Post by Wantagh Parent on Apr 14, 2008 10:49:28 GMT -5
The Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) had 7 regular meetings in addition to one (1) orientation and one (1) informational session in November 2007.
22 Members were eligible to vote on the proposed budget with the minimum of 5 regular meetings
11 Voted Yes -10 Voted No – 1 Absent
The members who were eligible to vote are the following:
Barry J. Amper
Caryn Amper
Chappy Chapman (absent)
Beth Corbin
Emilia Fillizola
Gene Gaffney
Carol Ann Killian
Alan Koreff
Veronica Hurley
Lynn Linekin
Guy Maniet
Maria Martinez
James Marinez
Denise Melnick
Roy Miller
Barbara Moeller
Diane McCoy
Mark Salerno
Erin Shea
Cathy Sokol
Diane Wenz
Mitch Zerner
Administration Liaison – Jim Christie
Board of Education Liaison – Ann-Marie Sturniolo
BAC members who participated by attending 4 meetings
Bob Leuchtmann and Edwin Vincente
BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHARGE
The Wantagh Board of Education welcomes the involvement of members of their Budget Advisory Committee, who are charged with reviewing the proposed 2008-2009 school budget. As part of the review, it is expected that the BAC will interact and develop a dialogue with District personnel involved in budget development (as needed). Through this interchange, members of the BAC will be able to ask questions and gain insights into the specific needs and goals of the District.
New BAC members will receive an orientation session from the Assistant Superintendent for Business. All BAC meetings are listed on the school calendar and one additional meeting was added for January 22nd 2008 with Sandy Somers prior to her leaving the district.
BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE GUIDELINES
1. An open call will be made for people to join the Budget Advisory Committee (BAC). Such a call will take two forms. There shall be an article placed in The Citizen inviting residents to participate on the committee and the Superintendent of Schools will invite each building planning committee and PTA to designate one member each to participate on the BAC. There shall be no limit to the total number of community volunteers who may serve on the BAC as long as they sign up prior to the November business meeting.
2. The first meeting of the BAC shall follow the November business meeting of the Board of Education.
3. The Chairperson should meet with the administrative liaison and a board representative prior to the first committee meeting. The Chairperson, or designee, shall then explain the charges to the committee at its first meeting.
4. The committee shall elect a co-chairperson. The chair and co-chair are responsible to oversee the formation of any sub-committees, as needed.
5. All requests for information shall come only from the BAC Chairpersons and shall be directed through the administrative liaison, and or the Assistant Superintendent for Business.
6. In order to vote on recommendations to be presented to the Board of Education, a committee member must be a Wantagh resident and have been present at 75% of the combined total of regular meetings held up to the time of the vote. In order to be considered in attendance at a meeting, a committee member must be present for at least 75% of the meeting.
7. The Chairperson shall be a voting member of the committee and shall have one vote. Qualified voters who are unable to be present for a vote on the final recommendations may submit a written record of their desired vote to the Chairperson of how they wish their vote cast. The Chairperson will cast the vote accordingly.
8. Report of Committee should reflect the consensus of the Committee.
9. Co-Chair people will serve on a two-year staggered term.
OPENING COMMENTS
The Budget Advisory Committee was convened to review the proposed budget for the 2008-2009 school year.
Based on the available information provided to this committee as of March 19th 2008 the most accurate assessment of the 2008-2009 proposed budget has been made. Preliminary revenue projections were provided at this March 19th 2008 final BAC meeting so that this committee could determine the approximate tax increase resulting from the current 8.48% budget to budget expenditure increase.
The tax increase which is a blended rate (includes all 4 tax classes) as of this date will be in excess of 10% for Residential Class 1 tax payers.
The committee met seven times. Meeting summary listed as follows and does not include the orientation meeting or the final meeting which was the recommendation and budget vote.
MINUTES - BAC MEETINGS
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Budget Advisory Committee Recommendations for 2008-2009
*Includes vote results (YES – NO – ABSTAIN) for each recommendation. Reccs. A and Y with more NO than YES votes have been omitted. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. I have been thinking of a recommendation and came up with this:
Too much money goes into our sports teams.
We don't have the books we need and some classrooms have ancient desks and tables.
(The PTA at Forest Lake just last year purchased new kindergarten tables in one classroom.)
(The PTA has also bought videos, games, things for kids to do at recess.)
If we go on contingency, sports are cut first so why can't we figure out how to limit how much we spend in sports and put more into the education of our children. 8-6-7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Recommendation
We currently have 6 librarian positions in a 5 school complex. Last year we had a retirement of a teacher/librarian and the BOE did not study the possibility of reducing staff. This is based on budget proposals to the BAC. Proposed budget 1 before the retirement was known had one salary and proposal 2 had a replacement salary already included.
Recommend the BOE review the need for a 6th Librarian. 11-9-1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recommendation
D. BOE not approve the 2 assistant swim coaches but cut the squad to manageable size. 10-5-6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BAC Recommendation
E. Employee Benefits
Code 9020 thru 9089 are projected for 2008-2009 at $13,566,544 a 9.13% increase from last year and a 71.5% increase from 2003-2004 when total benefits were $7,980,444. In 5 short years benefits have risen by 71.5%.
It is the recommendation of the BAC that benefits in any future contract negotiations be capped as follows
75% Individual Health
65% Dependent Coverage Health
Dental be offered but at employee expense
Any new teachers coming to our district would be required to make a larger contribution to the retirement system.
While we realize these will be unpopular with district employees and there respective labor representatives, we are ready to draw the line to save our community and stop the menial cuts being implemented which take directly from our children. 8-8-5
F. Budget recommendation
It is our recommendation that the Board of Education reconsider there decision to use Bond Anticipation Notes as a short term RISKY financing alternative to the more stable permanent financing for the recently passed bond.
The committee understands the logic behind the board’s decision however we disagree and feel that current interest rates are as low as possible and it’s much more likely that when we go to lock in long term next year we will be stuck with a higher rate which will negatively impact the budget for years to come.
We feel there is no long term benefit to the Bond Anticipation Notes and that it will cost us significantly more each and every year for the next 20 years. 10-6-5
G. Last year the residents of Wantagh voted for and past, three bond proposals. As per Wantagh publications Bond Prop #1 would cost $31.75 per year for the average home assessment, Prop #2 $38.91 per year, and Prop #3 was $21.33 per year. At that time the prime rate was 8.25%.
This year as construction begins on these bond proposals the administration proposes not to fund and lock in an interest rate for this bond in the upcoming school years budget but to utilize (BANS) bond anticipation notes.
As per “ The Handbook of Debt Management – page 263- Bond anticipation notes have also been used during periods of high interest rates when issuers did not want to lock in permanent financing, they therefore borrowed for a short term period and did their permanent financing at some point in the future. As can be surmised, the future direction of interest rates is unknown and the issuance of the bond anticipation notes involves an interest rate risk”
Currently the prime rate is at an all time low. This appears to be a means not to reflect the actually cost of this bond in our budget. Reflecting a debt service of only $400,000 dollars utilizing a BAN versus the interest and principle of $ 1,175000 dollars for the bond then reflects 1 and 1/4 percent decrease in the actual budget for debt service. However is this truly a savings? No, it is actually pushing the debt one year further into the following year’s budget and not providing a true financial depiction to the residents of Wantagh who have already approved this proposition.
Therefore my recommendation is that the bond interest rate be locked in while rates continue to be low and we do not utilize the bond anticipation notes for short term financing which may lead to a higher cost to the district in the future. This will also reflect the true cost of the bond proposition in the upcoming 2008-2009 budget. 13-4-4
H. It is recommended that the Special Education Supervisor, as chair of the CSE, take a hard look at the services needed. How long does a child need one-to-one assistance? Perhaps it can become 2 to one, and where appropriate, none. 15-2-4
I. The Special Education Supervisor, as chair of the CSE, must take a hard look at the students we service in school and those we send out. Is it truly necessary to send the child out? And, if we bring children in, we must ABSOLUTELY be certain that we can offer the child the services we already have available. We must be as sure as possible, that we will not have to send the child to other places, once we take them in, that can service the child. 14-3-4
J. Class size - It is highly recommended that the Board keep class sizes at the guidelines. There is no proof that students learn more or less in "bigger" sized classrooms. When we as a district can AFFORD to keep smaller sizes, then let's do it. But, in this economy it is not feasible. Whatever problems exist in a smaller sized class, will continue in a larger class. Perhaps our teachers need more classroom management training, since classroom behaviors seem to be a problem. Perhaps our teachers need some in-service on differentiating instruction, grouping, and better use of classroom instruction time to allow all students to learn better, since this, too, has been a problem heard over and over again. 15-1-5
K. It is highly recommended that the Board remove the position of "district test coordinator". I am sure that one of our supervisors can handle this easily, given the small size of our district.
19-0-2
L. The special education supervisor, as CSE chair, should be looking at the number of sessions offered a child for a service and at group sizes. Perhaps we can eliminate or at least curtail the number of providers based on less one-to-one services (where appropriate) and more group sizes. We can also curtail providers by giving less sessions, even if by one (as appropriate). This will also lessen the number of disruptions to the classroom teacher, as well as possibly keeping the special education student in the classroom for more teaching time, since this too, appears to be a voiced problem by the parents of special education students. 12-5-4
M. Along these lines, perhaps our providers, if they have more than one student in a particular classroom, can do push-in so that students don't have to leave the classroom as often. Perhaps teachers and related service providers can collaborate so that team lessons can be taught, and therefore special education students will be out of the classroom less. 9-5-7
N. RECOMMENDATION:
As computer technology and use becomes more widespread among teachers and the district administrators, the roles and functions of support staff as well as the information required of them may have changed over the years. It is therefore recommended that the district review the ongoing need for all services provided by support staff throughout the district and benchmark the results of that review to other successful Long Island school districts, with an eye towards cost and labor containment. 11-5-5
O. The Special Ed Budget (budget code 2250 0nly) has risen over 79% from budget years 2003-2004 to 2008-2009 ($4,152,412-$7,437,000) while students serviced have risen only 15%. (426-491). The cost per student was in (2003-2004) $9,747 and current will be approximately $15,146. Since without knowing all of the specifics of each individual child that receives services, it is difficult as a committee to recommend the exact way to curtail these costs or to bring them in line with the other increases along budget lines. It is this committee’s recommendation that the Administration and Director of Special Education put together a comphrensive plan that will be reviewed at next years BAC committee that will outline those steps it is undertaken to bring these expenses in line with other budget lines. It is not our position to mandate a specific amount i.e. a 5% percent increase budget to budget, but we would like to hear the administrations position and philosophy on how they plan or what they can do to stop these double digit increases in this budget line. 16-2-3
P. Budget code 2855-151-09 151-09 Game Supervision $ 56,500
From previous BAC notes the estimated cost per event was $83 dollars per supervisor- (teacher)
The BAC recommends that the outside security vendor be assigned to these events. The outside security vendor is probably making in the $25 dollar per hour range. A one hour event would cost us $25 dollars vs. $83 for a teacher supervisor. The only event where it would be beneficial for the teacher/ supervisor is an event that last longer than 3 hours of which I cannot recall any of this length. The above amount $56,500/83 = 680 hours of supervision. If we spend 25 dollars per outside vendor this would save the district approximately $39,500 which is enough money to purchase the new track equipment and mats. 20-0-1
Q.
Re budget line 1621-400-03-0108
Concrete and paving $75,000 up 25% from $60,000. The bond in Prop 1 contains Site improvement- concrete High School for $ 175,500 and the middle school for $ 175,500 totaling $351,000 dollars worth of concrete work. This budget line seems to be excessive in the fact that on top of these two amounts we want to add another $75,000. It is understood that work may have to be done at the 3 other schools, however this line has covered all 5 schools in the past - Budget Yr 2006-2007 which was only $ 37,750. and $60,000 for budget Yr 2007-2008. We are now looking to almost $ 426,000 dollars worth of concrete work? It is the recommendation of this committee that this area be reviewed by the board of education. At this price for concrete we should find Jimmy Hoffa. 15-3-3
R.
I don't think the monitors and aides,etc should be included as the targets of any cuts. it does not seem like their contracts are killing us when looking at the whole picture
Whereas most of the budgets are salary and benefits it would be irresponsible of this committee to not acknowledge that this is the area which needs to be controlled so that budget increases can be kept to reasonable levels, while not continuing to cut areas such as textbooks,computers, and buildings and grounds to name a few. therefore it is the recommendation of this committee that increased employee contributions to health care and "zero" pay increases should be implemented as contracts come due. It is the further recommendation that the board communicate this necessity to the public to gain support. 10-8-3
S.
It is the recommendation of this committee that if we cant afford to spend the $625,000. on proposed computers for the teachers, it should be removed from the budget. Financing these computers for 5 years at a cost of $172,000 per year is not the way to lower expenses. This is merely a diversion to lower the unacceptable expenses increase being proposed. By brushing the dirt under the rug it will cost the tax payers an additional $235,000.over the 5 years. Money we can ill afford to spend. Where is the financial accountability in this decision?
If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it. Basic economics 101! 10-7-4
T. As part of the Contracts Sub Committee only four contracts were reviewed for the purpose of the submitted report. It is recommended that all other contracts be reviewed the year prior to the last year in which they end. 18-0-3
U. It is the recommendation of this committee that custodial overtime be reviewed. Have the new part time worked enabled the district to cut back on this overtime? 18-0-3
U1. We recommend the increase of supervisor’s teaching more classes. They currently must teach 1-4 periods based on district need. It is this committees recommendation that this be reviewed and this be increased. 16-0-5
V. The committee recommends that at next years 1st meeting a list of all positions and job descriptions be provided. 17-2-2
W. The committee recommends that at next years 1st meeting a list of the number of employees in each department and a list of the number of employees that are in multiple codes be provided specifying the individual codes. 19-1-1
X. Since the attorneys for various school district have been plagued by scandal and most seem to agree on contract negations rather quickly it is our recommendation that we find a more aggressive law firm which will better represent the tax payers of Wantagh. 8-3-10
Y. It is this committee’s recommendation that students supply there own Tissues, Pencils and scotch tape. 6-8-7
Z. To better prepare the committee we recommend that the revenues side of the budget process be provided in a more timely fashion.
20-0-1
The committee requests a written response to the recommendations made in this report.
CONCLUSION
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Jim Christie for his time and his responsiveness to this committee. As a first year rookie he was an asset to this committee and we hope he will be a vital part of this process for many years to come.
This committee seems to be at an impasse as was reflected in our 11-10 vote.
This vote could easily have gone the other way if the 1 absentee and 2 additional committee members with credit for 4 previous meetings were able to attend and vote with us on March 19th.
The 24 recommendations we are submitting touch a wide spectrum of issues which face the Board of Education and the community of Wantagh.
If these recommendations are phased in and implemented over time they will make a difference.
The committee is very concerned that the budget as it stands will be a tough pill to swallow for many of our neighbors.
Most residents of Wantagh are struggling to make ends meet. Times are tough for us all.
We can not continue along the same path.
Budget and tax levy increases of this proportion combined with the accumulation of bond debt are forcing people to move and will continue to drive the price of all homes down.
Our own children that now attend these same Wantagh schools will never be able to live in the community in which they grew up and call home.
This problem is not limited to Wantagh.
As reported in Newsday on March 24th 2008 the salary and benefits structure of the educational system in Nassau County and New York State needs to be changed.
Cutting supplies and text books or increasing class size is the quick fix. We need to address the real problem.
What was appropriate in the 1970’s 1980’s and 1990’s doesn’t work in 2008.
It needs to start changing now. Hopefully it won’t be too late.
Thank you for this opportunity to partake in the budget process and hope that the effort of this committee can make some positive changes for our children and residents of Wantagh.
Mitch Zerner
Budget Advisory Committee
22 Members were eligible to vote on the proposed budget with the minimum of 5 regular meetings
11 Voted Yes -10 Voted No – 1 Absent
The members who were eligible to vote are the following:
Barry J. Amper
Caryn Amper
Chappy Chapman (absent)
Beth Corbin
Emilia Fillizola
Gene Gaffney
Carol Ann Killian
Alan Koreff
Veronica Hurley
Lynn Linekin
Guy Maniet
Maria Martinez
James Marinez
Denise Melnick
Roy Miller
Barbara Moeller
Diane McCoy
Mark Salerno
Erin Shea
Cathy Sokol
Diane Wenz
Mitch Zerner
Administration Liaison – Jim Christie
Board of Education Liaison – Ann-Marie Sturniolo
BAC members who participated by attending 4 meetings
Bob Leuchtmann and Edwin Vincente
BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHARGE
The Wantagh Board of Education welcomes the involvement of members of their Budget Advisory Committee, who are charged with reviewing the proposed 2008-2009 school budget. As part of the review, it is expected that the BAC will interact and develop a dialogue with District personnel involved in budget development (as needed). Through this interchange, members of the BAC will be able to ask questions and gain insights into the specific needs and goals of the District.
New BAC members will receive an orientation session from the Assistant Superintendent for Business. All BAC meetings are listed on the school calendar and one additional meeting was added for January 22nd 2008 with Sandy Somers prior to her leaving the district.
BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE GUIDELINES
1. An open call will be made for people to join the Budget Advisory Committee (BAC). Such a call will take two forms. There shall be an article placed in The Citizen inviting residents to participate on the committee and the Superintendent of Schools will invite each building planning committee and PTA to designate one member each to participate on the BAC. There shall be no limit to the total number of community volunteers who may serve on the BAC as long as they sign up prior to the November business meeting.
2. The first meeting of the BAC shall follow the November business meeting of the Board of Education.
3. The Chairperson should meet with the administrative liaison and a board representative prior to the first committee meeting. The Chairperson, or designee, shall then explain the charges to the committee at its first meeting.
4. The committee shall elect a co-chairperson. The chair and co-chair are responsible to oversee the formation of any sub-committees, as needed.
5. All requests for information shall come only from the BAC Chairpersons and shall be directed through the administrative liaison, and or the Assistant Superintendent for Business.
6. In order to vote on recommendations to be presented to the Board of Education, a committee member must be a Wantagh resident and have been present at 75% of the combined total of regular meetings held up to the time of the vote. In order to be considered in attendance at a meeting, a committee member must be present for at least 75% of the meeting.
7. The Chairperson shall be a voting member of the committee and shall have one vote. Qualified voters who are unable to be present for a vote on the final recommendations may submit a written record of their desired vote to the Chairperson of how they wish their vote cast. The Chairperson will cast the vote accordingly.
8. Report of Committee should reflect the consensus of the Committee.
9. Co-Chair people will serve on a two-year staggered term.
OPENING COMMENTS
The Budget Advisory Committee was convened to review the proposed budget for the 2008-2009 school year.
Based on the available information provided to this committee as of March 19th 2008 the most accurate assessment of the 2008-2009 proposed budget has been made. Preliminary revenue projections were provided at this March 19th 2008 final BAC meeting so that this committee could determine the approximate tax increase resulting from the current 8.48% budget to budget expenditure increase.
The tax increase which is a blended rate (includes all 4 tax classes) as of this date will be in excess of 10% for Residential Class 1 tax payers.
The committee met seven times. Meeting summary listed as follows and does not include the orientation meeting or the final meeting which was the recommendation and budget vote.
MINUTES - BAC MEETINGS
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Budget Advisory Committee Recommendations for 2008-2009
*Includes vote results (YES – NO – ABSTAIN) for each recommendation. Reccs. A and Y with more NO than YES votes have been omitted. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. I have been thinking of a recommendation and came up with this:
Too much money goes into our sports teams.
We don't have the books we need and some classrooms have ancient desks and tables.
(The PTA at Forest Lake just last year purchased new kindergarten tables in one classroom.)
(The PTA has also bought videos, games, things for kids to do at recess.)
If we go on contingency, sports are cut first so why can't we figure out how to limit how much we spend in sports and put more into the education of our children. 8-6-7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Recommendation
We currently have 6 librarian positions in a 5 school complex. Last year we had a retirement of a teacher/librarian and the BOE did not study the possibility of reducing staff. This is based on budget proposals to the BAC. Proposed budget 1 before the retirement was known had one salary and proposal 2 had a replacement salary already included.
Recommend the BOE review the need for a 6th Librarian. 11-9-1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recommendation
D. BOE not approve the 2 assistant swim coaches but cut the squad to manageable size. 10-5-6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BAC Recommendation
E. Employee Benefits
Code 9020 thru 9089 are projected for 2008-2009 at $13,566,544 a 9.13% increase from last year and a 71.5% increase from 2003-2004 when total benefits were $7,980,444. In 5 short years benefits have risen by 71.5%.
It is the recommendation of the BAC that benefits in any future contract negotiations be capped as follows
75% Individual Health
65% Dependent Coverage Health
Dental be offered but at employee expense
Any new teachers coming to our district would be required to make a larger contribution to the retirement system.
While we realize these will be unpopular with district employees and there respective labor representatives, we are ready to draw the line to save our community and stop the menial cuts being implemented which take directly from our children. 8-8-5
F. Budget recommendation
It is our recommendation that the Board of Education reconsider there decision to use Bond Anticipation Notes as a short term RISKY financing alternative to the more stable permanent financing for the recently passed bond.
The committee understands the logic behind the board’s decision however we disagree and feel that current interest rates are as low as possible and it’s much more likely that when we go to lock in long term next year we will be stuck with a higher rate which will negatively impact the budget for years to come.
We feel there is no long term benefit to the Bond Anticipation Notes and that it will cost us significantly more each and every year for the next 20 years. 10-6-5
G. Last year the residents of Wantagh voted for and past, three bond proposals. As per Wantagh publications Bond Prop #1 would cost $31.75 per year for the average home assessment, Prop #2 $38.91 per year, and Prop #3 was $21.33 per year. At that time the prime rate was 8.25%.
This year as construction begins on these bond proposals the administration proposes not to fund and lock in an interest rate for this bond in the upcoming school years budget but to utilize (BANS) bond anticipation notes.
As per “ The Handbook of Debt Management – page 263- Bond anticipation notes have also been used during periods of high interest rates when issuers did not want to lock in permanent financing, they therefore borrowed for a short term period and did their permanent financing at some point in the future. As can be surmised, the future direction of interest rates is unknown and the issuance of the bond anticipation notes involves an interest rate risk”
Currently the prime rate is at an all time low. This appears to be a means not to reflect the actually cost of this bond in our budget. Reflecting a debt service of only $400,000 dollars utilizing a BAN versus the interest and principle of $ 1,175000 dollars for the bond then reflects 1 and 1/4 percent decrease in the actual budget for debt service. However is this truly a savings? No, it is actually pushing the debt one year further into the following year’s budget and not providing a true financial depiction to the residents of Wantagh who have already approved this proposition.
Therefore my recommendation is that the bond interest rate be locked in while rates continue to be low and we do not utilize the bond anticipation notes for short term financing which may lead to a higher cost to the district in the future. This will also reflect the true cost of the bond proposition in the upcoming 2008-2009 budget. 13-4-4
H. It is recommended that the Special Education Supervisor, as chair of the CSE, take a hard look at the services needed. How long does a child need one-to-one assistance? Perhaps it can become 2 to one, and where appropriate, none. 15-2-4
I. The Special Education Supervisor, as chair of the CSE, must take a hard look at the students we service in school and those we send out. Is it truly necessary to send the child out? And, if we bring children in, we must ABSOLUTELY be certain that we can offer the child the services we already have available. We must be as sure as possible, that we will not have to send the child to other places, once we take them in, that can service the child. 14-3-4
J. Class size - It is highly recommended that the Board keep class sizes at the guidelines. There is no proof that students learn more or less in "bigger" sized classrooms. When we as a district can AFFORD to keep smaller sizes, then let's do it. But, in this economy it is not feasible. Whatever problems exist in a smaller sized class, will continue in a larger class. Perhaps our teachers need more classroom management training, since classroom behaviors seem to be a problem. Perhaps our teachers need some in-service on differentiating instruction, grouping, and better use of classroom instruction time to allow all students to learn better, since this, too, has been a problem heard over and over again. 15-1-5
K. It is highly recommended that the Board remove the position of "district test coordinator". I am sure that one of our supervisors can handle this easily, given the small size of our district.
19-0-2
L. The special education supervisor, as CSE chair, should be looking at the number of sessions offered a child for a service and at group sizes. Perhaps we can eliminate or at least curtail the number of providers based on less one-to-one services (where appropriate) and more group sizes. We can also curtail providers by giving less sessions, even if by one (as appropriate). This will also lessen the number of disruptions to the classroom teacher, as well as possibly keeping the special education student in the classroom for more teaching time, since this too, appears to be a voiced problem by the parents of special education students. 12-5-4
M. Along these lines, perhaps our providers, if they have more than one student in a particular classroom, can do push-in so that students don't have to leave the classroom as often. Perhaps teachers and related service providers can collaborate so that team lessons can be taught, and therefore special education students will be out of the classroom less. 9-5-7
N. RECOMMENDATION:
As computer technology and use becomes more widespread among teachers and the district administrators, the roles and functions of support staff as well as the information required of them may have changed over the years. It is therefore recommended that the district review the ongoing need for all services provided by support staff throughout the district and benchmark the results of that review to other successful Long Island school districts, with an eye towards cost and labor containment. 11-5-5
O. The Special Ed Budget (budget code 2250 0nly) has risen over 79% from budget years 2003-2004 to 2008-2009 ($4,152,412-$7,437,000) while students serviced have risen only 15%. (426-491). The cost per student was in (2003-2004) $9,747 and current will be approximately $15,146. Since without knowing all of the specifics of each individual child that receives services, it is difficult as a committee to recommend the exact way to curtail these costs or to bring them in line with the other increases along budget lines. It is this committee’s recommendation that the Administration and Director of Special Education put together a comphrensive plan that will be reviewed at next years BAC committee that will outline those steps it is undertaken to bring these expenses in line with other budget lines. It is not our position to mandate a specific amount i.e. a 5% percent increase budget to budget, but we would like to hear the administrations position and philosophy on how they plan or what they can do to stop these double digit increases in this budget line. 16-2-3
P. Budget code 2855-151-09 151-09 Game Supervision $ 56,500
From previous BAC notes the estimated cost per event was $83 dollars per supervisor- (teacher)
The BAC recommends that the outside security vendor be assigned to these events. The outside security vendor is probably making in the $25 dollar per hour range. A one hour event would cost us $25 dollars vs. $83 for a teacher supervisor. The only event where it would be beneficial for the teacher/ supervisor is an event that last longer than 3 hours of which I cannot recall any of this length. The above amount $56,500/83 = 680 hours of supervision. If we spend 25 dollars per outside vendor this would save the district approximately $39,500 which is enough money to purchase the new track equipment and mats. 20-0-1
Q.
Re budget line 1621-400-03-0108
Concrete and paving $75,000 up 25% from $60,000. The bond in Prop 1 contains Site improvement- concrete High School for $ 175,500 and the middle school for $ 175,500 totaling $351,000 dollars worth of concrete work. This budget line seems to be excessive in the fact that on top of these two amounts we want to add another $75,000. It is understood that work may have to be done at the 3 other schools, however this line has covered all 5 schools in the past - Budget Yr 2006-2007 which was only $ 37,750. and $60,000 for budget Yr 2007-2008. We are now looking to almost $ 426,000 dollars worth of concrete work? It is the recommendation of this committee that this area be reviewed by the board of education. At this price for concrete we should find Jimmy Hoffa. 15-3-3
R.
I don't think the monitors and aides,etc should be included as the targets of any cuts. it does not seem like their contracts are killing us when looking at the whole picture
Whereas most of the budgets are salary and benefits it would be irresponsible of this committee to not acknowledge that this is the area which needs to be controlled so that budget increases can be kept to reasonable levels, while not continuing to cut areas such as textbooks,computers, and buildings and grounds to name a few. therefore it is the recommendation of this committee that increased employee contributions to health care and "zero" pay increases should be implemented as contracts come due. It is the further recommendation that the board communicate this necessity to the public to gain support. 10-8-3
S.
It is the recommendation of this committee that if we cant afford to spend the $625,000. on proposed computers for the teachers, it should be removed from the budget. Financing these computers for 5 years at a cost of $172,000 per year is not the way to lower expenses. This is merely a diversion to lower the unacceptable expenses increase being proposed. By brushing the dirt under the rug it will cost the tax payers an additional $235,000.over the 5 years. Money we can ill afford to spend. Where is the financial accountability in this decision?
If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it. Basic economics 101! 10-7-4
T. As part of the Contracts Sub Committee only four contracts were reviewed for the purpose of the submitted report. It is recommended that all other contracts be reviewed the year prior to the last year in which they end. 18-0-3
U. It is the recommendation of this committee that custodial overtime be reviewed. Have the new part time worked enabled the district to cut back on this overtime? 18-0-3
U1. We recommend the increase of supervisor’s teaching more classes. They currently must teach 1-4 periods based on district need. It is this committees recommendation that this be reviewed and this be increased. 16-0-5
V. The committee recommends that at next years 1st meeting a list of all positions and job descriptions be provided. 17-2-2
W. The committee recommends that at next years 1st meeting a list of the number of employees in each department and a list of the number of employees that are in multiple codes be provided specifying the individual codes. 19-1-1
X. Since the attorneys for various school district have been plagued by scandal and most seem to agree on contract negations rather quickly it is our recommendation that we find a more aggressive law firm which will better represent the tax payers of Wantagh. 8-3-10
Y. It is this committee’s recommendation that students supply there own Tissues, Pencils and scotch tape. 6-8-7
Z. To better prepare the committee we recommend that the revenues side of the budget process be provided in a more timely fashion.
20-0-1
The committee requests a written response to the recommendations made in this report.
CONCLUSION
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Jim Christie for his time and his responsiveness to this committee. As a first year rookie he was an asset to this committee and we hope he will be a vital part of this process for many years to come.
This committee seems to be at an impasse as was reflected in our 11-10 vote.
This vote could easily have gone the other way if the 1 absentee and 2 additional committee members with credit for 4 previous meetings were able to attend and vote with us on March 19th.
The 24 recommendations we are submitting touch a wide spectrum of issues which face the Board of Education and the community of Wantagh.
If these recommendations are phased in and implemented over time they will make a difference.
The committee is very concerned that the budget as it stands will be a tough pill to swallow for many of our neighbors.
Most residents of Wantagh are struggling to make ends meet. Times are tough for us all.
We can not continue along the same path.
Budget and tax levy increases of this proportion combined with the accumulation of bond debt are forcing people to move and will continue to drive the price of all homes down.
Our own children that now attend these same Wantagh schools will never be able to live in the community in which they grew up and call home.
This problem is not limited to Wantagh.
As reported in Newsday on March 24th 2008 the salary and benefits structure of the educational system in Nassau County and New York State needs to be changed.
Cutting supplies and text books or increasing class size is the quick fix. We need to address the real problem.
What was appropriate in the 1970’s 1980’s and 1990’s doesn’t work in 2008.
It needs to start changing now. Hopefully it won’t be too late.
Thank you for this opportunity to partake in the budget process and hope that the effort of this committee can make some positive changes for our children and residents of Wantagh.
Mitch Zerner
Budget Advisory Committee