December 2003
LONG LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
11 DECEMBER 2003
(MINDEC.04)
DATE: 11 DECEMBER 2003
TIME: 7:00 P.M.
PLACE: HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY
TYPE OF MEETING: REGULAR
MEMBERS PRESENT: Patricia Gibbs, President
Brian Farr, Vice President
Vickie Plumley
Michelle Hamdan
Hallie Bond
OTHERS PRESENT: Mr. Slentz, Superintendent
Mr. Bateman, Business Manager/Clerk of the Board
Mr. Jennings, Town of Long Lake Assessor
Mr. Klein, Hamilton County News
Mrs. Waagner, Faculty Association
Mrs. Vickie Snide, District Treasurer
CALL TO ORDER: The president called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
MINUTES: On MOTION by Brian Farr, seconded by Hallie Bond, with all in favor, the minutes of the 13 November 2003 regular meeting were approved as presented.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, 6 January 2004, at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria.
TOWN ASSESSOR: The business manager introduced the Town of Long Lake Assessor for the purpose of making a presentation on raising the Senior Citizen Exemption. Mr. Jennings reviewed the existing exemption extended to senior citizens based on personal income. In addition to proposing to raise the limit from $20,500, approved 8 February 2001, to $21,500, he introduced a sliding scale option for those whose income exceeded the base amount up to a predetermined threshold. After a brief explanatory exchange with the board, and on MOTION by Patricia Gibbs, seconded by Vickie Plumley, with all in favor, the board:
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EXEMPTION: RESOLVED to adopt a Senior Citizens Exemption
granting those person(s) sixty-five years of age or
older a real property tax sliding scale exemption according to their annual income.
WHEREAS, the Long Lake Central School District Board of Education by formal resolution has, in the past, granted a 50% tax exemption to person(s) who met statutory requirements as described in the Laws of 1966, Chapter 467, Real Property Tax Law and later amended, then,
THEREFORE, be it resolved, that the Long Lake Central School District Board of Education does grant
the following real property tax sliding scale exemption to those person(s) sixty-five of age or older who qualify with annual incomes as based on the following scale:
$21,500 - 50%
$22,500 - 45%
$23,500 - 40%
$24,500 - 35%
$25,400 - 30%
$26,300 - 25%
$27,200 - 20%
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this amendment will become effective with the Final 2004 Tax Roll and that certified copies of the amendment will be forwarded to the Hamilton County Treasurer, County Real Property Tax Service, Town of Long Lake Assessor and the Town of Long Lake and Hamilton County Clerks.
BUSINESS MANAGER: Treasurer’s Reports, Warrants & Budget Transfers - On MOTION by Brian Farr, seconded by Hallie Bond, with all in favor, Treasurer’s Reports were accepted; the General Fund Warrant in the amount of $93,299.62, and the Lunch Fund Warrant in the amount of $2,531.94 were approved; and, requested Budget Transfers were approved.
School Year 2004 - 2005 Budget Planning - In accordance with the budget planning cycle, the business manager presented the first iteration of the school year 2004 - 2005 General Fund budget to the board. Compared to the current year’s budget of
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11 DECEMBER 2003
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BUDGET(CONT’D): $3,483,018, the draft budget proposed expenditures of $3,575.325, a dollar increase of $92,307, representing a 2.65% increase overall. A brief review of known and/or projected commitments in the areas of personnel, BOCES, transportation, facilities and special education was presented. In general terms, there were $122,717 in additions and $30,410 in reductions, for an overall increase of $92,307. Mr. Bateman then reviewed the draft budget in terms of either positive or negative differences in General Support, Instructional, Transportation, Employee Benefits and Interfund Transfers. He concluded by stating that the next step in the development process was projecting revenues, estimating the required tax levy and resulting school tax rate. The board thanked the business manager for his presentation.
Request for Proposals - Mr. Bateman briefly reviewed the proposals submitted by five architectural firms in response to the district’s request for proposals to update its five year capital facilities plan. After some discussion, it was agreed that the top three firms would be invited to present their proposals to the board in January, after which a final selection would be made by the board.
SUPERINTENDENT’S Honor Roll - Mr. Slentz reported that 67% of students
REMARKS: in grades four through twelve made the honor roll for the first quarter. He opined that few school districts could make this claim.
Distance Learning Update - Efforts at improving the district’s program offerings for the distance learning program were reviewed. Currently, a shift from the Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES to Questar BOCES is contemplated for September 2004. A major component of this shift involves making T1 line services available to local entities by extending the line throughout the town. In addition to a projected reduced cost of services overall, the district would realize further cost reductions through reimbursements from town line users. The net effect of this initiative is expected to be a savings in T1 line charges as well as distance learning program fees.
Summer Curriculum Project - Planning efforts are underway for conducting a K-6 curriculum planning session this summer. The goal is to map out each
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11 DECEMBER 2003
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REMARKS(CONT’D): grade level’s curricular objectives to provide a seamless transition from grade to grade. This would
also establish a framework for new faculty when staff retirements occur. Further project details will be forthcoming.
Regents 55 Low Pass Option - The superintendent reiterated that the board approved 55 low pass option applied to current eighth grade students. Current seventh graders will be required to achieve a score of 65 to pass Regents examinations.
Adult Education - On MOTION by Patricia Gibbs, seconded by Hallie Bond, with all in favor, an additional ten sessions of Yoga was approved under the auspices of Mrs. Keough. For information, it was reported that due to conflicting activities, Ms. Burnham’s Pilates classes will be held in the Town Hall. A district Certificate of Insurance has been furnished to the town.
Class Advisors - Mr. Slentz informed the board that Mrs. Hall had been appointed sophomore class co-advisor with Mrs. Burnett. As requested, and on MOTION by Brian Farr, seconded by Vickie Plumley, with all in favor, Mrs. O’Hara was appointed senior class advisor.
Certification Revisions - In acknowledgment of significant certification changes becoming effective 1 February 2004, the superintendent indicated that he would be furnishing an update on new State Education Department requirements as they pertain to faculty and teaching assistants.
Policy Manual - It was noted that review of the district’s policy manual continues, with updates and/or revisions brought before the board as necessary.
Town Ballfield - Commenting on a proposal from the Town Supervisor to share expenses associated with maintenance of the town’s ballfield, Mr. Slentz said that in view of the multitude of town activities supported by the school district, he sees no rationale to consider amending the existing arrangement. The board unanimously concurred in this assessment.
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EXECUTIVE SESSION: At the superintendent’s request, and on MOTION by Brian Farr, seconded by Hallie Bond, with all in favor, the board entered executive session at 8:12 p.m. Agenda: Personnel matters and potential litigation.
Session ended at 9:50 p.m. on MOTION by Michelle Hamdan, seconded by Hallie Bond, with all in favor.
BOARD ACTIONS: Full Time Position - On MOTION by Michelle Hamdan, seconded by Patricia Gibbs, with all in favor, a full time art teacher faculty position was authorized for school year 2004 - 2005. Position availability will be advertised on an internal basis.
Day Cleaner/Cashier Position - On MOTION by Patricia Gibbs, seconded by Brian Farr, with all in favor, Stacey Howe was approved for probationary appointment as the Day Cleaner/Cashier, effective 1 January 2004. Hourly rate of pay set at $8.36 for the six month probationary period. Concurrent with this appointment was approval to set Mr. Flanagan’s full time bus driver hourly rate at $14.63, effective 1 January 2004.
Superintendent’s Secretary - On MOTION by Michelle Hamdan, seconded by Vickie Plumley, with all in favor,
Mrs. Walker’s hourly rate of pay for school year 2004 - 2005 was set at $12.83, or $26,686.40 per annum.
District Treasurer/Assistant Business Manager - On MOTION by Patricia Gibbs, seconded by Vickie Plumley, with all in favor, Mrs. Snide’s hourly rate of pay for school year 2004 - 2005 was set at $13.39, or $27,851.20 per annum.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the board, on MOTION by Michelle Hamdan, seconded by Patricia Gibbs, with all in favor, the board adjourned at 9:51 p.m.
BUDGET TRANSFERS REQUESTED BY THE DISTRICT CLERK
AMOUNT TO CODE FROM CODE
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BUDGET TRANSFERS:
GENERAL FUND
$73.47 A2110.4513 A2110.4511
BUSINESS M&S SUMMER SCHOOL
82.94 A2110.4522 A2110.4555
MUSIC M&S FIFTH GR M&S
44.01 A2110.4526 A2110.4511
TECH M&S SUMMER SCHOOL
2,508.00 A9010.80 A9020.80
NYS RETIREMENT TRS RETIREMENT
CLERK OF THE BOARD
J.H. BATEMAN