial costs of doing business - allows that company to pay a set amount of taxes each year for a particular period of time, like 10 years. A PILOT amount is based loosely on its assessment and square footage.
BUDGET CUTS, CONCERNS AND THEIR IMPACT
April 21, 2012
COMMENT: I have a son in eighth grade and he was in modified wrestling. I understand that the board thinks there aren't enough wrestlers interested to keep varsity wrestling. Would it help the board’s consideration of keeping varsity wrestling if I can show there are enough kids interested in varsity wrestling? And to help with the costs are we able to fund raise for specific sports?
COMMENT: Are we able to sign waivers for students who are interested in varsity wrestling to allow parents to transport and carpool them to and from meets?
RESPONSE:
Thanks for both of your comments. The 2012-13 budget that has been
adopted by the Board of Education includes a reduction of funding
for the modified/varsity wrestling programs.
Of the seven wrestlers in the varsity program now, four are
graduating this year, leaving just three for the varsity team next
year.
However, there are eight grade 8 students who would move up to
grade 9 and be eligible to either wrestle at the varsity level or
wrestle for more year with the modified team (NYS considers
modified as grades 7-9).
Since wrestling is a winter sport, the school district does not
know how many of those students would return to wrestle until
after tryouts this fall. Part of the reduction means the programs
will share a single, head coach. That individual will determine
whether the current grade 8 students are strong enough to compete
in their weigh classes against varsity players from other schools
or not.
That information is not known right now – all that is known is
that there are three current varsity wrestlers would likely
return. Many athletes who compete on modified teams do not
continue on to high school teams, so it would be impossible to
build that information into a budget this far in advance.
No wrestlers will be left in a lurch but the funding for the
program has been reduced. Once the team tries out in the fall for
the winter season and the head coach has a clear view of who is on
the team and their individual ability levels, the grade 9
wrestlers will be able to either compete as either a modified team
or as varsity wrestlers. Because there are 11 weight classes in
wrestling, it would be difficult for other teams to compete
against us if we only have a handful of wrestlers in particular
weight classes, so that also needs to be considered in the fall.
To your second comment, because the program funding has been
reduced, parents may be called upon to help in a variety of ways.
That also will not be known until after tryouts in the fall. As a
general rule, athletes who are drivers can drive themselves to
practices with prior approval. The district's insurance company is
tough on this topic because of liability issues for the district.
March 26, 2012
COMMENT: I have a question concerning something I heard at the last board meeting. A member of the community brought up about seeing school vehicles at Stewart's and other eating establishments. I have also on my way to work in the early mornings seen school vehicles used to plow personal properties (non-school properties). I have friends that complain about trash that is dumped at the school dumpsters. If this was stopped, I believe there would be a savings in fuel usage, equipment deterioration and maybe even a decrease in the waste removal costs. Every penny counts in this economic situation we are facing as a community and a state as a whole.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. Buildings and ground staff members are entitled to breaks during the workday and may frequent a local Stewart's or other establishments during those times or at their lunch times. They are generally not traveling far from work in those instances.
As for the plowing of driveways and dumping trash on school property, that is not allowed. The director of the department has been alerted to your comments.
In such a large organization as this school district, with more than 500 employees and a $47 million budget, it is next to impossible for supervisors to be aware of all activities at any given moment.
However, employees know that they represent the school district when they are in the community. It is hoped that they take that responsibility very seriously – since everyone is watching and taking note.
Several items at the school district are bid in bulk and awarded to the company providing the lowest price for a particular service, such as garbage removal or fuel purchases. In that way, the district is attempting to keep an eye on those pennies and be responsible to the community.
March 26, 2012
COMMENT: At the board meeting tonight two items were discussed that would have costs associated with them: a school septic system project ($20,000) and a search for a high school principal (costs undetermined). Are those costs already accounted for in the current budget proposal? If not, where would that money come from, and might it not be better spent on programs, especially if there is a possibility that the school in question for the septic system project may be closed for the 2013-2014 school year?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. There is already a salary for the high school principal position in the current budget proposal. The current principal is retiring June 30.
There was also a report about replacing the nearly 20-year-old, over-sized septic system at the Glendaal Elementary School at Bolt and Sacandaga roads because of the already-treated effluent that regularly flows across the road to a small creek. The funding for that would come from remaining funds from the May 2010 building project vote and would be partially reimbursed through state aid. The building project money cannot be spent for academic programs.
As you know, closing an elementary school is one option for the 2013-14 school year because of the fiscal issues facing Scotia-Glenville and every school district in New York. At this point, it is not known which school may close.
Replacing the septic system at Glendaal would be an environmentally-responsible action to take and would save the school district money in the future, since the surface flow has to be monitored and checked daily at an estimated cost of $6,000 to $7,000 per year.
March 22, 2012
COMMENT: Is it true that all modified sports will be cut next school year? If so, would it be possible for families to pay for their child to play? I for one would pay to play and would also buy the uniforms. I'm sure many would to save their child’s sport.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. No modified sports have been cut in the next school year. Athletics has been reduced in this way: Fitness Center closed after school; assistant coaches eliminated for indoor track, outdoor track, outdoor modified football; varsity levels of wrestling and swim were eliminated because of low interest; chaperones at athletic events were reduced and additional cuts in equipment and supplies.
School districts cannot charge for NYS sanctioned sports activities, the so-called "pay-to-play" idea. Club sports, like cheerleading, fundraise to pay for their programs but they can not complete against any school-sponsored teams.
The best way for parents who may want to contribute to the sports program can do so through the All Sports Booster Club, which funnels funding to all S-G sports and activities. The athletic department has more information. They can be reached at 382-1237.
March 21, 2012
COMMENT: To the Board of Education,
Concerning OPAL- I have seen 1 and sometimes 2 teachers/librarians directing the limited number of OPAL students, in projects that are not of particular higher level learning/education. The students in this program appear to be hard working individuals but do not even excel with higher level tasks in the regular classroom. I have noticed this for the past 3 years in more than one building.
Modified and Junior Varsity tennis and Varsity track provide LIFE LONG benefits. In the present, they provide a physical activity for 2 hours after school, teamwork and unity thru participation, sportsmanship, and self confidence. These children have sought other tennis and track teammates to practice/play these particular sports on the weekends. The LONG TERM vision is that these students feel self esteem, participate in a positive constructive activity in our community (not wandering the streets of Scotia) and now have a skill they can carry on thru their adult years.
I ask for your consideration in
eliminating the costly OPAL program and reinstate modified and jv
tennis (the cost of tennis is minute) and continue the varsity
track assistant appointment.
Thank you.. I am a parent, employee, and a tax payer.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. Your comments will be passed on to the Board of Education members directly. School districts are facing difficult choices during these fiscal times and everything is on the table for consideration. The Property Tax Levy Cap has made that situation more difficult because it places a de-facto wall on one side of the budgeting equation – the ability to raise taxes to pay for important programs.
As you may be aware, the draft of the proposed 2012-13 budget does impact the i-OPAL program, which has proven beneficial to many students. Your comments about the lifelong benefits for track and tennis are correct. However, students in all of our academic programs, including i-OPAL, are also learning and developing lifelong skills, such as reasoning, critical thinking and cooperating with others. Those skills are critical in college and the job marketplace.
March 20, 2012
COMMENT: I went to last nights meeting and was very moved by the concerns of the taxpayers/parent/teachers. I feel that if you had to make choices, the priority should be (from MOST important to the least):
1. 123 Success, social worker, reading teacher
2. Class size
3. AP classes / Art classes
4. Modified Sports (cut this first)
I have children in both AP classes and a child with reading/anxiety issues. I would vote yes to raise the cap, but I reservations that we need to be more creative in the immediate future to prevent the same thing from happening year to year.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. As you know, the superintendent has completed work on her budget proposal and had to make many painful decisions along the way. Many of your suggested items were kept in mind as she prepared the budget. It is unclear at this point which, if any, programs the Board of Education will ask to consider to be restored to the bufdget. In these difficult fiscal times, it is unlikely there will be new sources of revenue for schools. The state Legislature has indicated it would like to restore some education funding, but that is unknown at this point and how much that may mean for Scotia-Glenville. Thanks for sharing your preferences for restoration, if that becomes possible this year.
March 19, 2012
COMMENT: I thought I heard mention at tonight's meeting by Mr. Bucciferro that the BOE just approved the hiring of an assistant cheerleading coach. Is this accurate? If so, it seems inappropriate when programs, teachers and academic staff, along with assistant coaches in several other sports are being cut.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. Cheerleading is a club sport, not an official NYS sanctioned sport for schools. As such, the cheerleaders hold many fundraisers to support their program. They then donate the money back to the school district to hire the coaches, who are still approved by the Board of Education. That donation - $4,399.50 to pay for the coaching stipends and social security costs for the team's spring season - could only be used for that program, not for the other purposes that you mentioned.
March 18, 2012
COMMENT: It is my understanding that teachers offered concessions last year with the provision that the money saved would be used to save programs and jobs, but the BOE turned that down. Is that accurate, and if so, why? Shouldn't programs and jobs be the first priorities of things to be saved?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. The concessions offered by the teachers last year were in the context of renegotiating their current two-year contract. That process was completed by the end of June - 1 1/2 months after the vote on the 2011-12 budget and too late to be factored into that budget.
Within that contract, the MVP and CDPHP options for health maintenance organizations (HMO) were replaced by a single CDPHP exclusive provider organization (EPO). That was a savings for both the school district and for employees, who would pay a smaller amount because the overall premium is lower. The savings to the school district totaled about $206,000 in the current budget and $275,000 per year in the following years.
Also with the new contract, teachers agreed to no "cost of living" pay increase for the 2012-13 school year. Ho wever, teachers still receive step increases that average 2.9 percent and will cost around $536,000 next year, along with higher pension and social security costs.
However, a specific labor union can not dictate where savings would be applied in the budget. The Board of Education and administration have to look at the entire school budget, not just a slice of it impacting teachers.
In early 2010, several unions - including administrators, Local 766, secretaries and nurses - agreed to concessions but did not dictate that the budgets savings be made to restore jobs or money to their respective parts of the budget.
While the board and administration agree that programs should be the first restored – about 77 percent of the overall budget is for instructional programs and benefits - they can not be held hostage to a particular union’s demand that “saved” money be applied only to their area of the budget.
March 17, 2012
COMMENT: I am very concerned about the elimination of a full time school RN position for the upcoming budget. If the float RN position is cut and none of the 3 subs are available, how will the district get an RN to cover? I realize school nurses are not mandated in NY and in the past school personnel have covered for a nurse who is out but this is actually a violation of section 6902.1 of notice 139 of the Education Law (The Nurse Practice Act). This states that only RN's may administer medications. If a student in a school is non self-directed and someone other than an RN gives them their medication - this a Class E felony.
So although school nurses are not mandated, the administration of medications is mandated to be done by only an RN. School staff and administration need to be very careful they do not cross the line in the care they give in the absence of a school nurse.
Also, if there is no nurse, who will take care of the student who has seizure, an asthma attack, falls down the stairs or has a hypoglycemic episode? Who will notice when students seem depressed or catch the first signs of a flu epidemic? Who will see the first signs of drug use or troubles at home? The school nurse is there for every emergency.
Their offices are always full and every medication they give has an order signed by a physician who has the expectation an RN is administering the medication. It is a legal mandate. I just want to make sure the district has a plan in place when there is no RN to fill in... a back up plan. What the nurse in each school provides is priceless. They are the eyes and ears of the health of our students.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. The current proposed budget plan calls for reducing nursing staff by one position. That would still provide for a nurse in each of Scotia-Glenville six schools and a half-time nurse at Mekeel Christian Academy (former Schenectady Christian School). S-G is mandated to provide nursing coverage for the school.
You stated the importance of school nurses very well and also correctly stated that nurses are not required in schools. These difficult economic times for schools are forcing them to make decisions that would have been unheard of a few years ago. Other school districts have nurses travel from school to school within their districts – effectively having office hours at more than one school. Many students rely on nurses every day to help them administer medications they need to remain well and perform in school.
There have been very few instances in which a nurse has not been either available or on-call at a particular school. A plan would be developed to ensure that there is coverage in every school building – even if that meant that a nurse would be at a school during certain hours to administer particular medicines to students.
Since our schools are close to each other, it would not take long for a nurse to reach a building in the case of an emergency. As well, 9-1-1 emergency services could be called to deal with an immediate issue.
You mentioned nurses see “the first signs of drug use or troubles at home” and also mentioned student depression. In many cases, social workers, psychologists or classroom teachers would be the first to notice those signs in a student. Many students only see the nurse when they are ill at school; nurses do not see all students every day like classroom teachers do.
March 15, 2012
COMMENT: Some of the eliminations that are being proposed would hurt students and the community in the long run. It will make students ill prepared for college and work force and reduce property values. No young family will want to move to the Scotia-Glenville school system if children and education are not valued. It is in everyone's best interests to attempt a tax more than the levy allows. Past budgets have passed by more than two-thirds majority. I do plan to attend the budget forums. Thank you for your time and consideration.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. As the superintendent is exploring budget reductions and options, this level of reductions - $2.3 million or $845 foe very S-G student – will certainly change the way that Scotia-Glenville does business. The hope is that these reductions are done in a manner that does not “make students ill prepared for college” or “reduce property values” in the community. Students will continue to have many opportunities to prepare for college and beyond.
However, it is true that the school district quality and reputation have a lot to with home values and the interest of young families to come here. All schools are facing dramatic reductions this year because of the state’s property tax levy cap. Those reductions are unfortunately impacting the reputations of virtually every school district in the state.
As you know, in order to exceed Scotia-Glenville’s 2.93 percent property tax levy cap, the Board of Education would first need to approve a budget that exceeds that level. Then, on May 15, the community would need to approve that budget by more than a 60 percent approval level.
Last year, 1,863
residents voted and 1,275 of them supported the budget – a 68
percent approval rate with a 1.86 percent tax rate increase. That
was the highest percentage in at least the past 30 years.
Since 2001, the budget was only approved two other times with more
than 60 percent of the vote:
▪ 61 percent in 2009-10 with a – 1.7 percent tax rate decrease
▪ 61 percent in 2007-08 with a 1.8 percent tax rate increase
During most years, the percentage of approval ranges from 56 percent to 58 percent – below the level that would be needed to exceed the property tax levy cap.
March 14, 2012
COMMENT: My concern is that you're eliminating resources that help children and have eliminated the GED program. If your going to hurt the children that have trouble learning, you need to do away with OPAL too. School is not just for smart kids.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. There has never been any intention to 'hurt children that have trouble learning." In fact, Scotia-Glenville has gone to great lengths to ensure that the safety net remains in place for students who struggle in the classroom. The district maintains several programs for students who are struggling. For example, students struggling in high school can participate in the GOAL program. A GED program is available for students at Schenectady County Community College.
The preliminary 2012-13 budget calls for eliminating the Young Scholars program for students in grades 4 and 5. The Young Scholars programs in grade 6 was eliminated this year. The OPAL program was also reduced this year and is now administered through the elementary school library media specialists in grades 3-5.
The district continues to believe that enrichment and advanced programs are important for students and hopes to be able to continue offering those opportunities despite the fiscal crisis facing schools.
March 12, 2012
COMMENT: As a current SG High School student, talks of extreme cuts to the budget greatly concern me. As I am preparing for college, I have already chosen several AP courses including college level foreign language. These AP courses could give me up to 9 free college credits to more than help me in my future. If these are cut, this can greatly impact my future as a college student.
There has also been talk about
cutting MORE teachers. The teachers that would be getting cut are
the one's that are young, fresh and new. These teachers have a
relationship with their students that is very hard to find, and
they bring energy and excitement to the classroom learning
experience. So instead of cutting THOSE
teachers, why not cut the ones that are almost ready for
retirement and that make the learning experience not as exciting?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. The superintendent and Board of Education are reviewing all aspects of the school budget to find savings and efficiencies. For example, classes will not be offered next year unless there are at least 15 students in them. That may impact some of the courses you are thinking about, though the superintendent and board members know that college-preparatory courses are very important to our parents and to our students.
Teachers, like other bargaining units, have a legally-binding labor contract that determine reductions based on the number of years a particular teacher has been in the classroom. Basically, it's last in (hired), first out (let go). That is how all labor agreements work, by and large - they are based on seniority.
The school district is unable to reduce staff from the top of the experience scale. Plus, many of our more experienced staff have exactly that - experience that is irreplaceable. What you say about younger teachers may be true to some extent, but it is impossible to replace quality experience as well.
March 11, 2012
COMMENT: First off I would say that the BOE should put forward a budget with an increase in taxes to save some of these programs. I would support an increase to preserve quality education for the children in the district. In addition, preserving quality educational programs would help to maintain property values.
My question is to wonder when will taxpayers and parents have the opportunity comment and ask questions in a public forum regarding the budget cuts and concerns this year?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. As the superintendent and Board of Education continue to review the 2012-13 budget, they are concerned with maintaining an educational program that continues to offer opportunities for students but is also responsible to the community.
The state's property tax levy cap is requiring that the budget's tax levy increase by 2.93 percent maximum - necessitating $2.3 million in proposed spending reductions.
The superintendent made budgets presentations on March 5 and March 12 regarding the cuts and will have additional reductions on at the March 19 Board of Education. That will be at 7 p.m. at the Middle School cafeteria.
Community budget forums are scheduled for 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21 and 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, March 24. They will begin in the Middle School cafeteria.
March 8, 2012
COMMENT: I am the President of the Glendaal PTA and an educator myself. I understand the position the district is in to close the gap but we need to maintain offering a quality education to our students despite the budgetary pitfalls.
I would like to
see budget cuts focus on non-essential teaching and areas that have
little to no impact on student learning.
Our students need to be educated first and foremost.
I do not want to see cuts to crucial elementary special education
programs that are helping students get back on track to compete in
school with their peers. Summer school at the elementary level is
crucial to student achievement.
What are the chances that one of the elementary schools really will be closed? This has been brought up before but has been only discussed as an option and not a very good one.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. As the superintendent considers budget reductions for the coming school year, she agrees with your statement that “our students need to be educated first and foremost.”
Your statement that the reductions should “focus on non-essential teaching and areas that have little to no impact on student learning” is a bit difficult to define. None of our teachers are “non-essential” or else they would not have jobs. They all provide a service to some segment of our student body.
In addition, the areas that “impact on student learning” are also hard to define since not all children learn in the same way. While one child may not play sports, for example, there is another who studies hard so that he or she can stay on the sports team. What impacts student learning really is individual by child.
The focus of the budget reductions will be to find ways to be more efficient with taxpayer money while still offering what your students need to achieve and excel. There are no plans to wholesale eliminate programs, if that is avoidable.
You mention elementary summer school. However, that program was eliminated a few years ago except for children with special needs.
As for closing a school, that will NOT happen in the 2012-13 school year.
However, beyond that, the district may consider creating three kindergarten-grade 4 buildings, a grades 5-7 middle school and grades 8-12 high school, as the superintendent has mentioned. That configuration would result in the closing of one school by the 2013-14 school year at the earliest.
Before the district were to make that move, however, it would be shared and discussed with the community. It would mean rewriting the elementary school zones and sending fifth-graders to the middle school and eighth-graders to the high school. We are sure parents and the community would have some thoughts about it and would seek community input when examining options.
March 8, 2012
COMMENT: Looking at the Exit Survey data from last year budget vote, I hope that you will take into consideration that the highest priority for both yes and no voters was to see College Level and AP classes preserved in future budgets, with 43.5% of yes voters and 51% of no voters listing this as a top priority for them.
Additionally, the lowest priority for both sets of voters who took
the time to fill out the survey was administrative positions with
less than 4% of the voters expressing this as a high priority for
them.
I sincerely hope that the budget that you present to voters
reflects the value that voters and taxpayers place on these items.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. As the superintendent continues to crunch numbers, she is aware of the exit survey data from the May 2011 budget vote. The college-preparatory courses are very important to students and gives them a chance to experience college-level coursework while earning credit to begin charting their futures. Superintendent Susan Swartz has indicated that the minimum class size for all non-required middle and high school classes will be raised to 15, unless space does not allow for that large of a class (like in the Distance Learning classroom). At this point, student enrollment for next year's courses is still being reviewed but will become a part of the 2012-13 budget planning. It may be that some of the classes you mentioned do not meet that threshold.
In addition, the superintendent's May 5 budget presentation showed a reduction of nearly $100,00 because of savings from administrative reductions and reorganization. That presentation is here. [MORE]
The challenges of the state's property tax levy cap makes developing a school budget difficult but her intention is to preserve as many opportunities as possible for Scotia-Glenville's students. The state's cap is allowing for a spending increase of $745,000 in the next school budget, leaving a $2.3 million shortfall - $845 for every student. Here is more information about the state's property tax levy cap. [MORE] PDF
March 7, 2012
COMMENT: I have concerns that some non-essential academic classes are on the chopping block. Foreign languages, along with all honors and accelerated classes are needed to keep our students competitive in the academic world.
My daughter is currently in an honors English class and find the "thinking outside of the box" learning to be a much more enriching experience than a conventional classroom. She has applied for SS honors with the hope of having the same experience. Honors courses gives kids that don't quite qualify for accelerated a little extra push.
SG doesn't ability groups kids beyond 6th grade, which sometimes causes some of the more intelligent kids to start to fall through the cracks. In the past, I have seen schools group by Basic, Average, High Average, Honor and accelerated, so that teachers can more directly focus their teachings.
If you cut some of these "non-essential" classes, what are they left with...study halls? We also have an excellent music program in SG & I would hate to see the band/orchestra/chorus suffering cutting too. It's tough to cut into sports too, as some students use these for sports scholarship when apply to colleges.
Would closing one of the elementary schools help with budget cuts?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. All of the programs that you mentioned are very important to our students and families. They help to create well-rounded intelligent students and adults. However, because of the state's property tax levy cap, all districts are being forced to make unpleasant choices and Scotia-Glenville is no different. The cap is forcing $2.3 million in reductions - in order to keep the tax levy increase to Scotia-Glenville's maximum levy increase of 2.93 percent.
Superintendent Susan Swartz proposed the first wave of $1.1 million in reductions on March 5 and will present an additional $1.1 million in reductions at the March 12 Board of Education meeting. That will be held at 7 p.m. at the Middle School cafeteria.
Closing a school was studied by an outside consultant in late 2010. As the report showed, there would be an initial savings but other factors, such as transporting additional students and rising class sizes, would increase costs at the other end of the budget. None of the current buildings could accommodate the additional class sections that would be shifted from the closing school. However, a building project could enlarge one of the schools to accommodate the additional students - which then eradicates any savings from closing the school int eh first place.
The superintendent, however, has discussed a potential reorganization for the 2013-14 school year - in two years - that would leave the district with three kindergarten to grade 4 buildings, one grades 5 to 7 middle school and a grades 8 to 12 high school. One elementary school would be closed in that scenario.
However, such a move would require a lot of study to ensure that all courses could still be offered and that there is adequate space in all of the buildings. As well, parents and community members need to be involved in that type of reorganization since hundreds of students would be changing schools.
In addition, after a few years of declining enrollment, the number of elementary students has begun to climb with larger kindergarten classes over the past three years.
March 5, 2012
COMMENT: As the schools become stripped of everything except core subjects, won't the value of the education, and thus the value of the homes in the area, plummet? I'm concerned that children who excel at things like sports, technology, and the like are going to be forced into a "one room schoolhouse" type situation, which is so much the opposite of what we should be doing to bring up well-rounded, well-educated individuals.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. As you know, all schools in New York are being forced to consider drastic cuts to their programs because of the restrictions of the state's property tax levy cap. As proposed right now, Scotia-Glenville is looking at 2012-13 budget reductions that will total $845 for every student - and this is the fourth straight year of state aid reductions and subsequent budget cuts.
Scotia-Glenville understands its role and responsibility to work with families in shaping young people into future well-rounded adults. To do that, students need access to a variety of opportunities, both in and outside of the classroom.
As the 2012-13 budget takes shape, every opportunity is being taken to ensure that children continue to have as many opportunities as possible within the constraints of the state's property tax cap.
You correctly point out that housing values and a community's reputation and attractiveness are tied to the quality of its schools and the ability to encourage new families to move here and raise children. In these times, unfortunately, every school district in New York is facing the same budgetary pressures, leaving young families fewer real choices.
March 5, 2012
COMMENT: You're concerned about budgets but two higher ups got a $15,000 raise. Maintenance does nothing but fool around. Does it take two guys in one truck to plow? Do we need all these secretaries at grounds and at these schools. We don't need a dean of students. What about cutting higher end people? Instead of always going after the little guy.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your
comment. We will cover each of your items in order:
▪ While not sure about the salary
reference, nobody at Scotia-Glenville received a $15,000 pay raise
in this or any other year. In fact, several folks at
Scotia-Glenville have assumed extra duties for no
additional pay: the Glen-Worden principal/director of elementary
curriculum and assessment; Lincoln principal/athletic director;
and high school principal/director of secondary curriculum and
assessment. Those positions have been combined this school year to
save money.
▪ Not sure what the phrase 'fool
around' refers to regarding the buildings and grounds department.
Employees in the department perform manual labor and are entitled
to occasional work breaks by state law and by their labor
contract.
▪ No snow plow trucks have two
employees in them while they are plowing at the six school
campuses, bus garage and district office grounds. The only
maintenance truck with two employees is the salt truck - one
person drives while the other operates the large salt-dropping
machine on the back of the truck. Since it is difficult to see
around that truck, it requires two employees. Using this truck
allows a large amount of salt to be spread across a parking lot in
a more efficient matter than the smaller salting attachments that
are on some of the plow trucks.
▪ The district's secretarial staff is
assigned to specific areas or department. Secretaries are usually
the first person a parent or student sees upon entering an office
to resolve an issue or meet with an administrator. The elementary
schools have an office/building secretary and a part-time
attendance secretary, who also works in the office. At the middle
and high schools, with larger student enrollments, the attendance
secretaries are full-time in addition to the single building
secretary at the middle school and principal and assistant
principal secretaries at the high school. There are also
departmental secretaries, such as in guidance and fine arts, where
there is an abundance of paperwork to be completed on behalf of
students. The main subject department areas - English, social
studies, science and mathematics - share a single secretary.
▪ The one dean of students at the
high school works with the one assistant principal to coordinate
discipline in the nearly 900-student building.
▪ The superintendent is exploring all
areas of the budget, from cleaners and monitors to teachers and
administration, for possible reductions, reassignments and
efficiencies as the district faces a $2.3 million shortfall in its
2012-13 budget.
March 3, 2012
COMMENT:
I am disappointed to see that the nurses are at the top of the
list to be cut back once again. They are the only union that
offered meaningful concessions last
year. The Middle School teachers agreed to cuts but the High
School teachers refused to go along. I believe you should cut jobs
from the unions that refused to make concessions.
The school district needs to be managed more like a business and
less like an endowment.
The teachers' salaries and benefits have continued to increase at
a rate which cannot be supported by the tax base and is completely
out of line with other professions. And the things that continue
to be cut are the programs and services to the students.
The stranglehold of the union over the ability of the district to
make decisions based on what is best for the students has got to
be addressed and stopped. If the unions will not make concessions
that are reasonable and in the interest of providing the students
with the best quality education possible then unfortunately some
of those teachers need to lose their jobs. The sad truth is that
the ones who will lose their jobs are not usually the ones who
refuse to negotiate.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. Last year, the Scotia-Glenvile Teachers Association reached an agreement with the district that included changes and savings in the area of health care insurance and kept teachers at a zero percent cost-of-living increase in the 2012-13 school year. Teachers will still receive step pay increases as required by state law. All teachers are members of the SGTA and agreed to that agreement and those cost-saving contract changes when they approved their contract. To say that teachers in one building offered concessions while other teachers did not is incorrect. All eight of the unions that represent Scotia-Glenville's 500+ employees have offered concessions over the past two years and the district is grateful for their cooperation. As the superintendent prepares the 2012-13 budget, she will be considering reductions that maintain Scotia-Glenville's mission and, as you state, "that are reasonable and in the interest of providing the students with the best quality education possible."
February 29, 2012
COMMENT:
At the Board of Education meeting on
Feb.27th, the Superintendent presented information about mandated
and non-mandated programs as well as parts of the Association
Agreement with district teachers.
An idea to "explore the possibility of an eight period day for
secondary schools" was mentioned as a possible way to reduce
costs.
The current teacher agreement states "Assignment of secondary
teachers in English, social studies, math, science, foreign
language, health, and business shall not normally exceed 25
teaching periods and five supervisory periods/week".
If the proposed change to an 8 period day is made at the secondary
level would the assignment of teachers, as stated above, remain
the same? Or would the agreement need to be renegotiated?
RESPONSE:
Thanks for your comment. The proposal for an eight period day at
the high school and middle school would
not require a change in the teachers’ contract.
Teachers by contract are required to instruct students for a
maximum of five periods and one supervisory period per day – for a
total of six periods. They would also receive one period for
lesson planning – the seventh period. Teachers currently have two
planning periods per day. A teacher’s lunch would fill the
remaining period of the day. An eight-period day would result in
the loss of the one planning period each day. Teachers by contract
may also instruct a maximum of 150 students per day.
The district operated on eight period days for several years. This
proposal mentioned by the superintendent would have more to do
with making the best use of the district’s current staff and
reducing the number of teachers who must travel between the middle
and high school for assignments.
February 17, 2012
COMMENT: I am very concerned about the damage that budgetary cuts will pose to the education that our children will receive (or more realistically, will NOT receive). I believe the damage will be irreparable and will have effects long after the 2012-2013 school year is over.
That being said, I am wondering how aware residents are that a 60% or higher "yes" vote on May 15th will give the district the authority to override the 2% property tax cap. Is there a way that the district could publicize this information?
Also, I don't believe that the general public understands that the 2% cap is not on their individual property taxes. Is there a way that the district can clarify this information for district residents, as well? I truly believe that this year, above all others, the district needs to educate the residents on the facts that may otherwise go unknown.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. The level of required reductions this year will certainly impact many programs and services at Scotia-Glenville and change the face of the district forever.
A few points to clarify:
▪ The misnomer “2% tax cap” is incorrect. It is a 2% tax LEVY cap, which is the total amount of money collected by the school district. The 2% figure is based on the cost of living – one of eight factors used to determine the final tax LEVY cap. At this point, Scotia-Glenville’s tax LEVY cap is a 2.93% increase from last year’s total tax levy.
The Board of Education must FIRST APPROVE a budget that is beyond the state’s property tax LEVY cap and THEN the public must override it. Simply achieving a 60%+ vote on May 15 WILL NOT ALLOW the district to override the cap. Board of Education members DO NOT SUPPORT overriding the state’s cap.
▪ On the second point, it is true that the state’s cap does not impact school tax bills at all, which are a product of equalization and tax rates. This point has been made in district newsletters since last summer – available at this link - http://www.scotiaglenvilleschools.org/newsletterstories/newsletterstories.cfm - and BOCES has developed a web page and brochure explaining the tax levy cap, which at https://www.capitalregionboces.org/taxlevycap/ The brochures are available at all Board of Education meetings.
budget areas TO keep or CONSIDER for reduction
April 19, 2012
COMMENT: I just read the latest article on the proposed budget in the latest "Tartan Report". I understand the difficult reality school districts face today, and it is unfortunate to see some of these programs cut or eliminated. I see many positions and programs being reduced, but I don't see anything that mentions speaking to the teacher's union about modifying contracts in reference to benefits/retirement programs as we have seen in much of the private sector and even the New York State labor force as a response to the recent recession. The cuts seem, at least those advertised in the article, to only leave the students in deficit.
Thank you for your time and attention.
RESPONSE:
All eight labor unions at Scotia-Glenville were asked for
concessions for the third year in a row.
A very large share – at least 78 percent of the proposed budget –
involves salaries, benefits and other employee costs. As one would
expect, the overwhelming majority of the proposed reductions also
involved staff – 40.9 full-time positions were eliminated.
The unions, including the S-G Teachers Association, agreed last
year to switch their health insurance from the CDPHP and MVP
health maintenance organizations (HMOs) to the less-expensive
CDPHP Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) with comparable
benefits.
There has been discussion of concessions from employees this year.
As of now, none have formally agreed to do so.
The Board of Education used part of the last-minute state aid
increase to restore one elementary librarians (leaving three for
four elementary schools) part of a guidance counselor job. If
concessions were approved, the counselor position would be fully
restored.
March 26, 2012
COMMENT: Why has the district hired yet ANOTHER differentiated instruction consultant? We GET it and for the most part people are DOING it! Teams take time to meld and by continuing down the consultant path you place pressure on new, fragile relationships between the teachers. Do you want to save money???? Stop hiring consultants for this kind of stuff and trust that you have knowledgeable professionals in the district!
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. As the school district, along with other districts, adjusts its lesson plans and curriculum to coordinate with the Common Core Standards, to strengthen lesson plans and teaching and state requirements, consultants help in that process because of their experience with those standards and changing regulations.
One of the concerns we sometimes hear from staff is that the District expects them to do certain things but doesn’t provide the support that they need to implement these changes. Just as there are those who ‘get it’, there are those seeking assistance in ‘getting it and applying it’.
A consultant bridges that divide and helps everyone rise in their skills at the same time, instead of having a situation in which each employee is expected to learn the same material on their own without the benefit of the consultant’s experience in helping schools in that area.
Scotia-Glenville has two consultants who work with teachers on a variety of issues. One is funded through a federal grant for students with special needs and the other is funded through professional development dollars.
▪ One consultant, who has been working with special education teachers for five years, worked with staff at Lincoln as that school converted from self-contained classrooms for special education students to a co-teaching approach. At Lincoln, regular classroom and special education teachers work alongside each other to benefit all the students in a particular class or grade; students, by and large, are educated alongside their peers in main classrooms and not in separate classrooms. That consultant now works with the Lincoln teachers as well as grades 6 and 7, which also use a similar co-teaching model in the classroom. After this year, that consultant will be in the district less, most likely working on specific student support and services.
▪ A second consultant works with teachers on ‘differentiated instruction’ in the classroom, specifically at the middle school (though elementary schools may be added next year). Staff members requested assistance as we move toward a broader effort to improve this type of instruction, which is aimed at providing lessons in many ways to reach as many students’ individual learning patterns as possible.
As well, the middle school last fall was deemed a “School in Need of Improvement” (SINI) under the federal No Child Left Behind, based on standardized test scores of students with special needs from last spring. By differentiating instruction, it is hoped that the school will have ‘another tool in its toolbox’ to boost student learning and result in removal from the SINI list next year.
March 22, 2012
COMMENT: Community members appreciate the information distributed from the schools. Can we cut down on printing costs by combining the Tartan Report, Wellness Committee publications, quarterly mailings from the high school, and other printed communications that are mailed to community residents? Progress reports and report cards could also be sent electronically with an option to request a printed copy, if needed. Cut down on printing and mailing costs!
RESPONSE:
Thanks for your comments. It would be
difficult to combine some of these mailings because they go to
different people. The Tartan Report and district calendar, for
example, are mailed to everybody while high school mailings only
go to high school parents. Most of the Tartan Reports and district
calendars, by the way, are mailed at a very reduced bulk rate of
less than 8 cents each.
The district is studying ways to send progress reports – the
reports send to secondary students between reporter cards –
electronically. Anyone who is part of the Edline service receives
their children’s grades just about every day, so they have a
pretty idea of how the students are doing all the time.
Electronic report cards could present some issues – while the
secondary teachers complete the cards electronically, elementary
teachers still fill our report cards by hand - but could be
considered if the electronic progress report concept takes hold.
March 19, 2012
COMMENT: It has been said several times that smaller cuts would be made across the board so no one area would be devastated by the cuts. However, Young Scholars, Scotia Scholars and for all intents and purposes I-Opal are being eliminated.
Those cuts put together decimate any and all enrichment opportunities for gifted elementary school students.
In real, concrete and specific terms, how will the needs of those children be met? With the elimination of the Opal teacher and two librarians (who were supporting OPAL in the schools), it is unrealistic to think that the OPAL program will (especially on an every other week basis) will be challenging and/or beneficial.
In addition, relying on teachers to fill that void by differentiation assumes that all teachers are capable of AND willing to do that. With no district policy in place for what acceleration opportunities will be available, how will these children not fall through the cracks?
RESPONSE: Thank you both for your comments. A plan to continue offering some aspect of enrichment for elementary children will be developed by the principals, director of curriculum and superintendent. Under the current budget proposal, the two remaining library media specialists would continue the I-OPAL program in some fashion but that has not been developed yet.
Developing a budget in these times is very difficult as districts are being forced to comply with the state's Property Tax Levy Cap while many mandated costs continue to put a squeeze on school finances.
The budget proposal preserves high school opportunities in AP and University in the High School courses, which prepare students for college. As the superintendent has stated, programs will not be able to continue as is in the face of a $2.3 million shortfall in funding. Again, the budget preserved most of the current high school AP and UHS offerings, other honors programs and CISCO opportunities as well as Honors English and SciMaTech at the middle school, also opportunities for enrichment.
Elementary teachers will continue to offer extended opportunities for students in their classrooms to excel. Several students at the elementary schools have also been advanced in specific subject areas, offering them further opportunities through single subject acceleration. We have also advanced exceptional students an entire grade.
Policies are designed to be guidelines and requirements by which to operate the school district and generally don't dictate specific education or academic programs in classrooms. Special education and Regents programming, for example, are mandates from the state and must be provided - regardless of a school district's policy manual. A written policy detailing 'acceleration opportunities' would also not be effective because it could not legally bind future boards of education to spend money for a particular purpose.
We are confident that the staff in all of our schools, from classroom teachers to guidance counselors, regularly ensure that no students 'fall through the cracks' at any level.
March 16, 2012
COMMENT: Four teachers who serve as department chairs are paid approx. $3,500 each for their duties. Will the Board consider cutting these positions and transferring the duties to academic heads or to administrators? The cost savings could be about $14,000, in an already top-heavy administrative organization.
COMMENT: Why is the BOE considering the replacement of the Fine Arts Director? Focus your funding efforts on the front line - the music teachers who teach our children and support them in their learning and the purchase/rental of instruments/art supplies for students. Less administration is needed. I echo a comment made earlier. Use a department chair for art and one for music to continue this program.
RESPONSE: Thank you both for your comments. As the budget is developed, everything is on the table for reductions. There has already been a nearly $100,000 savings in administrative costs by not replacing the technology director and disbursing those responsibilities. As well, there is an administrative reorganization being planned that may further consolidate administrative positions.
With the new state-mandated teacher and administrative evaluation procedures, administrators will be called upon to assess 250+ teachers and other professionals at Scotia-Glenville. Those evaluations may require up to four assessments each year. Reducing the ranks of administrators would make that job very difficult for the remaining administrative staff.
March 14, 2012
COMMENT: If Scotia isn't increasing programs what costs are responsible for you being required to cut costs year after year? I already read about the required "STEP" raises that cost an estimated $536,000, based on a Q\A on the website. What else is responsible for the increase that necessitates the need for these cuts?
At some point I feel we must consider cutting our sports programs or at the very least consider cutbacks. Schools are about educating our students. While, I understand sports can provide important life lessons our sports programs don't serve enough of our students to make them worth their expense. Based on the 2011-2012 budget posted on the website, sports cost nearly $400,000 plus the considerable cost of transportation (driver OT, gasoline and extra maintenance). How many teacher jobs is that? Is it possible to get at least some relief by cutting the transportation aspect of these programs and turn to fund raising or parent car pools?
RESPONSE:
Thanks for your comments. When educators talk
about mandate relief, many of the constantly rising costs on
school budgets are matters beyond a school district’s control as
you can see in the list below.
In addition to the ‘step’ salary increases next year, these issues
are leading to the need to cut spending next year in order to stay
under the state’s property tax levy cap:
• Debt service increase to pay for approved May 2010 capital
project, $861,000 (there is an increase in state aid to cover part
of this cost, though the school district’s building aid
reimbursement was reduced by the state this year);
• Health and dental insurance increase (district share), $298,000;
• Teacher Retirement System (district share), $226,000;
• Employee Retirement System (district share), $203,000 (part of
this amount can be deducted from the property tax cap formula);
• Increase in out-of-district costs for children with special
needs, $144,000;
• Other contractual increases (items the district has contracts
for, not personnel), $434,000;
In addition, the school district received an $805,000 Jobs
Recovery Grant in the 2011-12 school year that will not be
available in the 2012-13 school year, creating that sized gap in
funding.
As it stands, Scotia-Glenville needs to cut $2.3 million from its
proposed budget - $845 per student – in order to comply with the
cap.
The cost of the athletic program, $400,000, equates to about 6.5
teaching positions. As you know, the athletic program was reduced
in the current year. That program, along with the fine arts and
academic programs in general, serve to help create well-rounded
young adults. Determining the weighted importance of every program
is the balancing act that goes on every year as budgets are
developed.
The superintendent is reviewing all aspects of the 2012-13 budget
for reductions that will impact students the least while meeting
the district’s legal obligations under the state’s property tax
levy cap.
On your last point, school district’s are limited by law as to how
much fundraising can be done to pay for extracurricular or
academic programs. She is exploring every possibility of
stretching the transportation dollars in all areas of the budget.
Parent car pools are an insurance and safety liability in the case
of an accident and would generally not be allowed by the school
district’s insurance provider. Students are allowed to drive
themselves – and only themselves - to and from games and practices
with the prior approval of the athletic director and
superintendent on a case-by-case basis.
March 7, 2012
COMMENT: I understand that athletics make up a small portion of the budget. I understand it may be a small percentage - but when trying to close 2 million, wouldn't athletics be about 1/4 of that?
▪ How much does athletics cost the district? $500,000?
▪ What if the district only had varsity athletics?
▪ How much do extracurricular activities cost the district?
▪ How much does FT Kindergarten cost? Can that be reduced to 1/2 time?
▪ How much do other non-mandated things cost?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments.
▪ The interscholastic sports budget for Scotia-Glenville totals about $459,000 – 0.97 percent (less than 1 percent) of the total school budget. Hundreds of students participate in the district’s sports programs as well as hundreds of community spectators attend at home and aware sporting events.
Reductions were made to the sports budget this year, with the elimination of the modified (middle school) tennis program. Over the past two years, separate modified teams (grades 7 and 8) have also been combined into single teams.
▪ Offering only varsity sports would become problematic because the modified and junior varsity programs serve as ‘feeder’ programs for varsity, helping students to sharpen their abilities and skills over a number of years. It would be difficult, for example, for a group of junior and senior boys or girls (varsity age) to simply join a sporting team with no prior experience and hope to compete in any meaningful way with other school varsity teams.
▪ It is difficult to pin down the costs of extracurricular activities because they do not all run all the time every year. An activity, such as a club, is only held if there are sufficient student members. The cost of such activities is typically in the stipend paid to the advisor.
Coaches and advisors are paid by a schedule set forth in the teachers’ contract. For example, the senior high school drama advisor is paid $800; the freshman class advisor is paid $519; and the high school yearbook advisor earns $3,000. As well, the varsity field hockey coach was paid $4,100; varsity soccer coach, $5,300; and varsity tennis coach, $3,000.
The stipends are determined by the level of responsibility involved with the positions and number of after-school and personal hours involved in the assignment.
▪ There are nine kindergarten teachers at Scotia-Glenville. Salaries and benefits for those positions totals around $630,000. If the program were cut in half – which is not being considered – the resulting cost would be $315,000. However, transporting children home mid-day would create additional transportation costs, reducing the net savings.
▪ The district has not determined ‘non-mandated’ costs because that is also a difficult figure to pin down.
For example, if a particular elective class were eliminated, those students still need to be someplace. Do they take another class, forcing the creation of additional sections? Do they sit in a study hall? Both of those alternatives would also cost money.
The state requires that students receive foreign language instruction in middle school and for at least one year of high school – but not in three languages as are offered at S-G. If the number of languages were reduced and German were cut, students in German classes would potentially flock into French and Spanish classes, causing additional sections and teachers to be needed.
Superintendent Susan Swartz has proposed reducing the number of secondary periods (grades 7-12) from the current nine periods to eight periods. That move would reduce the number of study halls and course offerings, resulting in possible staffing reductions.
March 7, 2012
COMMENT:
I have heard that kindergarten is under consideration for
cuts...what would this look like (e.g., would we be going from
full day to half day or would it be cut completely). If this
information is true, I feel that all extra curriculars should be
considered before taking this drastic step.
I would support a reasonable increase in taxes to maintain
property values and keep important and quality programs. I have
several friends who feel the same way. I think the BOE should
trust taxpayers enough to put an increase out to vote.
What is being done/ has been considered to increase alternative
revenue streams?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. There is no discussion of eliminating kindergarten, as is being talked about at other school districts. At this point, there is no proposal to change kindergarten. Reverting to a half-day program would save money, but would also increase transportation costs.
The school district is constantly searching for alternative revenues, typically through grants. This year, district teachers have received several smaller grants. It is difficult for Scotia-Glenville to qualify for many large grants because many of those are based on poverty and high free- and reduced-lunch statistics. The district has, however, joined with other area schools, like Schenectady, to apply for joint grants. As you may recall, the district is at the end of a three-year, $1.1 million federal PEP physical education grant that allowed for many improvements in the physical education program K-12.
March 6, 2012
COMMENT:
I was able to attend last night's (March 5) board meeting
and had a couple of questions and comments regarding the
presentation made at the meeting.
During her presentation Susan Swartz made a comment to the board
that they were aware that she is very
concerned that two years from now we may not be able to open our
doors. I'd appreciate some insight into that comment and
what she sees in years ahead. The budget process as driven by NYS
is decidedly short sighted, and I would appreciate an
understanding of what we see as continuing issues through the
coming years.
As they consider the proposed cuts, I would
encourage the board to resist eliminating entire programs,
such as athletics, arts, advanced placement or gifted and talented
programs. Once those are eliminated it will be nearly impossible
to bring them back in the current political environment. I know
these programs are easy targets especially when you are looking at
the significant personnel reductions that Susan discussed in her
presentation. These programs are necessary to provide a well
rounded education to our children. These programs are what makes
our school special and keeps our best and brightest engaged.
Without them I believe you will see parents who have the means
moving their children to private schools that offer these
programs. Those that don't move their children will see them lag
behind in the college application process.
One of the board members mentioned last night that they believe
the community of Scotia Glenville is willing to pay for quality in
education and I whole heartedly agree with that statement.
Please give the community the opportunity to
show their support by providing a budget that keeps these programs
intact.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. The superintendent was referring to the restrictions of the state’s property tax levy cap law over the coming few years.
If Scotia-Glenville is only allowed to increase its tax levy by 2+ percent each year – while fixed costs like salaries, pensions and health insurance continue to climb at a higher rate – then the district, like others, will reach a point in which proposed cutbacks would strike at mandated academic areas. If that were to happen, the district would no longer be offering the program required by the NYS Board of Regents and would be forced to liquidate, merge or close.
This is why educators are hoping for the promised substantial mandate relief from the state:
• The NYS Triborough Amendment (part of the Taylor Law) guarantees some public employees operating under a labor bargaining agreement a salary “step” increase. S-G teachers, teaching assistants and Local 766 employees receive step increases – teachers every year for 23 years, teaching assistants for their first 10 years and Local 766 employees for their first three years.
While Scotia-Glenville teachers will not receive a cost of living increase in the 2012-13 school year, the state mandated step increases alone adds $447,000 to the 2012-13 budget – which is only allowed to increase by $745,000 under the property tax cap. In addition, when salaries go up, FICA (social security) and pension costs also go up. The total increase tied to the step increase is $536,000.
• Relief could be beneficial from the extensive NYS special education mandates that far exceed the federal standards. Perhaps that could be provided through waivers from the NYS standards while demonstrating how a child’s needs are still being met.
The administration values educational opportunities that students have beyond the classroom. In difficult times, some of those may need to be curtailed or eliminated. The superintendent is working to ensure that all Scotia-Glenville students continue to have opportunities – within the constraints of the state’s property tax levy cap law.
At this point, Board of Education members are still reviewing budget figures and have not expressed a desire to adopt a budget for 2012-13 that exceeds the Scotia-Glenville’s state property tax levy cap of 2.93 percent. As you heard at the March 5 meeting, a majority of board members appear to support keeping the tax levy increase below the cap.
On March 12, the superintendent will provide additional reductions to reach the 2.93 percent level as well as deeper reductions that would bring the levy increase to 2 percent. Board members had asked to see what reductions at that deeper level would look like.
March 2, 2012
COMMENT: When looking at the athletic programs, you should consider cutting modified sports that don't have other teams with whom to compete. There are plenty of club sorts to fill the gap at the modified level. The first teams to go should be the ones that have both a 7th grade team and an eighth grade team. While I believe that sports contribute a very positive element to the students lives, I believe that the number of different teams that we support is not merited by the size of the student body in our district.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. As you may be aware, modified tennis was eliminated in the current budget year for the reason you cited - there was an insufficient amount of competing teams from other schools. None of the other modified sports offerings fall into that category - other school districts still offer competing teams, though that could change during these difficult fiscal times. That is something the district will be monitoring over the next several months.
Scotia-Glenville no longer offers separate grade 7 and grade 8 sports teams, except for grade 7 girls' modified basketball. All other modified teams include students who are in grades 7 and 8.
February 29, 2012
COMMENT: I think that as a school district we are very top heavy. We need to begin by cutting administrators. I would suggest that we not replace the Technology coordinator, the fine arts director or the athletic director. Keep the secretaries for the athletic dept and the fine arts dept and name a dept chair with a stipend. I would also suggest eliminating the director of curriculum and instruction and returning these responsibilities to the Superintendent.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comment. As the superintendent develops a budget for the 2012-13 school year, she is focusing on the need to streamline operations, achieve efficiencies and reduce costs. She will release the first proposed budget reductions at the Monday, March 5 Board of Education meeting. That meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the middle school library.
As you may be aware, the district did not replace the principal positions at Lincoln or Glen-Worden when those positions became open in the current budget. The athletic director is serving as both the AD and the Lincoln principal and the director of curriculum and instruction is also serving as the principal of Glen-Worden. Both individuals agreed to the additional responsibilities without added compensation.
Several administrators, including the high school principal and fine arts director, are retiring this year. The middle school principal retired in December and the technology director left in December.
The superintendent is preparing a potential administrative reorganization, being mindful of the need for student safety, new state demands for principal and teacher evaluations and the district’s fiscal picture.
February 27, 2012
COMMENT: Keep all AP's, Honors, and especially New Visions. It is a great way for motivated students to jump into a profession and make great networking opportunities. Do not make the students who are working hard suffer!
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. As Superintendent Susan Swartz prepares to present a preliminary budget on Monday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at the Middle Schools, she will be considering each line of the budget as she searches for reductions while still reducing spending by at least $2.3 million to comply with the state's property tax cap legislation. The programs you have cited have indeed been beneficial to our students and prepare them for college and the world ahead of them.
February 22, 2012
COMMENT: How much full-time extra support staff is there and is it fully necessary? Can these FT positions be reduced?
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. There are no support staff that we would consider 'extra' in the school district. Each staff person has a specific job description and responsibility to their assigned students. The district's staff is composed of classroom teachers and other staff members who provide extra assistance to students in a variety of ways. That extra assistance supplements what the child receives in the classroom and is essential to the child's success in the classroom.
As Superintendent Susan Swartz prepares to present a preliminary budget on Monday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at the Middle School library, she is reviewing every budget line to determine if the school district can offer the same or similar services in a more efficient manner that continues to benefit children and helps them succeed each day while still reducing spending by at least $2.3 million to comply with the state's property tax cap legislation.
February 17, 2012
COMMENT: Perhaps summer school should be cut (not the special ed program). This would save staffing money, bus money as well as building costs, such as running the ac and lights throughout the building.
Instead of running the ac, perhaps inexpensive window screens could be purchased so windows could be opened.
The sports programs could be further reduced, saving travel expenses and staffing costs.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. Superintendent Susan Swartz will present a preliminary 2012-13 budget proposal at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at the Middle School. The Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. on Mondays, March 12, 19, 26 and April 2 at the Middle School to develop the budget that will be presented to the community on Tuesday, May 15.
She will be reviewing each line of the budget for reductions and ways to do things differently while still reducing spending by at least $2.3 million to comply with the state's property tax cap legislation..
February 17, 2012
COMMENT: Gifted and talented at the elementary level.
Busing lines, AP courses at the high school, driver's ed, do not replace principals this year, elementary library to 1/2 time, elementary computer lab to 1 full time position.
RESPONSE: Thanks for your comments. The district's gifted and talented program at the elementary level was changed this year, allowing a one staff reduction and savings in the 2011-12 budget. The program is now delivered by a full-time staff person working with the library media specialists at each elementary school.
All areas of the budget will continue to be reviewed and analyzed as the superintendent and Board of Education review the budget.
Voters last year at the budget vote were asked to provide direction for possible reductions during this budget cycle. Here's a link to that exit survey report (PDF).
