ILCS BOE Dec 17 2019
Indian Lake Central seeks help from Albany
By PETE KLEIN
INDIAN LAKE—The Indian Lake Central Board of Education approved a resolution at its December 17 meeting to joins with other school districts to advocate for priorities during the 2020 legislative session.
The resolution reads as follows: “WHEREAS, the [insert district name] School District strives to provide an outstanding education and post-secondary pathway for each and every student; and
“WHEREAS, the District works diligently to meet the needs of all students while still fulfilling the ever-increasing list of state mandates, best practices and contractual obligations; and
“WHEREAS, our School District's free and reduced lunch rate has increased and “WHEREAS, the district continues to work diligently to create a balanced budget that respects the needs of area taxpayers; and
“WHEREAS, property tax levy legislation at the state level has provided an increased need for State Aid to maintain quality programs; and
“WHEREAS, public schools are being asked to do more for students than ever before, so they are prepared for college, military or a career; and
“WHEREAS, each child in [insert district name] only has one opportunity to go through the full elementary and secondary educational experience;
“THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Indian Lake Central School Board of Education calls on the New York State Legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo to act upon the following priorities: 1 - Fund and Adjust the Foundation Formula; A. Review and Update the Foundation Amount-Currently $6,714.00 per pupil; B. Provide a minimum increase of2% in foundation aid to all school districts; C. Maintain the "SAVE Harmless" provision; D. Adjust the weighting factor for Free and Reduced Lunch from .65 to .75-.80 to reflect large increases in this population.
“2. Increase the $30,000 threshold on BOCES Aid for Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs by providing 100% aid ability for the salaries of CTE teachers
“3. Allow Districts to Access to the BOCES Health Safety and Risk Management Service to Offset the Costs and to Increase the Number of School Resource Officers
“4. Support a Permanent Solution to the Small Group Health Insurance Issue
“5. Support Efforts to Prevent the use of E-Cigarettes, including Vaping
“6. Building Aid for Small Capital Projects: A. Increase the threshold for base year capital outlay expenses from the current amount, established in 2002 from $100,000 to $250,000 to assist districts in making critical capital improvements.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROVAL
The board accepted the following WSWHE Chief School Officers 2020 Legislative Priorities: “Fund and Adjust the Foundation Formula: The Foundation Aid Formula was put in place several years ago as part of an effort to provide for a transparent, equitable and reliable funding stream for school districts. It was designed to supplement other forms of district revenue, specifically the local tax levy. With the implementation of the tax levy cap, it is critical that the foundation formula be adequately funded. Recommended changes include, but are not limited to the following: Review and Update the Foundation Aid Amount that currently is $6,714 per pupil to more accurately reflect the cost of educating a student;
“Provide a minimum increase of 2% in Foundation Aid to all school districts;
” Adjust the weighting factor for Free and Reduced Lunch. Since the great recession, area school districts have seen a notable increase in the number of students who qualify for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program for School Lunch (the FRLP count) each year. The Foundation aid formula was designed prior to the "great recession" and the tax cap. To this end, the formula must adjust the weighting factor for FRLP from .65 to .75-.80 (See Attachment A);
“Maintain the "SAVE Harmless" provision. While many districts, including ours, have lost enrollment, the decrease is generally not sufficient to reduce staffing.
“Increase the $30,000 Threshold on BOCES Aid for Career and Technical Education (CTEl Programs: Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs provide students with essential skills that prepare them for college and careers. However, the existing state aid formula for CTE programs operated by BOCES only provides aid for the first $30,000 of a BOCES instructor's salary, although the average salary of a CTE teacher is now $65,000. The current salary cap was established in 1992 and must be increased to ensure that students have access to the CTE pathway by providing 100% aid ability for the salaries of CTE teachers.
“Allow Districts to Access to the BOCES Health Safety and Risk Management Service to Offset the Costs, and to Increase the Number of School Resource Officers: To further enhance the safety and security of our schools, certain safety and security measures should be authorized as part of the BOCES Health and Safety CO-SER.
“Support a Permanent Solution to the Small Group Health Insurance Issue: Since 2015, school districts and BOCES that participate in health care consortiums as an effective way to reduce their health care costs, have faced the possibility that they would be forced out of these consortiums and face very significant increases in their health care costs as a result of a change in law. The definition of what constitutes a "small group" was changed in 2015 from 1-50 to 1-100 members. As a result, without another statutory change, districts with between 51-100 members would have been forced into the small group market, significantly increasing their health care costs. Because of this concern, several laws have been enacted that have temporarily allowed these districts and BOCES to remain in their consortiums. However, this temporary protection is scheduled to end in 2021. To ensure that these districts can remain in their consortiums, a permanent solution must be achieved during the 2020 legislative session.
“Support Efforts to Prevent the use of E-Cigarettes including Vaping: The use of e-cigarettes, including vaping has not only become a major distraction facing students, staff and administrators it is also becoming a major public health crisis, including in our schools. Students, as young as those attending middle school, are using e-cigarettes. Every effort must be made to prevent students from using e-cigarettes especially at school. This includes, but is not limited to, support for policies/legislation that: Prohibit the sale & distribution of flavored e-cigarettes; Restrict advertisement and promotion of e-cigarettes; Prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes near school grounds; Establish rules to prevent individuals from allowing minors to obtain e-cigarettes.
“Building Aid for Small Capital Projects: Current law allows school districts to be reimbursed for base year capital outlay expenses for one project each year that has a total cost of $100,000 or less without being subject to the lengthy assumed amortization schedule that otherwise exists. This helps districts to undertake smaller, but important capital projects, receive aid much quicker, while saving the State money on interest payments. Because the threshold amount of $100,000 was established in 2002 and not increased since that time, raising the threshold amount to $250,000 would assist districts in making critical capital improvements.”
The board accepted the referendum vote-capital project for December I0, 2019 - 139 yes, I8 no, total votes 157
The board approved Olivia Lee, as School Psychologist.
SUPERINTENDENT'S/PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Superintendent Dave Snide reported on the following:
Upcoming Events - January Regents
Athletics - Basketball season is going strong. All is well
Stage Lighting Proposal-Jason Dora Building Project Update
Technology Teacher/Curriculum Update
Meetings/Conferences/Workshops
Annual Professional Performance Review-Teachers
Professional Learning Plan (PLP)-Teachers Professional Development Planning
Indian Lake Central seeks help from Albany
By PETE KLEIN
INDIAN LAKE—The Indian Lake Central Board of Education approved a resolution at its December 17 meeting to joins with other school districts to advocate for priorities during the 2020 legislative session.
The resolution reads as follows: “WHEREAS, the [insert district name] School District strives to provide an outstanding education and post-secondary pathway for each and every student; and
“WHEREAS, the District works diligently to meet the needs of all students while still fulfilling the ever-increasing list of state mandates, best practices and contractual obligations; and
“WHEREAS, our School District's free and reduced lunch rate has increased and “WHEREAS, the district continues to work diligently to create a balanced budget that respects the needs of area taxpayers; and
“WHEREAS, property tax levy legislation at the state level has provided an increased need for State Aid to maintain quality programs; and
“WHEREAS, public schools are being asked to do more for students than ever before, so they are prepared for college, military or a career; and
“WHEREAS, each child in [insert district name] only has one opportunity to go through the full elementary and secondary educational experience;
“THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Indian Lake Central School Board of Education calls on the New York State Legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo to act upon the following priorities: 1 - Fund and Adjust the Foundation Formula; A. Review and Update the Foundation Amount-Currently $6,714.00 per pupil; B. Provide a minimum increase of2% in foundation aid to all school districts; C. Maintain the "SAVE Harmless" provision; D. Adjust the weighting factor for Free and Reduced Lunch from .65 to .75-.80 to reflect large increases in this population.
“2. Increase the $30,000 threshold on BOCES Aid for Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs by providing 100% aid ability for the salaries of CTE teachers
“3. Allow Districts to Access to the BOCES Health Safety and Risk Management Service to Offset the Costs and to Increase the Number of School Resource Officers
“4. Support a Permanent Solution to the Small Group Health Insurance Issue
“5. Support Efforts to Prevent the use of E-Cigarettes, including Vaping
“6. Building Aid for Small Capital Projects: A. Increase the threshold for base year capital outlay expenses from the current amount, established in 2002 from $100,000 to $250,000 to assist districts in making critical capital improvements.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROVAL
The board accepted the following WSWHE Chief School Officers 2020 Legislative Priorities: “Fund and Adjust the Foundation Formula: The Foundation Aid Formula was put in place several years ago as part of an effort to provide for a transparent, equitable and reliable funding stream for school districts. It was designed to supplement other forms of district revenue, specifically the local tax levy. With the implementation of the tax levy cap, it is critical that the foundation formula be adequately funded. Recommended changes include, but are not limited to the following: Review and Update the Foundation Aid Amount that currently is $6,714 per pupil to more accurately reflect the cost of educating a student;
“Provide a minimum increase of 2% in Foundation Aid to all school districts;
” Adjust the weighting factor for Free and Reduced Lunch. Since the great recession, area school districts have seen a notable increase in the number of students who qualify for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program for School Lunch (the FRLP count) each year. The Foundation aid formula was designed prior to the "great recession" and the tax cap. To this end, the formula must adjust the weighting factor for FRLP from .65 to .75-.80 (See Attachment A);
“Maintain the "SAVE Harmless" provision. While many districts, including ours, have lost enrollment, the decrease is generally not sufficient to reduce staffing.
“Increase the $30,000 Threshold on BOCES Aid for Career and Technical Education (CTEl Programs: Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs provide students with essential skills that prepare them for college and careers. However, the existing state aid formula for CTE programs operated by BOCES only provides aid for the first $30,000 of a BOCES instructor's salary, although the average salary of a CTE teacher is now $65,000. The current salary cap was established in 1992 and must be increased to ensure that students have access to the CTE pathway by providing 100% aid ability for the salaries of CTE teachers.
“Allow Districts to Access to the BOCES Health Safety and Risk Management Service to Offset the Costs, and to Increase the Number of School Resource Officers: To further enhance the safety and security of our schools, certain safety and security measures should be authorized as part of the BOCES Health and Safety CO-SER.
“Support a Permanent Solution to the Small Group Health Insurance Issue: Since 2015, school districts and BOCES that participate in health care consortiums as an effective way to reduce their health care costs, have faced the possibility that they would be forced out of these consortiums and face very significant increases in their health care costs as a result of a change in law. The definition of what constitutes a "small group" was changed in 2015 from 1-50 to 1-100 members. As a result, without another statutory change, districts with between 51-100 members would have been forced into the small group market, significantly increasing their health care costs. Because of this concern, several laws have been enacted that have temporarily allowed these districts and BOCES to remain in their consortiums. However, this temporary protection is scheduled to end in 2021. To ensure that these districts can remain in their consortiums, a permanent solution must be achieved during the 2020 legislative session.
“Support Efforts to Prevent the use of E-Cigarettes including Vaping: The use of e-cigarettes, including vaping has not only become a major distraction facing students, staff and administrators it is also becoming a major public health crisis, including in our schools. Students, as young as those attending middle school, are using e-cigarettes. Every effort must be made to prevent students from using e-cigarettes especially at school. This includes, but is not limited to, support for policies/legislation that: Prohibit the sale & distribution of flavored e-cigarettes; Restrict advertisement and promotion of e-cigarettes; Prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes near school grounds; Establish rules to prevent individuals from allowing minors to obtain e-cigarettes.
“Building Aid for Small Capital Projects: Current law allows school districts to be reimbursed for base year capital outlay expenses for one project each year that has a total cost of $100,000 or less without being subject to the lengthy assumed amortization schedule that otherwise exists. This helps districts to undertake smaller, but important capital projects, receive aid much quicker, while saving the State money on interest payments. Because the threshold amount of $100,000 was established in 2002 and not increased since that time, raising the threshold amount to $250,000 would assist districts in making critical capital improvements.”
The board accepted the referendum vote-capital project for December I0, 2019 - 139 yes, I8 no, total votes 157
The board approved Olivia Lee, as School Psychologist.
SUPERINTENDENT'S/PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Superintendent Dave Snide reported on the following:
Upcoming Events - January Regents
Athletics - Basketball season is going strong. All is well
Stage Lighting Proposal-Jason Dora Building Project Update
Technology Teacher/Curriculum Update
Meetings/Conferences/Workshops
Annual Professional Performance Review-Teachers
Professional Learning Plan (PLP)-Teachers Professional Development Planning