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APPROVED MINUTES PROPOSED JUNE 14, 2005 MINUTES SPECIAL BUDGET HEARING ON REVISED 2005-06 BUDGET of the of the SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Held in the Senior High School Auditorium Conklin, New York, County of Broome
BOARD Mrs. Janice Young MEMBERS Mrs. Christine Moriarty PRESENT: Mrs. Donna Pflanz-May Mrs. Julia Bowers Mr. Rusty Storm Mrs. Eleanor Hamilton Mrs. Susan Pollock
Mr. Richard Stank, Interim Superintendent, welcomed those present, and called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Stank introduced the Board members present.
Mr. Stank introduced those members of the administration in attendance. Mr. Stank and Mr. Melamed reviewed the administrative, capital and program components of the revised budget; and the District's revenue from state aid and other sources. Mr. Stank talked about the measures that were taken to reduce expenses in the original budget which was defeated by voters on May 17 and the reductions in the revised budget which will be put up to vote on June 22. Mr. Stank reviewed the real dollar tax impact the revised budget would have. Mr. Stank talked about possible cuts that could be made if the District has to go on a contingency budget. Mr. Stank gave an historic perspective, showing the budget and tax increase from 1997 to the present.
Mr. Bob Orlovsky stated that at the last Board meeting he attended he talked about the teachers and administrators paying more for their health insurance. He asked if this would be happening. Mr. Stank replied that health insurance is a negotiated issue and the District is in negotiations with four unions right now. Mr. Stank stated that everyone is aware that health insurance is an issue. Mr. Orlovsky stated that the cost of providing the health insurance is going up 10.7% and asked if the staff will pick that up. Mr. Stank replied that they will pick up a portion. Mr. John Burdick talked about the cost of educating a student at the state level and the cost at the school level and asked if there was a correlation between the difference in cost and SAT scores. Mr. Stank stated that he could find out the cost at the state level and get that figure to Mr. Burdick. Mr. Stank also stated that the cost at the state level is higher than at SV and that there is no correlation between how much is spent educating the student and the SAT scores. Mr. Stank also talked about the state tests and how well SV has done on them. Mrs. Sabina Occko moved with her family from Elmira to Conklin. Mrs. Occko still receives the newsletter from a parochial school in Elmira and stated that parochial schools educate the students for about one-third of the cost and the students perform high on the state tests. Mr. Stank reported that the demographics differ for public and private schools. Public schools have to take everyone, including special needs students. Private schools can be selective. Special education is a factor in the increase in costs. Mr. Stank talked about costs of $30,000 for one special needs student and a cost for nursing services of $24,000 for another student. Mrs. Occko asked if the District is allowed to eliminate special education aides. Mr. Stank replied that aides cannot be eliminated, according to the IEP (Individualized Education Program) the District must provide aides. Mr. Storm stated that parochial schools are traditionally union-free schools. Mrs. Pollock stated that she has several good friends that work at parochial schools and that the costs for special education students that attend parochial schools are paid for by the school district they come from. Mrs. Pollock also stated that there is a correlation between family income and SAT scores. Mrs. Pollock reported that the increase in cost is not all due to programs, it is also for items such as heat, transportation, books, etc.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted,
Diane M. Kalmen School District Clerk
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