Minutes January 15, 2014
Minutes
CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Chappaqua, New York
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Date: |
January 15, 2014 |
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Time: |
7:30 p.m. |
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Place: |
Horace Greeley High School |
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Present: |
Board of Education |
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Staff Members |
Dr. Lyn McKay, Superintendent Mr. Eric Byrne, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Mr. Andrew Selesnick, Assistant Superintendent for Leadership, and Instruction Mr. John Chow, Assistant Superintendent for Business Theresa Markley, District Clerk / Adm. Asst. to Superintendent |
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Visitors Present: |
Representatives of the Chappaqua PTA, school PTAs, building administrators, faculty, and other interested citizens. |
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President Mester called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. Karen Visser moved to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of the employment history of a particular person and corporation, legal issues, contractual negotiations. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Karen Visser moved to adjourn the executive session at 7:25p.m.. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Karen Visser moved to reconvene the public meeting at 7:30 p.m. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously. President Mester welcomed the community and introduced our special guests from Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES who are here to celebrate Student of Distinction, Samatha Klein. He asked Assistant Superintendent at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES John McCarthy to please provide an update on the status of their capital projects. Mr. McCarthy gave a brief overview of phase I, begun this past summer. One challenge was the special adaptations made to the pool to accommodate special needs students did not comply with Westchester County guidelines. Most has been worked out and will be completed in phase II, summer of 2014, along with buildings on the Fox Meadow Campus and roofs on two tech buildings. . Project completion is expected by the end of summer of 2015. Celebrate Student of Distinction - Samantha Klein John McCarthy and Lynn Allan, Asst. Superintendents at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES principal; and Blaine Cameron, Walkabout teacher at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES, Rob Angiello, Director Walkabout. Mr. Angiello congratulated Samantha on her Student of Distinction award and noted that Samantha is known for always going beyond the scope of her work. Through Walkabout, she has shed much of her shyness and improved her communication skills. For one of her projects, she worked with pre-school children and learned sign language to help communicate better with one of the children. She has gained confidence in herself and is currently working on two projects, one in English and one in psychology. President Mester joined with the staff from BOCES and our board in congratulating Samantha on her accomplishments and earning this special award. Presentation: Dr. McKay noted that it's a one-year budget preparation with a five year projection so as we prepare for this year, we can also see the affect as we go forward. She explained that is not the proposed budget, but a rollover from the current year to next year. She asked John Chow Assistant Superintendent for Business to explain the process. John Chow explained the different components and requested input from community. He stepped through the budget process that the administration began in August. Dr. McKay commented on the strategic question that we are all familiar with, "How can the District ensure continuing excellence in academic and extracurricular programs while developing a budget that is fiscally responsible?" Dr. McKay explained the four pillars that we use each year that remain the same: 1. Class size, 2. Program, 3. Infrastructure and 4. Contractual obligations. She explained the modified operating standards system for 2014-15. We have added support the innovative use of time, space, and technology. We also added, "maintain breadth and depth of core course offerings and extra-curricular activities to the greatest extent possible in light of tax cap realities." John continued with the .review of items that we do know will impact next year s budget such as the CPI we believe will be between 1.5 and 1.6, but the others are unknown: Teachers Retirement System (TRS), Contracts for Administrators, Teachers, Support Staff and Custodians, Transportation Costs, Special Education Placements, State Aid, Assessed Tax Value, Tax Certiorari Settlements, and Tax Cap Number. Enrollment will be flat with the exception of kindergarten which is always difficult to predict. He presented the six most recent budgets with a cumulative increase of 6.97%. He also provided 5 year projections of expenditures. This is an initial rollover budget with the current increase of 2.5% (or $287,356,0). He showed how the approved 2013-14 stacks up against the 2014-5 rollover. Dr. McKay will present a budget that is within the tax cap. Next steps are to resolve unknowns, finalize personnel numbers, seek further savings, and propose recommended budget at February 26 board meeting. He asked board members what questions they have as we move forward. We have been creative by reducing costs by changing schedules, school day, etc but we have done this. The questions becomes, now what? The PTA will sponsor a Community Forum on the Proposed Budget at Bell Auditorium on Monday, March 3, 9:30 a.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. They will sponsor a second forum on questions about the budget after the budget is adopted on Thursday, May 8, 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Seven Bridges Lower Commons.
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1. |
Information Business Affairs
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Questions and Comments We welcome public inquiries, and in respect for each other's time, we ask that you limit your inquiry to three minutes. Board members may be contacted via email or phone.
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2. |
Organization |
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Approvals Karen Visser moved to approve the minutes, as amended. Alyson Kiesel seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
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Recommended Action: Personnel Superintendent Lyn McKay made the following recommendations to include the addendum:
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Recommended Action: Other
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Facilities
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Financials
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8. |
President Mester gave Notice of Future Meetings - Wednesday, January 22, 2013, Board Facility Tour, at Westorchard, 7:00 a.m.; and at Seven Bridges 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2014, at Horace Greeley High School, 7:30 p.m. (Retreat prior to meeting - 6:00p.m.) Presentation: Innovation Fellows and New Use of Space at Greeley |
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9. |
Adjournment Victoria Tipp moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:03 p.m. Alyson Kiesel seconded. The motion passed unanimously. |
Respectfully submitted,
Theresa Markley, District Clerk / Admin. Asst. to Superintendent
Jeffrey Mester, Board President
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