Patriot Plain Talk

Teacher evaluations

2012-01-12T16:27:00.000-05:00

Question: Are the high school teachers evaluated?

Answer: All teachers in the district are evaluated according to current state Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) regulations -- not the new regulations you may have read about in the news. Until a new contract with the Broadalbin-Perth Teachers' Association (BPTA) is ratified, we will continue to use the current model.

The New York State Education Department requires that all school districts have an APPR plan, which must describe how teachers are evaluated. Evaluations vary based on the stage a teacher is in his or her career. New or probationary teachers are typically evaluated three times in their first year, two times in their second year and one time in their third year. Tenured teachers are evaluated using a professional growth model: Teachers work with principals to set three measurable goals in their tenure areas and are later evaluated based on those goals.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, Superintendent of Schools

Lunch options

2012-01-12T13:28:00.006-05:00

Comment: You should serve the mashed potato bowl every day as an additional option instead of the chicken patty. If pizza is considered a vegetable, then the mashed potato bowl should be considered a healthy alternative.

Answer: Thanks for your comment. I'm assuming you're referring to a story from November, which reported that Congress apparently declared pizza to be a vegetable, as far as the federal school lunch program is concerned. Although the issue in Congress turned out to be about tomato paste, not pizza, that's besides the point.

Broadalbin-Perth, like public school districts nationwide, must follow federal guidelines for school lunches that are laid out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Those guidelines are scheduled to change next school year to include more "real" vegetables and a greater variety of healthy foods.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, Superintendent of Schools

Results of athletic events

2012-01-12T13:22:00.001-05:00

Question: Is there a way for the Athletics Director to post the results of athletic events? I have been on other schools' websites and they seem to keep everyone up to date on all of the programs, listing the final scores for team activities and the top individual efforts for each team, not only for varsity level but for JV and modified as well. This seems like it would be great for the community to be able to keep up with the school, as well as the students themselves. Everyone loves to see their name "in lights," right? I'm sure a system could be devised that would let the coaches submit the scores and top athletes, as I'm sure the AD doesn't attend all of the events and therefore may not know the outcomes. Just something to think about. As a parent, I think it would be nice for my children to see themselves as important if they did well or something to aspire to if they need improving.

Answer: Thank you for the suggestion. We've updated our athletics webpage on www.bpcsd.org to include upcoming events and recent results. The coaches have received training on how to enter results and it is their responsibility to enter results after each contest.
- answered by Adam Barnhart, Athletics Director

Grades on five week reports

2012-01-12T13:16:00.002-05:00

Question: Why do parents not get actual marks on five week reports?

Answer: The purpose of five week reports is to provide parents with an idea of how their kids are doing in a particular subject. After five weeks, there often haven't been enough graded assignments, quizzes, tests and projects to provide a fair and reliable average for a student, which is the primary reason we don't include actual grades on five week reports.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, Superintendent of Schools

Bus transportation for after-school activities

2011-10-13T13:10:00.001-04:00

Question: If we want to encourage our children to attend and participate in after-school activities and clubs at the middle school, why are they unable to ride the bus home with the students from TLC and the intermediate school? Since the buses are already out on a scheduled run, it shouldn't cost the district any extra money to provide the transportation. As we know, many parents work and are unavailable to pick their children up from these worthwhile activities. Research has shown that keeping students active after school is essential to encouraging positive choices and preventing opportunities to get into "trouble." The kids whose parents can't pick them up are the ones that need to be there the most, because they are the ones that are most likely going home to an empty house. It seems sad that many students may be missing out on these opportunities due to "logistics." This is an area that is definitely worth considering making a change.

Answer: I agree with you 100 percent on all counts. Yes, extracurricular activities are important for all students, especially students in the middle school. The benefits of participating in extracurriculars are well-documented. However, the reality is that providing transportation for students who participate in after-school activities is an added cost, and unfortunately in this era of belt-tightening, it's a cost we've decided to cut.

It's true that buses are at the intermediate school and TLC to pick up our elementary students at dismissal time, and the timing of that bus run corresponds with the ending times of many club meetings and after-school activities at the middle school and high school. However, in order to save money, we've streamlined our transportation routes and reduced the number of buses that are deployed on regular bus runs. That means that these buses are almost always filled to capacity with elementary students -- there's literally no room for secondary school students who stay after school.

Granted, the buses aren't always completely full during elementary runs. But we can't predict day-to-day how many elementary students will be on the buses or how many secondary school students will require after-school transportation. State law requires that all students have a seat -- there can be no standing passengers.

You may recall that, a few years ago, we had a whole other bus run to meet this need, often referred to as the "late bus." The board made the difficult decision to eliminate that bus run in order to save money. The decision to streamline regular bus runs to the point that we can't guarantee room on the buses for secondary school students during the elementary bus runs was an equally difficult decision to make.

- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, Superintendent of Schools

UPDATED: "Healthy" fund balance & HRBRRD back taxes

2011-08-15T09:14:00.004-04:00

Question: I understand that Mr. Tomlinson has suggested that the Board use the $475,000 coming to B-P from the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District be used to replenish the fund balance. My question, in "good economical times," what was considered a "healthy" fund balance? What is the fund balance now? Also, Northville will be using some of the back taxes to cut the tax levy for their residents. Since these owed taxes were one of the issues, among others, brought up in the past to justify the hefty tax increases in the district, would the Board be as considerate as Northville, and pass on a cut to their taxpayers as well?

Answer: People have different opinions about what constitutes a "healthy" fund balance. Most of the bond rating agencies – Moody’s, Standard & Poors, and Fitch – recommend a fund balance between 7 and 13 percent of a municipality’s total budget. Other agencies recommend maintaining enough fund balance to cover up to three months’ worth of expenses, which would amount to 25 percent of a municipality's total budget – for B-P, this would be $7.25 million. In general, 5 percent is considered the absolute minimum.

However, New York State law restricts a school district’s undesignated, unreserved fund balance to 4 percent of its total budget. In Broadalbin-Perth’s case, 4 percent of the 2011-12 school budget would be approximately $1.16 million. However, the district estimates that it had $600,000-$700,000 in unallocated fund balance at the end of the fiscal year, which is a little more than 2 percent of its total budget. (Exact numbers will be available after the district’s annual audit.)

What’s the significance of a school district’s fund balance? In addition to making the district financially vulnerable in cases of emergencies, maintaining a fund balance below the 4 percent legal limit can also hurt the district’s bond rating. In simple terms, a school district’s bond rating can be compared to an individual’s credit rating. Our bond rating affects our ability to secure favorable interest rates when borrowing money to pay for capital expenditures, such as building renovations or the purchase of school buses. The lower our bond rating, the higher interest rates we tend to pay, and the more these items cost over the long run.

That being said, historically, Broadalbin-Perth boards of education have decided they did not want to hold any more taxpayer money in reserves than absolutely necessary. This is why B-P currently has a fund balance that is below the legal limit and far below what is considered "healthy."
- answered by Marco Zumbolo, School Business Administrator

The Board of Education will decide what to do with the back taxes from the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District once the district receives those funds.
- answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education President

Tuition fees for teachers' children

2011-08-05T13:14:00.000-04:00

Question: I have a question regarding tuition fees charged for students going to B-P from other school districts. I know a family from Galway who wanted to get their children into B-P schools this coming September, but they said the tuition was going to be $4,600 per child. The Galway family then said the B-P teachers who live out of the B-P district only pay $500 per child for their children to go to B-P. I thought the $500 per child tuition benefit for teachers was eliminated two years ago, and the out-of-district teachers at B-P are not B-P taxpayers, so this is concerning.

Answer: Two years ago, the tuition for children of B-P teachers was zero. The Board of Education changed the policy, raising the tuition to $500 per child. There are currently eight teachers and 13 students who are affected by this policy.
- answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education President

New look for district website

2011-07-28T12:04:00.000-04:00

Question: Love the updated home page on the BP website! What a difference it makes! Is the entire site getting a facelift? If it isn't you should think about it as the changes not only make it look great, but it is much easier to navigate.
Click here to see the new home page.

Answer: Thank you for the compliment on the new look for the home page. To answer your question, the entire site is being reviewed and improvements will be made. As these changes take time to design and develop, we do not have an estimated date when these changes will be made, but we are always looking for ways to improve the look and overall functionality of the website.
- David Samek, District Webmaster

Teaching assistant openings

2011-07-27T09:06:00.000-04:00

Question: Just curious, but what are the anticipated teaching assistant openings? They are not posted on the website -- only a definite position is listed. Or is it the same thing, just listed as anticipated in the newspaper?
Answer: We recently had two teaching assistants at the elementary level resign. The openings you're referring to are to fill those vacancies.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Director of Facilities & Operations

2011-07-25T15:13:00.002-04:00

Question: Could you please tell me what the Director of Operations and Safety will be doing for the district? Is this newly created? State mandated? Shouldn't or couldn't this be covered under Mr. Tomlinson's position in these tough economic times? I am wondering where the $72,000 is coming from as we were on the verge of laying off teachers again this year and the budget failed. Seems to me you could hire two teachers for this money and relieve some of the class sizes we currently have. I'm hoping this is a grant or something where the district isn't footing the entire salary, similiar to the communications position (even with half recovered from the state for this position, the pay is too high; I know private sector communications people who don't make what this district's specialist does). Please explain our new director's position. Thank you.

Answer: Over the next five years, the position of district director of facilities and operations is expected to save Broadalbin-Perth more than $200,000 by consolidating two management positions and eliminating B-P’s subscription to the BOCES Health-Safety-Risk Management service.

The elimination of the subscription to the Health-Safety-Risk Management service will save Broadalbin-Perth more than $45,000 in the first year (2011-12). The director of facilities and operations will fill the role that the BOCES Health-Safety-Risk Management service once played, including staff training, emergency planning, and ensuring that numerous state and federal mandates regarding health and safety are fulfilled.

For the 2011-12 school year, the manager who once oversaw the transportation department will take on the duties of an auto mechanic. This move allowed the district to eliminate one auto mechanic position at a savings of $37,000 in salary plus additional savings in health and retirement benefits.

The district expects that the buildings and grounds supervisor will retire within the next three years. When that person retires, the position will not be filled, and the duties of that position will be absorbed by the director of facilities and operations. The elimination of the buildings and grounds supervisor’s salary and benefits has been factored into the more than $200,000 in savings that the district expects to see over the next five years.

The moves that led to the creation of the director of facilities and operations position are part of the district’s goal of reducing upper-level management. However, this is not a job that specializes in just one area, and the job description is quite complex. Because of this, we felt it would be irresponsible to eliminate two supervisors and hire one person to replace them all at the same time; phasing in the responsibilities of the new director of facilities and operations is very important to ensure the continued high level of care of the district’s capital assets, including its buildings and vehicles.

The community has asked the school district to find cost savings by reducing staffing. This decision was made in the spirit of that request.

As for your question about the communications specialist position, you can find a great deal of information about this position by clicking here. To clarify, the district subscribes to the BOCES communications service, which costs approximately $100,000 a year, with about half of that cost reimbursed to the district from the state. The communications specialist assigned to Broadalbin-Perth is a BOCES employee and her annual salary is much less than what Broadalbin-Perth pays for the service. However, the district is not just paying for a solitary communications specialist when it subscribes to the BOCES service. The communications service also provides the support of graphic designers, web developers, print brokers, grant writers, and the expertise of more than 50 public relations professionals. If we were to directly employ a communications specialist independently of BOCES, we would pay nearly $85,000 a year in salary and benefits (including health and retirement) and would lose the communications support that comes with subscribing to the BOCES service -- and the district would not receive any reimbursements from the state. Financially, this would result in a net loss of more than $35,000.

- answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education President

ConnectED calls

2011-07-19T15:58:00.001-04:00

Question: The question of who has access to the automated phone system has been asked and answered a couple of times, and while I still find some of the material questionable for use, I'd like to understand how the timing of message delivery is determined. Having just received a non-emergency message from the district after 8:30 p.m. seems unreasonable to me. Since you can't interact with the messaging system, why can't the campaigns be sent out during the business day? There is value in a system such as this, but I am afraid that some poor choices on message content and timing unfortunately gives the system a bad reputation.

Answer: We apologize for the late hour of last night's message. That was a mistake. In general, we try to time our ConnectED calls to go out around dinnertime so we have the best chance of reaching people without causing too much disruption in their lives.

- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Charging students for admission to athletic events

2011-07-18T12:49:00.013-04:00

Question: Please explain the reasoning behind the board's decision to not charge students admission for athletic events. With the district crying poverty and blaming the taxpayers for the youth commission and other organizations now having to pay a fee to use the facilities one would think the district would want to raise any funds it can. Also, is there not a cost to hold these athletic events, i.e. lighting, paying the coaches, paying the teachers to sell tickets? Even if the district charged $1 for students it would be something. So, with the board deciding to decline this opportunity to make a little extra money, they shouldn't be telling the taxpayers, "They did it to themselves." Also, if they are not going to charge students, how about having the teachers volunteer to sell tickets instead of being paid?

Answer: This decision was the result of a cost/benefit analysis.

The position put forward in your question is one that was put forward in our conversation when we set the price for sporting events. The total amount earned by ticket prices for all sporting events last year was approximately $16,000. It's true that a portion of this revenue will be lost by allowing students to attend at no cost. At least one board member said approximately the same thing you said in your question: We say we need money but eliminate a revenue source, and that's a contradiction.

The counter-argument has a couple of strong points (and was the winning argument at the board meeting where this was decided):

We ask parents to spend money for all sorts of things in order for their children to attend B-P, things like school supplies, tissues for the classroom, etc. We took this position in an attempt to accommodate people who felt strongly that those who use the supplies should pay for them and not pass the expense on to taxpayers who do not have children attending the district's schools. These expenses are unpopular with many parents. Allowing students into events at no cost is a very inexpensive way for the district to alleviate some part of those expenses.
School sporting events provide a safe and low-cost form of entertainment for students and families. Increased attendance does not increase the cost of the events, so the more in attendance, the better. School spirit and camaraderie among students increase through involvement in such events, too -- whether the student is a participant in the sport or a fan in the bleachers. By reducing the price of admission, we hope to encourage more attendance.

Thus, at a comparatively small cost to the district, we can help provide some free entertainment to students. Kids have a place to go with their friends that is safe and doesn't cost their parents any money.

As for your comment, "...the district crying poverty and blaming the taxpayers for the youth commission and other organizations now having to pay a fee to use the facilities," communicating with one another via forums like Plain Talk can lead to misunderstandings because one cannot always pick up the "tone" of the writer. That being said, I think it's fair to say that you are assigning a position to "the district" that is a false one. Honestly communicating the financial position of the school district is a top-level obligation of the Board of Education. The reality is that we are enduring tough times and we try to be frank about it.

Requiring community groups to pay fees to use school facilities is a result of the laws governing contingency budgets in New York State. Residents voted down the proposed budget in May and, with the adoption of a contingent budget, we are required to charge for the use of facilities. It's really not a question of "blame" so much as a statement of fact. I don't recall an instance of such a comment from a school employee. Any employee who casts an aspersion at the voting public does so without the consent of the Board of Education. In all discourse about Broadalbin-Perth it is the strong desire of the board to maintain calm and rational conversations with all participants. Objective professionalism and courtesy on all sides will make difficult times easier.

- answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education President

Comment about Patriot Plain Talk

2011-07-12T11:38:00.003-04:00

Comment: I have read over the questions here and have to say something about those so concerned about the budget that they would waste the valuable time of our superintendent to ask if someone working for B-P was on school time. I am sure it took him at least fifteen minutes to confirm your answer.

It is quite apparent that some of us want to live in great big homes but not pay the taxes that come with those homes. The bottom line is this: If you can not afford your taxes, you need to downsize.
If you do not like paying taxes, then you need to address other taxes than our school taxes. There is NOTHING more important than the future of our town, our county, our country, and this entire Earth, and the education of our students depends on that future!

Looking over the budget is disheartening as I wonder how Stephen Tomlinson can do it and make you all happy. It is utterly impossible. Our teachers and staff are not overpaid, and they are constantly making something out of nothing to satisfy all these complaints. The time spent on meetings to answer all your questions and concerns over and over could be spent in the process of educating our children.

I, for one, think if you do not want to pay high taxes to give your children a better education then move to Gloversville. Apparently you do not mind if your children get the benefit of a good education so you should have no trouble sending your children to that school district.

We need to spend less time explaining why it cost so much to educate our children and give them a better start than most of the surrounding communities and more time educating our children.

The option to move is always there, and I sincerely hope that those who are so dissatisfied with paying their taxes would just move and stop wasting the valuable time and money of our educators with these ridiculous questions and meetings and pay the taxes necessary to educate our children. At this point, there is not enough money to find excess spending. It is no longer a question of who is wasting it, it is a question of where are we going to find the funds to meet the bare minimum.

I thank Mr. Tomlinson for allowing the taxpayers so much input in the realm of how we spend the money in our budget. You will find this process NOWHERE ELSE in our area. It is time to stop whining, pay your bills, and start putting this energy into a positive way to help our schools.

Thank you for allowing me to say this. These people have reached a point of irritating to those of us that KNOW education IS more important than explaining such minute things to people who dont want to pay their taxes!

BPCSD van in Johnstown

2011-06-29T11:18:00.000-04:00

Question: while at D.M.V. in johnstown yesterday 6/28/11. A woman driving a BP van came in was this school for the school or for herself and on taxpayer time and money?

Answer: On June 28, a Broadalbin-Perth Central School district employee was in Johnstown at the Fulton County Office Building to pick up tax rolls for the school district tax collector.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Will there be changes to the bus routes for the 2011-12 school year?

2011-06-23T11:29:00.002-04:00

Question: Are there any plans to make any revisions to the bus routes for the 2011-12 school year? If so, when would those changes be made available?

Answer: Yes, there are plans to make revisions to the bus routes for the 2011-12 school year. These changes are typically available in early or mid-August. Bus routes are available on the district website, http://www.bpcsd.org/.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

What is the status of driver's education?

2011-06-13T08:15:00.000-04:00

Question: What is the status of driver's education?

Answer: Driver's education will be held this summer. A preliminary meeting was recently held. The summer driver's ed program is funded by the participants.

-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Are contract negotiations coming up?

2011-05-31T10:19:00.000-04:00

Question: Now that the vote has come and gone and the Board has chosen to adopt a contingency budget, I would like to know:

A. When is the teacher's contract is up?
B. When do negotiations commence on the new contract?
C. How does the process of negotiations occur (is the whole board involved, or a few members from a committee?)
D. How restricted is the board in negotiating because of NYS law?
(as evidence of the thoroughly defeated budget, and the fact that teacher salaries and benefits constitute such a large portion of the budget, I feel it is imperative the board use this opportunity to reign in spending of teacher salaries to the best of its ability come time for the next contract.)

Answer: A. The teachers' contract expires at the end of June 2012.
B. Negotiations on a new contract will begin in Fall of 2011.
C. A subcommittee of the Board of Education will work with the superintendent, business administrator and the district's legal counsel to negotiate the new contract.
D. The Board of Education must abide by the Taylor Law and the Triborough Amendment. For information about the Taylor Law, click here.

Budget questions

2011-05-31T10:09:00.002-04:00

Question: Given the current climate in the community regarding the budget and understanding the options that the Board of Education are able to choose from, I know that no matter what decision is reached, there will be people who are unhappy. The funding of education is a very controversial topic and one that needs to be re-examined and changed in some ways, however, until we can find alternative sources of funds to educate our children school taxes are a reality. I would hope that our community members (both for and against the current budget proposal), Board of Education, and administrators can come together to discuss possible options in a civilized and respectful manner at tonight’s meeting. As a tax payer in this community for the last 29 years, I am extremely sympathetic to those members of the community who find it increasingly difficult to pay their school taxes (I have elderly parents on a fixed income). As a parent of two B-P graduates, I also see the need to provide the children of this community with a quality education. Our children are the future leaders, store clerks, mechanics, factory workers, professionals, etc. who will be making these very same decisions in the very near future. Our BOE is faced with a daunting task and I would like to commend them for the countless hours they have spent in trying to create a budget that took both students and tax payers into consideration.

With that being said, I would like to ask the following questions:
1. Can the bus proposition be placed before the voters again? It is my understanding that not replacing older buses will have a greater financial impact than purchasing new ones.
2. Is it still possible for the teacher's union to take a pay freeze (both yearly percentage increase and steps with no stipulations attached)?
3. If the teacher's union were to take a pay freeze, what impact would there be on the current 4.88% proposed tax levy?
4. By what date does a budget need to be in place?

Answers: 1. Yes, the bus proposition could be put up for voters to vote on again, however, given that the Board of Education voted to go to a contingent budget, it is not likely.
2. Yes, the teachers union could take a pay freeze at any time.
3. If the teachers union had taken a pay freeze for the upcoming school year, this would have cut the 2011-12 tax levy impact approximately in half.
4. A budget must be in place by June 21.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

What is the cost of a revote?

2011-05-24T12:48:00.000-04:00

Question: If the budget does end up going to a revote, what will the cost to the district be?

Answer: The cost of a revote would be approximately $6-8,000.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Comments regarding bus purchase/budget vote

2011-05-23T12:15:00.002-04:00

Question: I have a couple of general comments about the budget/bus purchase vote that I would like to express. In regards to the bus purchase proposal. We DO all pay for the purchase of these busses however the cost is diluted over a broader base than just our district. The money comes from state and/or fed. funds etc. that come from revenue generated through taxes. Most of us pay theses taxes. Second, we were looking to "replace" not add to our fleet. "Replacing" worn out equiptment with new, more efficient and more reliable pieces that have low/no repair costs by comparison, in my opinion is good sense when the cost would be so widely dispersed.

As far as the budget goes, my opinion is that cuts were not deep enough and not in the right places. To name a couple examples, eliminating a "stretching coach" (did we need that position in the first place?), and only eliminating a very few positions (partly through retirees not being replaced) were weak attempts at showing cost cutting efforts. Maybe if a dozen or so positions were on the line (instead of the 2.5), voluntary pay freezes may have been agreed too. For me, I would have tolerated a slightly higher tax increase than the roughly 5% proposed if I had seen the district employees share in the situation we now face.

Why can the BOE raise taxes?

2011-05-23T08:12:00.000-04:00

Question: I just want to know how the schooil board can raise taxes on older pople who are on fixed incomes? These pople have no way to make more money. They will have to give up their homes, meds, or food.

Answer: Taxes are charged to all property owners in a district. There is no way to differentiate who gets taxed what amount other than the value of the property. The financial circumstances of particular individuals within a school district have always been and will continue to be different and this is out of the control of the district. We produce a budget that attempts to fulfill the mission of the school and remain fiscally responsible.

Some number of people will be financially stressed no matter how much the total tax levy. This is certainly regrettable and B-P has, for many years, made great efforts to keep the tax levy as low as possible. It is worth noting that the tax levy (per $1,000 of home value) is lower in the Broadalbin-Perth district than 85% of districts in the state. This means that if you could move your house anywhere in NY, you'd likely pay more in taxes than you currently do.

There are ways to make schools cost less. In order to make meaningful change and reduce some of the greatest costs of schools in NY state we need to let our representatives know that we demand reform of education laws. We need mandate relief, a change in the way schools are funded, and reform of the laws governing collective bargaining.

If you would like to help make this change possible please click on this link, take a few minutes to fill in the appropriate information, and mail the letter to your representatives.
Assemblyman Marc Butler
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=117
District Office: 33-41 E. Main Street, Johnstown, NY 12095
Phone: 518-762-6486

Senator Hugh T. Farley
http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/hugh-t-farley
District Office: 2430 Riverfront Center, Amsterdam, NY 12010
Phone: (518) 843-2188

-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Comment about budget revote possibility

2011-05-19T15:59:00.000-04:00

This is just a general comment. I would like to suggest to the board that they do not put the proposed school budget back up for a re-vote because the contingent budget is almost identical to the budget that was proposed. It would cost the district a lot of money to hold another vote. Making any more cuts would drastically hurt our district in my opinion and I think that the board of education and administration should be thanked for their hard work. I think it will be an eye opener to the people when they have to start paying to use the building as outside organizations. The voters put themselves in this predicament.

What is the median household income in the Broadalbin-Perth School District?

2011-05-11T13:50:00.000-04:00

Question: At the May 9 budget forum, an individual asked what the median household income is in the school district.

Answer: According to the U.S Census Bureau, the median household income in the school district is $48,195. The mean household income in the school district is $70,356.

The Census Bureau defines the median and mean as follows:

The median household income divides the income distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median income and one-half above the median. For households and families, the median income is based on the distribution of the total number of households and families, including those with no income.

Mean household income is obtained by dividing total household income by the total number of households.

This information is based on survey responses from the American Community Survey. For a link to the survey report, click here.

How many tax bills in 2010 were not paid or paid late?

2011-05-11T13:36:00.000-04:00

Question: At the May 9 budget forum a question was asked about how many 2010 tax bills remain unpaid and how many were paid late.

Answer: A summary of data at the end of the 2010 tax season follows:

6,553 Total parcels

6,398 Taxable parcels
6,292 Parcels that owe taxes
5,567 Parcels paid in full
725 Delinquent parcels
532 Parcels made late payments during our collection period and paid penalties

What are the 2010-11 true value tax rates for the area districts?

2011-05-10T10:27:00.001-04:00

Question: The Patriot Press Special Budget Edition flyer-Spring 2011, page 7, specifies the 7 year average true value tax rates for area school districts. My questions: 1) what is the 2010-11 true value tax rate for each of the districts? 2) exactly how is the "true value" tax rate determined?

Answer: Here is the table for 2010-2011 to the best of my knowledge.

School District / 2010-11

Amsterdam / $16.87
Broadalbin-Perth / $15.33
Canajoharie / $15.53
Fonda-Fultonville / $15.43
Gloversville / $19.67
Johnstown / $15.19
Mayfield / $14.06
Northville / $9.16
Galway / $11.98
Oppenheim / $16.61

How is True Value Tax Rate determined?
True value tax rate for a school district is a mathematical calculation based upon the school taxable assessed values of property in each town in the district, each town’s equalization rate, and the anticipated school tax levy. The Broadalbin-Perth Central School District encompasses parts of nine different townships (Broadalbin, Perth, Mayfield, Providence, Amsterdam, Northampton, Edinburg, Johnstown, Galway in size order). Each town in the district has a true value for its school taxable property within district boundaries. That true value is determined by dividing assessed property value by the town’s equalization rate. For example, the Town of Broadalbin this year projects to have a taxable assessed property value of $325,857,755. Broadalbin’s equalization rate is projected to be 0.90 (or 90% of true value). So, the true value of these properties in the Town of Broadalbin is $362,064,172. (325857755/.9). The true values of all nine towns are added together to make the District true value. The District tax rate is then determined by dividing the school tax levy by the District true value. For 2011-2012, these are projected as $782,267,434 in true property value, and $12,486,453 in tax levy. 12486453/782267434 = $15.96 per thousand, which equates to a tax rate increase of 4.1% as compared to a school tax levy increase of 4.88%.
-answered by Marco Zumbolo, School Business Administrator

Can you project the tax rate for 2011-12 based on the 2010-11 budget?

2011-05-10T09:17:00.000-04:00

Question: Using the 2010-11Town of Broadalbin property assessment roll and equalization rate as a basis, what would the tax rate be for the proposed 2011-12 BPCSD budget?

Answer: I have some projected numbers for the Town of Broadalbin. According to projected data I have at this point, the Town of Broadalbin is looking at a tax increase right around 4%.

Generally, if the School District shows true value property growth for any given school year, the District's tax rate increase percentage will be less than the tax levy increase percentage.

For towns, equalization rates are the big dial-mover. If a Town's equalization rate goes up, it means that their assessments are closer to true value than they were the year before. Because of that, residents will see a tax increase less than the District tax rate. If a town's equalization rate goes down, it means that assessments are further from true value, which increase the actual value of homes, hence increasing the taxes. In this case, tax bills in the town will show increases above the District's true value tax rate.
-answered by Marco Zumbolo, School Business Administrator

What was the cost of the budget vote video?

2011-05-04T10:34:00.000-04:00

Question: As a tax payer after viewing the Budget Video, I felt as though our Administration and BOE, by making this video had misappropriated tax payer money to make the video and as a tax payer I find it uncomfortable that it seemed as though the video made an attempt to politicize our school budget process - was this all legal, and I would like to know exactly how many people did I pay to give input on the video, how many people did I pay to make the video, and how much did it cost all together, given time and resources to make the video and get it on the BP Website?

Answer: The script for the video was written by the communications specialist in collaboration with the superintendent of schools. The communications specialist used the free, online software program Animoto to create the video. (http://www.animoto.com/) The music used was downloaded from a royalty-free music site at no cost. The photos used are photos that have been taken throughout the year by the communications specialist, who routinely documents district events. The video was posted on the district website by the Webmaster. The video was edited, produced and posted on our website with no additional cost to taxpayers.

-answered by Monica Lester, Communications Specialist

Why were community group flyers included in report cards?

2011-05-02T15:46:00.000-04:00

Question: I was wondering why was permission given to an outside group to put flyers in our childrens report cards. Granted it is a nice thing they do but our own students cannot do that with their fundraisers. Did we pay to make all of those copies being sent out?

Answer: On a daily basis I approve and disapprove flyers requested to be sent home with students. No flyers go home without my prior approval. I have made it a priority of mine to help community organizations communicate with parents in our school. Just to name a few...the scout groups, youth commission groups, little league, and senior groups.

The district does not make the copies unless the organization is willing to pay the set copy fee. The copy fee is 30 cents per page.

I have always felt the school district should work with local groups when at all possible. In my opinion, it goes a long way toward fostering good relationships with our taxpayers.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Question regarding the CSEA salary freeze and the 2011-12 budget

2011-05-02T15:34:00.000-04:00

Question: What kind of administator and teachers do we have here at BP, that they would ask the lowest paid employee to take a pay freeze and then take increases for themself, I have had jobs in nursing where you are responsible for peoples lives had position cut had to do more work and the pay remained the same, we get the feeling as tax payers that teachers and administator are better then the rest of us, why are we not cutting more teacher positions like the school district around us? why are there not more cut in sport program that only benefit a certain small % of our students , while K -5 students are being ask to send in more money to help pay for gas for a class trip? I watch my kids buying school supplies for their kids including coping paper, construction paper, red pens for the teachers, kleenex, lysol wipes etc... why is this when more cuts could be made also? retiree have not had they social security increase over the last 2 years but yet we have to cut medication, food budget to pay our taxes. Why?? As you can tell my husband and I will be voting no this budget.

Answer: Mrs. Funk, I'm sorry to read that you hold these opinions. I will attempt to provide answers to all of your questions, in the order they were asked. If they don't change your opinion, I hope that these answers at least explain where the board is coming from.

First, all of the employees of the B-P district are contract employees. The district enters into a lawful agreement to pay the employees a certain wage, provide specific benefits, etc for the length of that contract. It's not optional - we must have these contracts under NY law. Typically, each of the bargaining units negotiates in a different year. This year the CSEA (Civil Service Employees Association) contract had to be renegotiated. Next year it will be the BPTA (Broadalbin-Perth Teachers Association) and the year following that it will be our administrators.

All employees were asked to take a pay freeze this year in the hopes that we could avoid cutting programs and increasing taxes. To do so we would have to open their contracts and come to a new agreement. We were unable to achieve this.

Because the CSEA contract was up for negotiation we had to come to an agreement. The agreement reached was, in our opinions, wonderful - the net increase in cost to the district's taxpayers for the next three years is essentially flat. This is because of the great amount of savings in health care costs and the modest wage increases provided in the contract. There is no doubt that the CSEA came through for the community when it was their time to negotiate.

About the administration and teachers: We have an award winning administration which costs less per student than 90% of all districts in NY (according to http://www.seethroughny.net/ a watch-dog site provided by the Empire Center for New York State Policy). Similarly, the instructional cost per student at B-P is less than 97% of all districts in NY; instructional costs include teacher salaries. Our students perform above average on almost all state tests and we have the highest graduation rate in the area. The district is continuing to search for ways to improve the quality of education provided. This combination of comparatively low cost and high performance is something to be proud of. Whatever else one may say, B-P is more efficient with your dollars than almost any school in NY.

About cutting positions: Broadalbin-Perth has laid off employees or not filled the positions of retirees 22 times in the last five years. These were cuts to all business units of the district but teachers made up the largest number of cuts (10). Each school district in the area arrives at a moment of decision on their own timeline. B-P has been scaling down in size for several years and made cuts again this year.

About sports: Sports and extracurricular activities are among the most important things offered by the school if feedback received from the community is an indicator. When it was proposed to cut sports and other extra-curricular activities we received an unusually large number of communications that they should be kept. There were approximately 1200 participants in various extra-curricular activities offered by the district - among these were roughly 700 distinct students.

About students bringing in supplies and paying for trips: A large number of the cuts to the budget and savings to the taxpayers have come from supplies. We have been told by some taxpayers that it is preferable to have those who use the facility pay for such things as supplies and gasoline for trips. More importantly, the mission of the school is to educate students to the highest possible standard. In order to accomplish this mission we need teachers who will educate them and an environment that is conducive to learning. So we sacrifice supplies in order to keep teachers to educate and employees who can maintain the school. It's clearly not an ideal situation but we have certain things we can control and others we cannot.

Why does education cost so much in NY: The short answer to this question is that we need reform of the laws governing schools. The various mandates handed down from the state increase costs unnecessarily and the laws governing collective bargaining leave most boards of education with little power at the negotiating table. There are more details in answers to other questions on Patriot Plain Talk. Please also review this document prepared by NYSSBA (New York State School Boards Association) http://www.nyssba.org/clientuploads/nyssba_pdf/nyssbapropertytaxcapreport.pdf. It provides details about cost drivers in education.

If you would like to support the kinds of changes required in order to make education more affordable please contact your representatives in the assembly and senate. They have the power to change the laws, we on the board can only tell you about what needs changing and advocate on your behalf. I've been told that legislators regard a single communication from a constituent as representing 30 people, so please write them!

Here are our representatives:
Assemblyman Marc Butler
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=117
District Office: 33-41 E. Main Street, Johnstown, NY 12095
Phone: 518-762-6486

Senator Hugh T. Farley
http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/hugh-t-farley
District Office: 2430 Riverfront Center, Amsterdam, NY 12010
Phone: (518) 843-2188
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Superintendent salary increase?

2011-04-27T13:17:00.000-04:00

Question: Guess I'm confused. I thought that I read in the newspaper that the Superintendent and Business manager had given up their pay increases this year since the school is having such financial difficulty. I know that, unfortunately, the teachers felt they should take their increases but I was happy that someone was looking out for our kids. My husband and I aren't getting increases this year, must be nice to have a union that only cares about themselves and not those they are suppose to be teaching. I am seriously thinking of changing my yes vote to a no vote. I am disappointed that the superintendent didn't stick to his word. Then again I was taught that you honor your word. I would have had more respect if he had just said he was taking it in the first place instead of making a statement saying he wasn't going to.

Answer: To the best of our knowledge, neither the superintendent nor the business administrator were ever knowingly quoted in the paper or in any school district publication saying they would be taking a pay freeze for the 2011-12 school year. However, information about previous freezes they have taken have been published.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Please explain director of buildings & grounds salary and guidance counselor salary

2011-04-27T13:16:00.000-04:00

Question: When looking at the budget why does the director of buildings and grounds salary more than double this year? Also, why are the guidance counselor salaries up almost $50,000? This seems high.

Answer: The increase of $76,765 that appears in one budget line-item is an increase in that payment code only, the net payment by the district for the management of the building, grounds, health, and safety functions will actually decrease $20,000 this year (at a minimum). This is because we have chosen to consolidate two management positions into one director of building, grounds, health, and safety. The savings from this consolidation over the next five years should be at least $200,000 in salary, healthcare, and pension costs.

A guidance counselor is a mandated position for schools that serve students in grades seven through 12. the position did not exist at Broadalbin-Perth Middle School, meaning the school was not fully meeting that state education regulations until fall of 2010 when the position was created. During the 2010-11 school year, this position was paid for with federal stimulus money. In the upcoming 2011-12 school year, this position will be paid for with money from the general fund. This change in where the position's funding comes from is reflected in the line-item budget.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President, and Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

What would a contingency budget mean in B-P?

2011-04-27T13:08:00.000-04:00

Question: If the current budget is voted down by the taxpayers, what would a contingency budget mean regarding the tax levy. Many times, the contingency budgets can create a higher tax increase , as would be the case in the Amsterdam district this year. Taxpayers should be aware of the process should the current budget get voted down.

Answer: In the event of a defeated budget, the board of education would have three options:

Put the same budget before the voters a second time;
Put a revised budget before the voters; or
Go directly to a contingent budget.

If a second vote is held and the budget is again defeated, the board must adopt a contingent budget. According to state law, Broadalbin-Perth – like other districts throughout the state – would need to limit its spending increase to 1.92 percent for the 2011-12 school year under a contingent budget, which is 120 percent of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The proposed budget for 2011-12 carries with it a 1.64 percent spending increase, which is $240,000 below the state-regulated contingency budget cap.

However, certain expenses that are included in the budget cannot, by state law, be included in a contingency budget. These expenses include student supplies, some student field trips, certain equipment purchases, some salary increases and community use of facilities.

Therefore, if the board adopted a contingent budget, an additional $12,000 in budget reductions would have to be made in these areas. This would mean that B-P’s contingent budget would carry a 1.59 percent spending increase.

Items exempt from a contingency cap are tax certiorari settlements, debt service and costs associated with enrollment growth.

Under a contingent budget, the tax levy increase associated would still be 4.88 percent, which is the same as what is outlined under the proposed spending plan.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Comment on 2011-12 budget adopted by BOE

2011-04-26T11:08:00.002-04:00

I just read the highlights of the proposed budget that was adopted this morning by the board. I see that five positions are being eliminated mostly through retirement. Good, but I shall assume that these retirees will recieve full benifits which the the tax payers are still paying for. Cost savings is? CSEA employees are accepting a lower cost medical benifits package with higher copays. Good, but do the employees contribute to the cost of this benifit package, like most private sector employees, or does the district/taxpayer pay the cost? I'm glad to see that the CSEA employees agreed to a pay freeze this year! But, why would anyone agree to extending a contract for three years that is unsustainable? Maybe my interpretation of this agreement is incorrect, and please correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears that we have now lost the timely opportunity to re-negotiate a contract that would be more suited to today's economic situation. The fifty percent tax increase in the last four years is real! Although extreme, paying more to give students opportunities and a better education is well worth the price. Paying more to ensure the comfort and prosperity of district employees is simply ridiculous. There does exist a threshold where paying more DOES NOT get you more. We are there!

What is the status of Patriot Plain Talk?

2011-04-26T11:04:00.000-04:00

Question: During a winter BOE Meeting it the possible removal of Plain Talk from the BP Website was discussed. Could we be told who exactly wanted the removal of Plain Talk from the website, who brought this topic to discussion? In addition could we have information as to where Plain Talk stands at this point?

Answer: Right now, Patriot Plain Talk is not being eliminated. At the February Board of Education meeting, the use of the tool was discussed and the board reviewed the questions that have been answered since its creation. The Board of Education may choose to review whether or not to continue Patriot Plain Talk at any point, although at the February meeting, the board members discussed the value of providing an ongoing forum for asking questions and receiving answers.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Follow-up question about Board of Education meeting minutes

2011-04-22T12:06:00.002-04:00

Question: As a follow up to the request that BOE meeting minutes be available online, to the Public, in draft form, to avoid a one month turn around time, Mr. Tomlinson's response was that it could not be done at this time. I wanted to give you something directly taken from the Committee on Open Government website, concerning the Open Meeting Law: "The Law states that minutes of open meetings must be made available within two weeks of the meeting; minutes of executive sessions must be made available within one week of the executive session. It has been suggested that if the minutes have not been approved, they may be marked "draft," "unapproved," or "non-final" when they are disclosed." I would like to request that the March BOE meeting minutes be posted on the website, as well as the meeting minutes taken from the Sunday BOE meeting held this month (April), prior to Easter vacation, as to comply with the one-two week regulation. Thank you.

Answer: After consulting with our attorneys, we will be making a change to the way we make Board of Education meeting minutes available.

Although Board of Education meeting minutes are not legally required to be on the website, we agree that draft meeting minutes should be available to the public within two weeks of the meeting date.

Minutes from the April 3 and March regular board meeting are now available. To view the minutes, click here.

In the future, all regular Board of Education draft meeting minutes will be posted within two weeks of Board of Education meetings. In addition, any minutes that reflect a formal vote within an executive session will be posted within one week.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Questions about the superintendent's raise

2011-04-21T15:44:00.000-04:00

Question: In follow up to our Superintendent being given a $10,000 salary increase within the 2011/2012 budget. There are always more than two ways of looking at things. Our Superintendent has publicized his pay freeze for the last two years, we appreciate his willingness to do so, but I can say that as a tax payer I did not agree to give our Superintendent a pay increase in the third year which is over the typical cost of living increase; more than double. In addition to that we cannot mislead tax payers by telling them our Superintendent is one of the lowest paid Superintendents in NY State. The average NY teacher and administrative salaries are averaged using all of NY State salaries, NY City salaries included, and upstate NY cannot compete with downstate salaries. In upstate NY a $100,000+ salary is an extremely handsome salary for a Superintendent, and with that our current Superintendent is fairly new to the position and school Superintendents do not come out of the gate making $200,000 per year. Lastly, one important point which continues to be missed. To live and work in upstate NY, especially being successfully employed in the township you were raised in, in beautiful/safe Broadalbin, this in and of itself is a benefit which is priceless. These are public funds being paid to our Superintendent and from this tax payer's perspective there is no rhyme or reason to how we are calculating pay increases for our Superintendent; a $10,000 number is thrown out there and our BOE accepts it. In the spirit of a democracy I would appreciate the other side of this story being posted on Plain Talk.

Answer: The increase in the Superintendent's salary was not a cost of living increase. It was an attempt to bring our superintendent into a position approaching parity with his peers.

In sharp contrast to a misleading statement, I can prove that our superintendent is one of the lowest paid in the state. Whether indexed by median household income, the percentage of families living in poverty, or by cost per pupil (salary/enrollment) B-P pays less than almost every district in NY. When these indexes are taken together, B-P gets a better bargain than 98 percent of all districts in the state and better than 94 percent of schools in our area.

All this and Broadalbin-Perth has the highest graduation rate of the HFM-BOCES districts.

Please come to the next BOE meeting April 25th at 6:45PM at the high school media center and I'll show you the data. If you'd like to have the data files themselves please contact the Board at bpboe@bpcsd.org and I will email them to you. If you have other measures which are more valid then please offer them and I'm certain the board would be interested.

Here are the sources for the data I used:

From The National Center for Education Statistics School District Demographic System, "American Community Survey": http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/sdds/acs09/acsdownload.aspx
From The New York State Dept. of Education, "New York State School Administrator Salary Disclosure": http://www.p12.nysed.gov/mgtserv/admincomp/
From The New York State Dept. of Education, "The New York State School Report Card": http://www.p12.nysed.gov/irs/reportcard/
From The Empire Center for NY State Policy, "SeeThroughNY": http://www.seethroughny.net/BenchmarkingNY/tabid/98/Default.aspx

As for the intangible benefits of being employed in a position of prestige in the town of one's youth I submit to you that this is a subjective measure (one may plausibly argue that there are an equal number of disadvantages). In any case this is not something considered by the board as compensation during contract discussions.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Questions regarding the line-item budget and pay freezes

2011-04-19T15:37:00.000-04:00

Question: I have followed the budget process and participated in community forums. More than once I have asked what administrators are doing to make sacrifices and cut costs. I asked again on the budget survey where it said these questions would be addressed in Plain Talk. However, I have yet to receive any form of acknowledgment. Now, after looking at the line item budget, I understand why my question has not been addressed. I hope the Board of Education will fulfill their roll by answering this time.

What are administrators doing to help save taxpayer money? Are salaries being frozen? Are positions being cut? It doesn't appear this way. In fact the superintendent is taking a $10,000 pay INCREASE at a time when the lowest paid employees, teacher aides and assistants, agree to a wage freeze. I cannot understand how this can be justified.

I have two additional inquiries regarding the line item budget. First, who is getting the $50,000 increase in the business office salaries? Second, where is the $76,000 increase in Director of Building and Grounds going to?

This community trusts that the Board of Education is making the best decisions they can on behalf of our children and taxpayers. In the spirit of good faith, I am respectfully asking that these issues be answered by the Board and not by the administration.

Answer: You ask a question that is substantially the same as another that the board has received. I’d like to take my answer to that person and repeat it to you.

First I'd like to thank you for writing to the Board to express your concerns. Altogether the process of forming a school budget is a turbulent and frustrating exercise. I'll attempt to answer the specific items you mentioned in your note. Please know that your opinion matters to us and that we desire more input from the residents of this district.

The Board shares your admiration of the members of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) - these are our custodians, nurses, teacher assistants, secretaries, and food service workers. The leadership they have shown in their recently ratified contract is commendable and will, we hope, serve as an example to other bargaining units in upcoming negotiations. It is they, as you correctly point out, who have done a great deal to save jobs in the current budget year.

The increase of $76,765 that appears in one budget line-item is an increase in that payment code only, the net payment by the district for the management of the building, grounds, health, and safety functions will actually decrease $20,000 this year (at a minimum). This is because we have chosen to consolidate two management positions into one director of building, grounds, health, and safety. The savings from this consolidation over the next five years should be at least $200,000 in salary, healthcare, and pension costs.

Similarly, the increase in business office expenditure is more than balanced by reduction in the cost for a district treasurer and the abolishment of the Assistant Superintendent position. These roles have been consolidated in an attempt to streamline operations and save money. The net, one-time savings is $81,500.

This year we asked all employees to take a pay freeze (whether or not their contract was up for renegotiation) in order to reduce the effects of our tough financial situation. We were successful in securing a freeze from the CSEA during contract negotiations.

The Broadalbin-Perth Teachers Association (BPTA) will begin negotiating a new contract in the next school year. The administrator's contract will be negotiated the year after that.

The superintendent has taken a pay freeze two of the last three years. This year he offered to do so again if the other bargaining units would do the same. As things turned out he will take his increase and the Board supports this decision. Our superintendent is, by any comparative measure, one of the lowest paid in the state. If you'd like a detailed explanation of this assertion please come to the next Board of Education meeting on April 25th at the high school media center.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Commending the CSEA employees

2011-04-19T08:28:00.000-04:00

I would like to commend the CSEA employees for their decision to accept a wage freeze for the upcoming school year. It shows they are committed to keeping programs for our children without overburdening the taxpayers with another high tax increase. I fear that taxpayer anger with the teacher's decision to reject a wage freeze may lead to a defeated budget this year. As a taxpayer who has not seen a raise in 2 years myself, with my husband who has had a pay freeze for 3 years, it would be hard to sympathize with teachers losing their jobs if they aren't willing to make any concessions. The true sympathy needs to be directed at the children who will truly suffer as a result. It's certainly ironic that the lowest paid employees are making the sacrifices. The old saying that "the rich get richer" comes to mind. Shame on the educators in our district!

Can administrators be combined?

2011-04-18T13:14:00.000-04:00

Question: Has the district looked into combining any administrative duties with the possibility of eliminating one of the positions with the highest salary?

Answer: Over the past several years, the district has combined several administrator positions to achieve cost savings of several hundred thousand dollars a year in salaries and benefits. Some of the positions that have been combined include:

The duties of the assistant superintendent for business and the treasurer position were combined, resulting in a school business administrator position. The school business administrator is directly responsible for the supervision of the business staff and the computer systems analyst. Further, the school business administrator is expected to work closely with the superintendent, in an advisory capacity, with matters related to educational program and financial impact upon request. For a complete job description, click here.
The duties of the athletic director and the high school assistant principal were combined, resulting in a combined athletic director/assistant principal position. The athletic director/assistant principal is responsible for providing assistance to the high school principal in the administration of the total school program. In addition, the administrator maintains, organizes and administers the overall program for interscholastic athletics. For a complete job description, click here.
The district at one time had a full-time Committee on Special Education Chairperson. Several years ago, this position was eliminated and folded into the responsibilities of the director of special programs. The individual in this position works in conjunction with the superintendent to oversee the implementation of the district’s special education programs and support services in compliance with state and federal special education regulations. Two district psychologists receive a stipend to assist with some of the duties of the Committee on Special Education. However, the combination of duties and the stipends still equate to overall cost savings.
The director of curriculum position was eliminated six years ago.

To view a flow chart of administrative responsibilities, click here.

The district has four building principals because it has four schools—The Learning Community, the Intermediate School, the Middle School and the High School. According to New York State Law, a full-time principal (who holds appropriate certification) must be “employed and assigned to each school.”
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

What does "contractual" mean in the line-item budget?

2011-04-13T14:23:00.000-04:00

Question: Could you please clarify what "contractual" means when viewing the line by item budget?

Answer: This is a common question that people have about the budget. The general misconception is that contractual means "according to employee contracts." That is generally not the case with contractual budget object codes (.400 budget code lines). Every school district function code has a contractual sub-code available to account for contractual and other expenses.

For example, the Board of Education has a function code of (A1010). A1010.400 is their contractual line. This budget line is used by the district for expenses such as legal and classified advertisements (which are required by state law) and the purchase of newspapers and periodicals.

Other common expenses that are paid from contractual budget lines are: agreements with outside contractors for services or repairs (i.e. water & sewer, waste removal, fire alarm and security systems, police patrol, school physician, etc.); utilities (i.e. electricity, natural gas, heating oil, fuel); professional development; conferences and assemblies; insurance; dues and subscriptions; and other outside contract-based fees.
-answered by Marco Zumbolo, School Business Administrator

Why was the third-grade concert cancelled?

2011-04-13T13:43:00.000-04:00

Question: Why was the third grade concert canceled? Will it be rescheduled?

Answer: Thank you for your inquiry into the rescheduling of the third-grade Spring Chorus Concert. This concert will be held on Tuesday, June 7, at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. It was misprinted on the calendar. I apologize for the confusion and look forward to seeing you there!
-answered by Daniel Casey, Intermediate School Principal

Comments regarding pay freeze

2011-04-13T13:36:00.002-04:00

Question: I am very discouraged that our BOE would attempt to degrade a tax payer by calling the tax payer's opinions "emotional" and referring to them as seeking "retribution."

Many tax payers wish for our BOE representatives to press the BPTA for a 100% pay freeze for all of 2011/2012, and in addition to that if an ethical pay freeze such as mentioned above is not reached then many tax payers would accept additional teachers being eliminated - this is not retribution, it is an attempt to close the budget gap. As tax payers should we attempt to negotiate with teachers to save their jobs? Have the teachers considered our community's elderly and disabled who live on a fixed income and cannot support another tax increase, what about so many of the families in this community who are financially under water, have the teachers considered them? But as a community we should not share our honest opinions for fear it will be taken out on our children? The BOE wants us to focus our efforts on changing Taylor's Law; is the teacher's union attempting to change that law? Come on. Tax payers who speak up are not anti-teacher, we love our teachers, we love our school, and teaching is a very challenging job, we respect that, but we need to make some difficult decisions. Mr. Szumowski, in all fairness to tax payers, this submission should be posted, this is a forum for tax payers to communicate, with the District, with each other, and there is no more important time than now, for tax payers to contemplate all sides to this budget process.
-submitted by Kellie Whitman

Answer: Mrs Whitman, I have heard it said, and have since repeated, that communication is the hardest thing we do. This is a pitfall of forums such as Patriot Plain Talk - they're more suited to question-and-answer interactions than dialogue. No insult was intended in the response to your most recent post.

The point about children bearing the cost of decisions we make should be clear: fewer teachers and programs reduce the opportunities for learning and achievement.

The Board of Education negotiated formally with the BPTA (attorneys for both sides were present) and did not come to agreement. If agreement is not reached there is no alternative.

Details of formal negotiations are private under law.

Our desire to focus on reform of the law has two purposes: to produce tangible, meaningful results and elevate the conversation above the typical us-versus-them conflict. Without reform we will be forced to conduct business as usual.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Story about high school principal?

2011-04-12T09:33:00.002-04:00

Question: How come there is not a story on this website in honor of the local high school principal receiving an outstanding award. It has been in some local papers and other capital district news. This is a great honor for Mrs. Blowers, we should have a picture and a story on the face page of this website.

Answer: There is now a story on the website. You can view it by clicking here.
-answered by Monica Lester, Communications Specialist

Is there an update on a potential pay freeze for staff?

2011-04-12T09:17:00.000-04:00

Question: I am wondering what came of the BOE and the Superintendent, meeting with the bargaining units, concerning a pay freeze for 2011/2012? Were the attempts again unsuccessful?

As a tax payer, I can confidently say there are many many residents of Broadalbin who absolutley do not want the BOE to make any deals with the bargaining units, unless they are ethical and are 100% in the best interest of the school and tax payers. If the BPTA is not strongly pushed by their union members to accept a 100% pay freeze for 2011/2012, with no stipulations, then more teachers should be terminated, raise the number of children in the classrooms, do what we need to do. As tax payers we need to stand together on this; the teachers are not budging! I would strongly appreciate this being posted on the tax payer funded Plain Talk.
-submitted by Kellie Whitman

Answer: Mrs. Whitman, thank you for your message. The Board of Education and BPTA were unable to arrive at a cost saving agreement that would serve the interests of the district and its taxpayers. Negotiations are under way with the CSEA that we hope will lead to a successful contract ratification in the next week.

It is the firm position of the board that all employees must continue the primary function of the district - education - to the best of their abilities within the budget we've attempted to produce. Maintaining professional decorum is essential to this task as hundreds of people must work together. Such decorum and successful cooperation are less likely if the object pursued is retribution (firing more teachers for not taking a freeze).

It may be impossible to avoid emotional responses in times of stress. However, we ask you to please keep in mind that the students will bear the cost of actions by the adults. Let us not compound those costs.

The current system of negotiations between school districts and unions is broken and inherently adversarial; this damages professional relationships and (clearly) relationships with the community. It is our keen desire that the education of students not be adversely affected too.

I repeat a previously stated sincere request that energy be directed toward advocating for reform of the laws that govern public sector employment, like the Taylor Law. Only such reforms can change the nature of employer/employee relationships in New York state and lead to substantial changes in the way business is done in school districts. The Board must operate within these rules, provide for the education of students, and be accountable to taxpayers.

Where we have failed we ask your continued patience; we're attempting to overcome a broken system. Where we have succeeded we ask your support.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

The budget development process is fluid

2011-04-12T09:08:00.004-04:00

Question: The last budget information was very confusing with the four rectangles of comments. I thought the point was clarity. Then I hear that positions that were not even discussed are being eliminated.

Answer: The budget development process is fluid. The budget development calendar, which you can find by clicking here, outlines the entire process. The formal development of the following year’s budget begins in late fall when the district administrators submit their budget requests to the business office.

The business administrator then presents several draft budgets to the Board of Education. As different budget drafts are presented, the business administrator must work within the confines of the anticipated revenues and expenditures for the upcoming school year, including state and federal aid numbers, which may not be final until April.

Throughout the process, the Board of Education and district administration listen to what the community is saying through the pre-budget survey, the series of community roundtables and questions on the Patriot Plain Talk blog.

Once revenues and expenditures are defined, the district can finalize the budget. The Board of Education then formally adopts the budget, and only at this time are decisions about cuts final.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Were hard drives stolen from high school computers?

2011-04-06T12:17:00.000-04:00

Question: What is being done with the computer lab at B-P High School that was closed down due to the computer hard drives being stolen from the computers?

Answer: No hard drives were stolen. Periodically the computer labs are closed for maintenance.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

How does the pink slip process work?

2011-04-06T12:15:00.000-04:00

Question: How does the pink slip process work? I understand last in first out, but what if that means getting rid of too many people in one department? For example what if all the pink slips go to elementary level teachers and you no longer have enough teachers to have an elementary school? The other teachers in the district can't cover for them because they aren't certified in that area. Or what if an entire Social Studies or English department is pink slipped?

Answer: Because the district is mandated by the state to provide instruction in certain areas, such as elementary education, Social Studies or English, it is not possible for eliminate everyone in a particular subject area.
The process for distributing “pink slips,” or employee notices that their position is going to be eliminated, is as follows:

The superintendent of schools, along with the district’s leadership team and the Board of Education, identify areas of possible program elimination or reduction.
Based on the areas the administration and board identify, pink slips are distributed to staff members in each of those specific subject areas. The most recently hired individuals are eliminated first, which is often referred to as the, “Last in, first out” policy. This policy applies to staff in each subject area separately, not to the district’s entire staff as a whole.

-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Can you please give more information about permanent substitutes?

2011-03-29T10:16:00.001-04:00

Question: To jump off the question about perm. subs...One of the subs is also listed in a position where they are paid $200/day. First, why do we need to pay this amount of money to someone who technically isn't a perm. employee of the district? This would equal to approx. $36000 if they worked 180 days in that position. Also what types of oversights are there to be sure that we are paying for the correct service? It would be very tempting to say that you worked in the $200/day capacity over the $90/day. Lastly, it concerns me that this substitute's mother is her direct supervisor. How does that work? This isn't a family owned business and it seems that many of the perm. subs that were hired this year have family connections or very close ties to the district in some other way (PTO etc.). The district hasn't had perm. subs. in several years so it looks like this might have been a way to hire family members and keep currently employees happy. How aware of these connections, and the individual’s qualifications, are the BOE members when they appoint or are they just blindly taking the word of the recommendation panel? If these are questions that have been brought up before I am sorry, but I am new to this question forum.

Answer: Permanent substitutes are a cost-effective way to provide a higher-quality education than random substitutes. Having permanent substitutes provides consistency. A permanent substitute is paid $90 per day, but this fee does not include benefits or contractual obligations. A regular substitute is paid $80 per day. If a permanent substitute worked 180 days per year at the rate of $90, this would be an extra $1,800 a year for each building to have consistency when the regular classroom teacher cannot be there.

All permanent substitutes are New York State certified teachers. Before being selected, they were all interviewed by a panel of teachers and administrators and the Board of Education sees all personell materials just like they would with any other hire.

Included in the appointment of permanent substitutes is the detail that the individual cannot be paid more than $90 per day for a maximum of 100 days. Should they work more than 100 days, their daily rate would increase to $200 per day for a maximum of 80 days.

There is oversight in the payroll process that monitors how much money the permanent substitutes are being paid. First, the building principal sees the timesheet and then sends it to the superintendent. The superintendent sends the information to the payroll clerk. All of the district’s payrolls are audited at various times during the year by both internal and independent auditors. Before the checks are paid, the superintendent has the final overview of the payroll. This process is set up to have checks and balances and ensure proper payments are made.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Do the B-P schools have a Dean of Discipline?

2011-03-29T10:16:00.000-04:00

Question: Does the BPCSD really have a Dean of Discipline?? A position created in July 2010?? With a salary of 4500.00 per year. At a time of great economic hardship like the one that we have been in for the past few years, I find this hard to believe. I mean don’t you already have 4 principals, and an assistant principal??? What could this position have been created for other than padding a retiring teachers’ salary. Discipline should be handled by the principals, you know, the people who are highly paid to take care of things like that. It's bad enough that NONE of BP's principals live in or pay taxes in OUR district, do we really need to lighten their workload by spending taxpayers’ money. Please explain this position to me and the other taxpayers of the community. P.S. I have sent in other questions/ comments about Administration before only to have you not post them. So much for TRANSPARENCY!!!! Maybe my questions/comments would be better received as a letter to the editor.

Answer: Yes, the Broadalbin-Perth Central Schools do have a Dean of Discipline. The individual in this position assists the half-time assistant principal at the high school and the principal at the middle school in addressing student behavior issues. This individual receives a stipend of $4,500 per year.

Having a Dean of Discipline is a much more affordable option for us than hiring an additional school building administrator. The jobs of the building administrators are multi-faceted. For a full description of their responsibilities, click here. We need assistance in the area of discipline to do this vital work.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Why was ConnectEd used to notify residents about the Home Show?

2011-03-29T09:46:00.000-04:00

Question: Why does the school use the phone system to call people about the home show? This is not something that is a school function. This use is a waste of taxpayer money and time.

Answer: We see the use of the Blackboard Connect as a community service, and a sharing of services with the greater community.

When the Board of Education committed to improving communications with the community, including taxpayers at large, it decided (after researching various methods) that a phone system like the one we have now could be effective. We can send announcements to all community members, not just those have children in the schools or work in the schools.

The phone service has gotten great reviews—taxpayers have called my office to tell me, “This is money well spent!” Twice the call system has been used to locate missing children within minutes.

The Board of Education feels the school should be part of the larger community. Using the phone service to reach out to all community members, especially for events that are happening within our schools like the Home Show, is a way for us to be part of our community as a whole.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

What does the communications specialist do?

2011-03-29T09:38:00.000-04:00

Question: Could someone please explain the position of Communications Specialist, what the responsibilities are and how much the tax payers are paying this person??? Thanks.

Answer: Three years ago the Board of Education made a commitment to transparency. Now, the area of communications is one where the BOE makes specific goals every year. Transparency requires a constant attention to all forms of communications by a professional communicator. Now, more than ever, our community expects this high level of communication and transparency.

The district contracts for communications services through HFM BOCES, in partnership with the Capital Region BOCES. Through this service, a communications specialist is assigned to our district to help us communicate with our community and staff in an open and timely manner about important news and information happening in our schools and district.

Our goal as a district is to be the first and best source of information about Broadalbin-Perth schools. In this “information age,” with no shortage of traditional and new media outlets creating ever-higher expectations for access to important information, this goal has become more critical than ever before. We are responsible for educating our community’s children, using taxpayer funds. Accordingly, we have the obligation to be accountable to the public—to report how we are doing in fulfilling this mission and to listen to the community’s concerns and priorities about the work we do.

Our communications specialist is responsible for producing (writing, editing, laying out, printing and distributing) all of the major district and school publications, including our district newsletter, school newsletters and the annual district calendar. In addition, she is working on a series of brochures about topics that affect our schools, such as the importance of literacy instruction.

She is responsible for community relations and serving as the “information station” for B-P, meaning that she answers public and new resident requests for information; maintains extensive background files; and plans for school district anniversary celebrations and special events. She manages the Patriot Plain Talk blog, ensuring timely responses to questions, and oversees the recently launched Broadalbin-Perth Central School District Facebook page. She handles all media relations, responding to reporter requests and soliciting coverage of school events, student achievements and other important district news. In addition, she is working in collaboration with the Grants & Development Service at Capital Region BOCES to provide “help desk” support to staff for grants.

Most importantly, our communications specialist has been indispensible in helping us seek much more public engagement and community involvement in our budget development and decision-making process. She developed and organizes our series of community roundtables, including the planning, logistics, publicity, development of materials and all of the information follow-up that occurs after the fact for both the board of education and the larger community. She also works on formal surveys of the community to generate input from a broader range of people.

Having someone whose responsibility it is to be constantly looking at the information we share with and ask for from our staff and community is invaluable to a public school district which depends on community support, parent involvement and staff commitment to thrive. Communications is part of everyone’s job in our district, but our communications specialist is the professional charged with the responsibility to manage it and make sure it is happening effectively to the benefit of our community and our students.

The cost for this service this year is $99,180. Because this is a BOCES service, we are reimbursed for about half of this amount by the state. In addition, because we contract with BOCES for this service rather than hiring a person to take on these duties, we are avoiding any “legacy” costs – i.e., health insurance and pension contributions.

Following the BOCES model, the Communications Service we subscribe to is a shared service. What this means for Broadalbin-Perth is that the communications specialist who works so closely with us is part of a larger team of experienced communications professionals, graphic artists, web designers and developers and print specialists who all assist in helping us provide our community with high-quality news and information. The benefits of this collaboration—such as the design of our new internal e-newsletters—come at no additional cost to the district.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Do we promote enough of the good news?

2011-03-28T12:13:00.000-04:00

Question: Just out of curiosity. Have we published in any of the local newspapers any of the great happenings in our community lately? Because it seems like the only thing I ever hear about is what "we aren't doing."

I would love to see some of the good/great things are students are doing hit the community ears! Yes, it is available on the websites, but we don't always have time to get on the computer or the website, but I do believe people try to pick up the local newspaper and skim thru it or pull one up on the computer in the early morning and skim thru the headlines so, what better way to hit more "eyes!"

Some of the things I have read about are: Two students from BP going to the National History Bee in Washington, DC, Students from BP enter their artwork into the annual "Horsing Around with the Arts" show at the National Racing Museum in Saratoga, BP students compete in the Master of the Minds Competition in Albany, BP Top 10 students for 2011 are announced, BP announces its annual Senior Citizen Prom, BP offers a Career Fair for the community and it's 8th-12th grade students, BP kicks off Spirit Week for it's Annual March Madness Basketball tournament between the teachers to help support community members, BP announces Spelling Bee winners..........We just had an Author visit our school, what about the trip to Suny Cortland with Project Adventure or how the Varsity Basketball Team made it to the Quarter Finals?

All this is "GOOD" News about our school and community and I'm not sure it is getting to the public!

At a time when community confidence is low and the pointing of the fingers is high, we should "share" all the good! We should share the GOOD all the time, but now more than ever.

We need to keep people here at B-P and continue to bring people in to B-P and what better way than publishing the information in the local newspapers! Brag a little!

Yes, Taxes are an issue and we definitely need to continue to focus on solutions, but to just continue to ignore ALL the good in our district is doing the community and the school an injustice.

We have things to be proud of and we should Shout It Out!

Answer: The communications specialist submits as much as possible of the "good news" that she hears about to the local media for publication. If the superintendent or member of the leadership team specifically asks for something to be submitted, then that information is also sent. However, the media decides what it will or will not publish.

Of the items listed in the question, the following were submitted to the local media: Two students from B-P qualifying for the National History Bee in Washington, D.C.; B-P students having their artwork selected for the annual "Horsing Around with the Arts" show at the National Racing Museum in Saratoga Springs; the B-P Top 10 students for 2011; information announcing the recent Career Fair for the community; and the IS/MS Spelling Bee winners. Recently, and in addition, several other press release regarding the budget have been submitted, as well as a recent "Doodle for Google" competition that high school art students participated in, information about the recent forum with a panel of experts to discuss GlobalFoundries and its impact, the results of the recent high school blood drive as well as information about the SADD fundraiser and show.
-answered by Monica Lester, Communications Specialist

Do we need timekeepers at sporting events?

2011-03-16T11:09:00.000-04:00

Question: Time Keepers at sporting events, from the BOE meeting minutes dated October 18, 2010, they are paid approximately $4,200. Would it be a good idea to consider redirecting the Booster Club and PTO’s objectives, maybe instead of time consuming fund raising events they would consider participating in a different manner, at times, to help our school – PTO and Booster Club members acting as time keepers at games? Saving money is the same as making money.

Answer: The BOE doesn't manage the Booster Club but we can pass the suggestion on. Scoreboard operators are required to have certain qualifications in order to participate in Section II sports. The proposed spending plan makes reductions in the area of score book keeping of approximately $1,800. The distinction is between those operating the scoreboard and those who "keep the book" for the teams.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Are teaching assistants necessary?

2011-03-15T10:49:00.000-04:00

Question: Again, in my opinion, when students go to college to become a teacher they are not schooled and developed to have Teachers Assistants working with them, they are developed to teach a classroom of students on their own. At the TLC it seems we are overloaded with Teaching Assistants, especially when as a tax payer it does not seem like too much to ask for a teacher to effectively do their job with 18-23 students in a classroom, on their own. Teaching Assistants are a great benefit and luxury, when times are great, but times are not great, and now we need to look at doing more with less, as any other business in this nation is doing right now. Thinking about what I see day to day at the TLC, instead of Teacher’s Assistants, the music and art teachers, the principal, they could greet and oversee the bus runs as they arrive and leave school each day. Teachers could go to lunch and eat with their students, that is how my school operated years ago, and our teachers and students not only survived, we thrived. With the downsizing of TAs at the TLC, although an awesome event, maybe we need to cut the Morning Program down to 1-2 days per week, allowing for more classroom time. This would not make or break our school.

Answer: Some TA positions are on the list of positions to be abolished in the most recently proposed cuts to the budget. Some TAs are required by law for special education classrooms. Others fill in for teachers during contractually obligated planning times and lunches. It's cheaper to pay TAs to do the tasks you list than it is to pay teachers to do it - all job responsibilities are negotiated under contract.

-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Is the After School Program self-sufficient?

2011-03-15T10:43:00.000-04:00

Question: After School Program – Could you please detail what an After School Program staff person is being paid per hour, because I believe I have read that After School Staff are being paid over $25 per hour, and could this offering not be staffed utilizing an outside service, or outside individuals, to come into our school, for much less money per hour? It seems as though local individuals could be screened, go through the approval process and be hired for a much lower hourly rate - $25 per hour to watch children after school is not equitable to tax payers in my opinion.

Answer: The after-school program is self-funded by tuition payments. The rate of pay is commensurate with contractual wages.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Should the Freshman and JV basketball teams merge?

2011-03-15T10:37:00.000-04:00

Question: In the spirit of cutting costs prior to cutting large offerings at our school, I believe many would agree that we would rather have an athletics program, where the Freshman basketball team is merged with our JV Basketball team, this is typical for many schools, and it would have its challenges but it would still be better than eliminating athletics all together.

Answer: Merging sports programs with other schools where possible is being considered. Elimination of low participation sports is being considered. We will also take this recommendation into consideration. The response from the community has been very strong surrounding sports and extra-curricular activities. These programs will be kept if we can find any way to afford them.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Are permanent substitutes necessary?

2011-03-15T10:25:00.000-04:00

Question: It appears we have “Permanent Substitutes” at more than one school and why would it be decided that a permanent substitute should be paid $90.00 per day, which is significantly over the Substitute Service schedule of rates? This item over a 100 day period could add up to and over $1500 extra per year, paid to a substitute without justification in my opinion. In my opinion, Permanent or otherwise, all substitutes should be paid according to the day rate for the substituting position they are holding.

Answer: Permanent subs are certainly up for review in the coming budget and the sentiments you expressed will be a part of the conversation. The permanent subs we have been using are generally certified for the positions they will fill and are familiar to the students and staff; this provides smoother operations and confidence that the instruction of the students will be interrupted the least amount possible.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Can draft BOE minutes be posted online?

2011-03-10T11:22:00.000-05:00

Question: Is it possble for the BOE to post the unofficial minutes from their meetings like Galway does? In these changing times a month is a long time to wait to find out what is going on and not everyone can make every meeting. I read the minutes as soon as they are posted to keep up, but they are very old by the time they are posted. Galway posts them in draft form until they are approved. Seems to me that this should be an option to keep the community informed. Thank you.

Answer: Not at this time. The Board of Education will consider this at its reorganizational meeting in July.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Comment about the possibility of a half-day kindergarten program

2011-02-18T15:25:00.000-05:00

I have serious concerns about the proposal to run a 1/2-day kindergarten program. These students will be put at a huge disadvantage at a time with the state is proposing higher standards and expectations on children in kindergarten. A 1/2-day program will have long lasting negative effects on this district. The children will be less successful readers in 1st grade, which will put them behind for 2nd grade and will lead to lower state test scores in 3rd grade.

When is the senior prom?

2011-02-14T15:50:00.000-05:00

Question: What is the date of senior prom for 2011? I was planning on attending two this year and I just wanted to make sure they are not on the same date. I have asked a few people but have been givin several different answers. So when exactly is the senior prom for 2011?

Answer: The senior prom will be held on May 14, 2011, at the Great Escape Lodge. Details to follow.
-answered by Robin Blowers, High School Principal

Questions following community roundtable

2011-02-11T15:02:00.004-05:00

Question: First off our Athletic Director was assigned to the forum group I was assigned to. The Athletic Director in my opinion was a key player to be in attendance, but he only attended the meeting with his assigned group for approximately 10 minutes and in that 10 minutes he appeared disinterested, throwing out a few areas where B-P could cut the athletics budget and then he left the meeting.

Answer: Board members and members of the leadership team participate in the forums in large part to listen and be available to taxpayers for conversation. In cases where BOE / leadership team members have more knowledge about a topic, they should naturally provide the other participants with this knowledge. However, the point of the round-table is to get a sense of what community members consider important and to give them a sense of what BOE/Leadership team members have on their minds.

I assure you the Athletic Director is very interested in the consequences of the athletics he directs being eliminated. Regarding the duration of his stay with your group, it’s likely that he wanted to have an opportunity to participate in more than one group. So he had to limit the time spent in each.

Question: Also assigned to my forum group was a B-P BOE member, and at one point during the discussion the BOE member stated very clearly that if it came down to an Athletics Program or laying off a teacher he could guarantee the BOE members would not vote to lay off a teacher to save athletics. This statement seemed so political in nature, and it did not seem like an appropriate statement for a BOE member to make.

Answer: It's surprising to hear that someone would guarantee what the whole BOE would do, particularly about a topic as multi-faceted as this one. Perhaps this is a misinterpretation of the conversation or the person who spoke was a bit hasty. We regret that this is the perception you took away from the discussion. Rest assured that very few things are set in stone where this budget is concerned. The board is well aware that the decisions taken in the next several years will be thoroughly scrutinized. A primary focus has been to find out what our constituents want and to demonstrate that we’re serious about delivering the best we can.

Question: Lastly Marco our District Business Administrator visited our group. Since the Athletic Director, during the 10 minutes he attended the meeting came up with about $5,000-$6,000 dollars where things could be saved in the Athletics Department, I wondered what would happen if the Athletics Department and all departments at B-P sat down, truly sharpened their pencils...what could they actually come up with for cost savings. I asked Marco about sharpening the pencils and he stated something to the effect that it will not work that way and if we end up with an $80,000 dollar shortfall in our budget then the Administration will look to cut a large ticket item.

Answer: This one may need a conversation to pick out the exact question. Pencils have been sharpened. Some substantial cuts have been made in the last several budgets. For instance: In the last few years, expenditures for clubs have been reduced from $75,000 to $25,000. There have been no equipment purchases for sports teams in four years. Scrimmages and games that require travel have been reduced or eliminated altogether; partially because of state mandate and partially because of district choice. Field trips must now be entirely funded by the students. We continue to investigate ways to reduce spending while maintaining worthwhile extracurricular programs. Now we are seriously considering the elimination of programs. We remain open to suggestions.

Question: This is discouraging because as tax payers we were ignorant last year, we agreed to last year's budget because we believed the B-P Administration and BOE were doing all which they could do.

Answer: Six community roundtables occurred last year and were publicized rather widely. All the information from the roundtables was made available on the website. The district has published numerous detailed budget documents and hosted a seminar which thoroughly explained a property tax bill and put the video on our website.

This district has made many efforts to increase the amount and quality of information conveyed - even winning state-wide recognition for our efforts.
Further explanation of the meaning behind "all which they could do" would be helpful. There is an innate conflict in this process: The desire to educate students to the highest level possible so that they can have greater competitive success after graduation is in direct conflict with the need to stop spending so much of our citizen’s money. Exacerbating this problem are the structural flaws and legal traps with which we must contend.

Therefore a balancing act is taking place each year. How much money can the school district demand from its residents? How can the school succeed in its fundamental mission if it cuts the very programs which make the mission possible? These are simultaneously moral and empirical questions. The answers for the empirical aspects are often determined by the actions of state agencies. For the answer to the moral aspects we seek guidance from our own consciences and those of our community members, like you.

In closing, I’d like to extend a thank you from the Board for taking the time to participate in the roundtable discussion. Furthermore we appreciate the sincere and thoughtful questions you raised. Having the participation of people such as you in this process is essential to us – interested citizens form the backbone of our constituency. Please consider this an invitation to attend all of the district’s functions and to ask more questions. It’s our hope that we’ve provided sufficient answers to these.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Merger with Galway?

2011-02-11T14:46:00.001-05:00

Question: It seems as though the ground work is being put in place to start preparing BP residents for a merger between Galway and Broadalbin schools.

Answer: During the extra-curricular activities round-table discussions one of the questions about preserving sports had to do with merging programs with nearby schools that have similar needs. One such school could be Galway. This does not mean that the district is proposing a merger of the schools. Such a proposal is not impossible but this discussion was about distributing the cost of sports between two school’s programs rather than eliminating the programs.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Conflict of interest?

2011-02-11T14:44:00.001-05:00

Question: Although expected in a small community, I am concerned that there may be too many ‘Conflicts of Interest’, among members of the BOE and BPCSD Administration.

Answer: Several BOE members have family and friends who work in the district. They were also duly elected to their positions by the taxpayers. It's perfectly acceptable for you to express concerns about their interests. It's also important that every decision made isn't treated as tainted just because of these relationships - somehow the business of the board must be done and these are the volunteers who have been elected to do it. Board of Education positions open each year and anyone can run.

Everyone involved is aware that this concern exists. Both the perception and the reality of such conflicts are topics of conversation during our meetings. Whenever decisions of the Board deal with family those members are required to abstain from voting.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Are pay freezes an option?

2011-02-11T11:25:00.001-05:00

Question: It is a real eye opener that the cost savings from a pay freeze for all school personnel for the 2011/2012 school year would be $860,516.00. If things are so critical right now for BPCSD, why is this option not being placed in front of BP staff and tax payers?

Answer: Employees have been asked to take a pay freeze each of the past few years. Superintendent Tomlinson opted for a pay freeze two of the last three years (2008-2009 and 2010-2011). Mr. Zumbolo received no contractual increase for the year 2008-2009.

This is an obvious option for saving large sums of money and is always on the table as an offer. A formal request for this year has not yet been made to the bargaining units. According to NY law taxpayers are not able to vote for pay freezes.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Roundtable outcomes = community's opinion?

2011-02-11T11:23:00.001-05:00

Question: I find it misleading to refer to the outcomes at any roundtable meeting, as the "community’s opinion."

Answer: The people elected to the BOE and hired into leadership positions at B-P represent “the district” at the roundtables. The taxpayers who accept the invitation to have input into the decision making process by providing their opinions and insights represent "the community." The phrase was not intended to be taken as literally meaning the majority of persons living in the district. It is certainly accurate to say that the majority of persons living in the district have not attended a roundtable discussion. More care will be taken in the future to eliminate this perception.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

What are the exact cost savings for outsourcing transportation and food service?

2011-02-11T11:13:00.002-05:00

Question: Could the exact cost savings numbers (as they relate to outsourcing transportation and food service) please be posted on Plain Talk? Could you please detail our contractual obligations, which do not allow us to outsource food and transportation? If contractual obligations exist it seems as though putting such discussions in front of tax payers is deterring tax payers from addressing the more productive ideas.

Answer: Because you posed several related questions, I thought it wise to address them at once.

Outsourcing of these services is not precluded by the contracts which are in force; however there is a very significant challenge to doing so. The CSEA contract is set to be renegotiated this year, so this is a relevant discussion.

The Taylor Law (http://www.perb.state.ny.us/stat.asp) holds that boards of education are not able to unilaterally outsource business functions which have previously been the exclusive domain of a bargaining unit. This means that the bargaining unit would have to vote in agreement with the outsourcing. This is an unlikely scenario, to be sure.

However, it’s important to note that the round-table discussions are informational in purpose. It is not useless for taxpayers to be made aware of the challenges involved in making changes to the district. We agree that it’s important not to dwell on things that can’t be changed. We regard it as also important to cover areas that people may be curious about – participants walk away knowing more than they knew before.

It’s also worthwhile to note that the next few years may introduce large changes from the state government, including changes to the Taylor Law. If taxpayers are well informed on topics such as these then they can more effectively advocate for changes.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Who on the board reviews district expenditures?

2011-02-11T11:08:00.005-05:00

Question: Who on the BOE, is continuously and frequently reviewing detailed invoices that are being paid from our school district, as a check and balance, to ensure our money is being spent in the most cost-effective manner?

Answer: Each month, members receive a ledger of all the district’s disbursements. Each BOE member sits, on a rotating basis, on the Finance Committee, which meets monthly to review these disbursements in greater detail. The Finance Committee is chaired by the VP of the Board. The business office is audited annually. For the last two years the business office received spotless audits from an external auditor; these are known as unqualified opinions. Copies of these audits are available for review at the district office.

Another audit is conducted each year depending upon the desired area of focus and the amount of time since the last audit of that business function.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Board of Education training

2011-02-11T10:59:00.001-05:00

Question: It is my understanding that BOE members are now required to complete specific instructional courses so they have a thorough understanding of their jobs and responsibilities. Could we please be told how many BOE members have 100 percent completed this required training?

Answer: In New York state, BOE members are required, within their first year of service on the Board, to complete financial training. All but one of the current members completed this training.

You may be pleased to know that members have also attended conferences having to do with board member improvement in the areas of law, employee relations, technology in the classroom, employee performance reviews and their implications, and several others.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

What should discouraged taxpayers do?

2011-02-11T10:55:00.001-05:00

Question: I attended the last Round Table, which discussed athletics at B-P. I was so discouraged as a taxpayer. I am very concerned that if we place another 14 percent tax levy increase in front of our taxpayers that it will not go through and we could be left to go to a Contingency Budget.

Answer: It's quite understandable that one could become discouraged when considering the financial realities we face. There is much to worry about - NY has big problems! The Board shares your frustration and worry. We are attempting through a variety of methods to reach out to taxpayers. We do so in order to keep them informed to the best of our ability, to seek their guidance in what matters most to them, and to seek as many ideas for surviving in this environment as we can get.

Your concern is appreciated and we welcome your ideas and energy. A great place for taxpayers to make a difference is in communication with your elected state representatives. They will make the decisions about the state budget, how much money the school receives, what mandates are in force (these are significant cost drivers), and a host of other areas. The Board encourages all taxpayers to become advocates for important changes in our state.

Here are our representatives:
Assemblyman Marc Butler http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=117
District Office: 33-41 E. Main Street, Johnstown, NY 12095
Phone: 518-762-6486

Senator Hugh T. Farley http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/hugh-t-farley
District Office: 2430 Riverfront Center, Amsterdam, NY 12010
Phone: (518) 843-2188

The governor even has a mandate relief suggestion section on his website: http://www.governor.ny.gov/mandaterelief

Please contact them and tell them we need mandate relief, a change to the way foundation aid is calculated, pension reform, and more. Please read this report for ideas of the kinds of reform we need from the state: http://www.nyssba.org/clientuploads/nyssba_pdf/nyssbapropertytaxcapreport.pdf

Only by being vocal together can the people of this community expect such reforms to happen.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Who determines staff raises?

2011-02-11T10:46:00.006-05:00

Question: I have to say it was shocking to see that our district could save $800,000 if the teachers would agree to a pay freeze! In these tough economic times, when most of the private sector has had to forego raises or even agree to pay cuts, I think it is a legitimate request for the taxpayers to ask the teachers to do their part. That amount of money could fund athletics for several years! Who determines if and when the staff receives raises and how much they receive? Is this something that the district has control over or is it controlled by the state and the unions?

Answer: We must abide by all existing collective bargaining agreements.

Please note that Plain Talk previously said, "If the entire B-P Central School District staff (administrative, support and teaching) all agreed to NO pay increase in the coming 2011-12 school year, the cost savings would be $860,516."
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Comment about Governor Cuomo's Budget Proposal

2011-02-11T10:38:00.000-05:00

In Governor Cuomo's recent speech about the NYS proposed budget, he stated that there will be more cuts in education. This is not good news for any school district. Additionally, he has stated that readjusting top salaries, freezing teacher salaries, using reserves and leftover federal money would help school districts make up for the decreased state aid without the immediate need for layoffs. He has stated that "everyone" needs to make sacrifices. Over the last couple of years, the Broadalbin-Perth community and students have made several sacrifices with increased taxes and reduced programs. Just like NYS, the B-P School District is at a crossroads and as Governor Cuomo said, "we must seize this opportunity, make hard choices." If I remember correctly, school district pay increases (with benefits factored in) was approximately $900,000 in the last school year. We can continue to take more from the children but is that really looking out for the education for our children. We can also tax more but the B-P community has already made these sacrifices. Also, it appears to me, we have already tapped into our reserves and used the federal money. So my question is, "Are the teachers ready to make the sacrifice just as the Governor suggested for their B-P School District and Community?"

Employee salary questions

2011-02-01T11:58:00.000-05:00

Question: What percentages of salary increases do employees typically receive each year and who determines the raise amounts? Are salary increases determined by the administration, BOE or are there state mandates? In a time where so many taxpayers are being asked to forego raises and tighten their budgets, I agree that staff salary freezes are a legitimate request from the community, especially since staff salaries are a matter of public record and many are much higher than the average taxpayer salary.

Answer: The Board of Education negotiates contracts with the district’s four collective bargaining units. None of the salaries are negotiated year to year. Rather, contracts typically cover an average of three years.

There is a state law, called the Triborough Amendment, which guarantees teachers receive at least a “step” in their pay if they are working without a contract. This law does not apply to the other unions in the district.

Since Mr. Tomlinson was hired in January 2008, he has taken a pay freeze during the 2008-09 and 2010-11 school years. The district Business Administrator Marco Zumbolo also took a pay freeze during the 2008-09 school year.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Can staff development be conducted afterschool or on the weekend?

2011-02-01T11:55:00.000-05:00

Question: I have a follow-up question and comment on the Plain Talk question, “What is the purpose of staff development days?” I have been also wondering about these staff development days… what is going on when over 10 substitutes are called into the TLC on one day, for some type of all-day meeting that the teachers are attending? This must cost an extra amount of money for a school day, plus with a substitute the kids are not most likely getting the “best” education day. Can some of these development classes and discussions be conducted after school hours or on weekend?

Answer: No, the times we can require staff to attend staff development and trainings is governed by their contracts, and they must be done during paid hours.

Students are benefitting from these trainings. For example, we recently held training for our new literacy program during the school day. All staff received training in the morning together. In the afternoon, the teachers returned to their classrooms and were observed by the consultants who lead the training.

Trainings in the TLC are typically done by grade level, so the greatest number of teachers that would be involved on a given day would be six.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Why are building lights on at night?

2011-02-01T11:53:00.000-05:00

Question: Many evenings, when driving by both schools, we notice many lights on. Couldn’t we save some money and energy by eliminating the number of lights that are being left on day and night or by utilizing motion sensor lights or energy efficient lighting?

Answer: Several rooms in our buildings do have lights that turn on or off depending whether or not there is movement in the room. These lights do save energy. In addition, the lighting in our Middle School gym is being upgraded as part of the EXCEL capital project, and will be having energy-efficient, motion-sensor lights installed.

Overall, about 90 percent of the building’s lights are off when school is not in session. I believe the lights you are seeing are emergency lighting that is required by the state to be on to ensure safety and security. These lights never go off; however, they are using less energy than lights during the day. I think they appear brighter than they are because they illuminate the dark hill. If our schools were completely dark, it would be a security issue.

You may have also noticed lights on near our parking lots and bus garages. These lights are also on to ensure safety and security. We have security cameras set up to monitor the area and we need to have lights to properly monitor the area through the tape.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

What is the purpose of staff development days?

2011-01-24T14:16:00.000-05:00

Question: What is the exact purpose of “staff development” days? I was told that there is new information, from NYS I assume, that needs to be relayed to the teaching staff. It makes me wonder why school districts spend the money on transportation costs, etc., basically paying for the operational costs for a full day, for a half day of “instruction?” (The quotation marks imply my belief that very little instruction is taking place.) Couldn't all of this information that the staff needs be sent out in an e-mail for personal review? Our kids would get full days of instruction and taxpayer money would be better spent.

Answer: Broadalbin-Perth, like all school districts in New York State, is mandated by the New York State Education Department to provide formal staff development to all instructional staff. Staff development days do not include meetings to provide information to staff that could be disseminated through e-mail. Our instructional staff spends staff development days involved in professional development that includes face-to-face trainings and workshops.

During the 2009-10 school year, the State Education Department granted districts eight shortened school days per year for staff development.

Most recently, staff attended a workshop on educating children on the autism spectrum. Because the district aims to provide the best quality education for every student, it is necessary to hold specific trainings that address the needs of students. The district believes the benefit of trainings is that teachers return to the classroom better-equipped to teach effectively.

Instruction takes place every day that students are in school, even if it is a half day staff development day.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Using the turf to raise money

2011-01-18T09:50:00.001-05:00

Question: Would the district consider hosting non-athletic events on the turf for a profit?

Answer: Absolutely. The district is willing to look outside the box for any opportunity to responsibly earn additional revenue for our schools.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Outsourcing costs, budget documents and salary questions

2011-01-18T09:50:00.000-05:00

Question: Is there a location on the B-P website where taxpayers can see dollar amounts attached to budget ideas being considered for the 2011-12 budget? If not, I would like to request that B-P share on its website some true dollar amounts, costs and savings for budget ideas being considered.

I would like to know the approximate cost savings of outsourcing B-P's food/lunch program and the approximate cost savings of outsourcing our transportation. This cost savings number might potentially include the sale of some buses on the B-P equipment list.

As a taxpayer and employee in the private sector, I, like many taxpayers, have had to accept a pay freeze for several years, and many of us have had to do this in an attempt to sustain our own employment.

With that idea in mind I would like to request information on what the approximate dollar savings would be if the entire B-P staff (administrative, support and teaching) were all to agree to NO pay increase in the coming 2011-12 school year. I believe this is a legitimate item that should be on the table for discussion.

I am hoping the cost savings numbers that I have requested can be shared so I can better understand our situation and I am hoping it will allow us to make informed decisions and help us all decide where to concentrate our efforts. It seems we are discussing combining athletic programs, what I consider a potentially negative impact on our school and students, and we are considering this prior to committing to smaller steps such as outsourcing food and transportation, both of which I believe have less impact on our school and students.

Answer: All public schools in New York are required to make their budget documents available to the public, both online and in school offices at least two weeks prior to the budget vote. At B-P, we strive to make the budget development process as transparent as possible through our community roundtable forums and the information that we put online and in our newsletters.

In regards to outsourcing, please see the minutes from the last community forum [click here]. At this forum, which was held on Dec. 13, community members weighed the pros and cons of outsourcing our food or transportation services. In the end, the community’s opinion was that there is a much bigger picture to outsourcing than first appears. Community members felt that outsourcing could lower district morale, take away our control in some areas and potentially compromise quality. In addition, our current contractual obligations prohibit outsourcing.

Some time ago, after a thorough investigation into the costs of outsourcing, the district committed to operating a transportation department and has even made infrastructure upgrades to the bus garage through a voter-approved capital project. Because of the investment we have made, the district feels it would be somewhat irresponsible to make the decision to outsource transportation at this time.

Outsourcing could also have a potentially negative effect on the entire B-P community given that almost 70 percent of our non-instructional staff members live within the district. If we were to outsource these positions, we would have less control over how the programs operate and whether the affected employees would be rehired to work in the district.

In the end, we feel it is a better decision to accept the loss of a potential small savings that outsourcing may provide to maintain the quality and control of our programs.

If the entire B-P Central School District staff (administrative, support and teaching) all agreed to NO pay increase in the coming 2011-12 school year, the cost savings would be $860,516.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Obtaining grants

2011-01-18T09:49:00.000-05:00

Question: Considering questions 1 and 2 [of the discussion questions from the December Roundtable—see discussion questions by clicking here], is the district moving forward in establishing a key admin person for developing and following through with grant writing and proposals?

Answer: It is the superintendent’s responsibility to work with the Board of Education and district leadership to develop any proposal that might be appropriate to submit to Governor Cuomo’s potential competitive grant program for New York schools.

There is not currently any information that we’re aware of regarding the specifics of this proposal. When guidelines and parameters are made public, they will give the superintendent a clear direction on how to proceed.

If, in fact, Governor Cuomo does put a competitive grant program for schools into effect, I’d consider developing an ad hoc committee that would be made up of community members, Board of Education members, district leadership and staff who would together work through the process.

In addition, we are currently working with the Capital Region BOCES Grants & Development Service to help our schools get more funding through grants. We have met with members of the service to identify grants that might help us expand our program offerings, instructional technology base and invest in energy-saving projects. The service will be presenting grants workshops at faculty meetings later this winter to help staff learn how to identify and apply for grant opportunities.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Use of the ConnectED system

2010-12-03T11:56:00.000-05:00

Question: What is B-P's policy for utilizing the ConnectED phone alert system? This is a powerful tool that can be used to contact a massive number of school district residents in the event of an emergency. I do not believe that the intent of the school board, when it authorized the purchase, was for this system to be used as an advertising vehicle for fundraisers and school events. Over-utilization will tend to "turn off" residents and parents to the urgency of a real emergency situation.

Answer: The ConnectED automated phone system was purchased as part of a Board of Education goal to increase communication without increasing the amount of paper we use. Since we began using the system, we've received a lot of good reviews -- in fact, we've used the system twice when children have gone missing to positive results.

A limited number of people in the school district have access to the ConnectED system, and messages must go through them before they are disseminated to the public. There are some messages that maybe should not have gone out, but we are constantly monitoring the type of messages that are sent to residents in order to optimize the use of the system without abusing it.

That being said, anyone who would like to opt out of receiving ConnectED calls from Broadalbin-Perth can call Georgia Baldwin at 954-2500.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, Superintendent

B-P Fitness Center

2010-12-03T11:46:00.002-05:00

Question: How much money does the community gym (fitness center) take in versus the money it pays out for staff to work there?

Answer: During the 2009-10 school year, the fitness center took in just under $8,000. That same year, it cost the district about $9,500 to keep it open for community use.

The fitness center does not always generate a net loss. The first year it was open, it generated a profit. The fitness center is designed to be a self-sustaining program, but its revenues are dependent on membership.

Each year, Mr. Zumbolo and I look at a cost-benefit analysis of running the fitness center and make adjustments accordingly. For instance, we cut back community hours this year based on member usage.

Click here for more information about the fitness center. If you have specific questions about the operation of the fitness center, call Adam Barnhart, high school assistant principal and district athletics director, at 954-2604.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, Superintendent

Backtracking buses

2010-12-03T11:36:00.000-05:00

Question: I live on McQueen Road. Some days the school bus goes one way on McQueen Road and then comes back after a few minutes. This must be a waste of fuel. I was told that the buses were not to backtrack. So, why do they?

Answer: Bus routes, in general, are very complex. We redesigned them this year to minimize overlapping and backtracking, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. There are several reasons why this bus is backtracking: There may be safety concerns, a student with special needs on that route, etc. If you'd like a specific reason, you should call the transportation office at 954-2570.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, Superintendent

TLC morning program schedule

2010-11-04T16:15:00.001-04:00

Question: Is there a November schedule for morning program yet?

Answer: We apologize for the oversight. The November morning program schedule should be posted to the district website shortly.
- answered by Terry Lafountain, The Learning Community Principal

Electronic message board in front of TLC

2010-11-01T17:47:00.000-04:00

Question: I've noticed that there have been many misspellings on the large sign in front of the elementary school. Is there any way this can be rectified? After all, Broadalbin-Perth is a school and students should learn the importance of spelling words correctly.

Answer: A high school student volunteers his time to maintain the message board in front of The Learning Community. He is given the messages and types them into the system. Although I haven't noticed any misspellings, that doesn't mean there haven't been. And although I agree with you that spelling on this sign is important, I also acknowledge that we all make mistakes -- even adults misspell words.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Idling buses

2010-11-01T17:32:00.000-04:00

Question: I was dropping my children off at the TLC bus loop this morning. It was a beautiful fall day, sunny with little to no wind. There were four buses idling in the bus loop waiting to let the children off the buses. As we have all experienced periodically, the exhaust fumes from the buses was heavy due to the still air. I understand the five-minute idle policy, but the health and well-being of our children is first, and I, like most parents, want the safety of all children to be priority one. Diesel exhaust fumes cause headaches, nausea, cancer and other respiratory diseases. It was a gross display.

Answer: You are correct, Broadalbin-Perth has a five-minute idling policy for our buses, which is consistent with school district policies across the state. When buses pull into the loop, drivers are supposed to turn off their engines if they're going to be sitting there for longer than five minutes. If, on the morning you're describing, the buses were idling for more than five minutes, that's a problem. We recognize the seriousness of fumes and, in the future, will ensure that the district's policy is enforced.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Shared Decision Making, Part 2

2010-11-01T17:23:00.001-04:00

Question: I understand that B-P has Shared Decision Making teams. Can someone tell me more about this, including the purpose, guidelines for becoming part of a team, and the history of Shared Decision Making? I am wondering what similarities and differences there are between Shared Decision Making teams, TLC Task Force, Subcommittee's, Transition Task Force, and a Parent Teacher Organization/PTO? I am interested in learning more.

Answer: For most of your question, I'm going to refer you to the answer I gave to a similar question (click here). As for the last part of your question, about the similarities and differences between Shared Decision Making teams and other groups like the PTO, the biggest difference is that Shared Decision Making teams are state-mandated -- they'll always be around -- while the other groups you mention are initiative-specific. In fact, all of them -- with the exception of the PTO because it's an outside organization -- can be considered sub-committees of the Shared Decision Making teams.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

PTO and Shared Decision Making

2010-11-01T17:13:00.001-04:00

Question: I have heard about Shared Decision Making teams at BP. Can you tell me more about the purpose and why they are formed? I understand both parents and teachers are involved. I don't know what they do or if they are funded through budget or another means. Also, how does Shared Decision Making differ from the purpose of a school Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and how are teachers and parents selected to be part of a Shared Decision Making team? What kinds of decisions are made?

Answer: Shared Decision Making teams became a state mandate in 1994 to ensure that school decisions are made community-wide. According to state education regulations, every school district that receives state funds must have a decision-making structure that includes parents, and Shared Decision Making teams are funded from the district's general budget.

There are a few very clear differences between PTOs and Shared Decision Making teams. In general, I think of Shared Decision Making teams as looking from the school out into the community, and PTOs are looking from the community into the school. Here are more specifics:

A PTO is technically an outside organization separate from the school district.
There is no state mandate that a school has to have a PTO, even though they're wonderful support organizations.
PTOs are parent-driven groups, while Shared Decision Making teams are school-driven. O
One of the main purposes of PTOs is to raise money; Shared Decision Making teams cannot raise money.

As for the selection of Shared Decision Making team members, parents and teachers are solicited based on criteria in the district's formal Shared Decision Making plan. There are two parent members on each of the four Shared Decision Making teams in Broadalbin-Perth. Two of the most important requirements for parent members is that they be able to commit to attend all meetings and that they agree to represent all students from every grade in the school.

Shared Decision Making teams make decisions that have to do with a variety of topics, including enhanced education and co-curricular programs, communications, school climate, and short- and long-term district planning.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Where's the TLC newsletter?

2010-10-12T09:16:00.001-04:00

Question: The TLC newsletter online is from June 2010. Why?

Answer: The Learning Community did not publish a September newsletter because, prior to the start of school, I sent a five-page letter to all parents that contained the relevant information they would need for the beginning of the school year. The October newsletter is now available on the district website.
- answered by Terry LaFountain, The Learning Community Principal

"New" money for schools

2010-09-17T15:16:00.000-04:00

Question: Now that B-P has received "new" money, how will that impact the school taxes? How can the B-P school business administrator also be the purchasing agent for the Amsterdam School District?

Answer: The short answer to your first question is, it won't affect school taxes. The "new" money you're referring to comes from two sources: the Federal Education Jobs Act, and Race to the Top (RTTT). Although complete guidelines for the funds haven't been released, both sets of money come with "strings." Broadalbin-Perth will be receiving $750,000 from the Federal Education Jobs Act, and that money has to be used by the end of the 2011-12 school year to "create or maintain jobs." B-P will receive approximately $65,000 from RTTT, which should be just enough to cover whatever mandates end up being attached to that money. So, according to the government guidelines that come with the money, neither set of funds can be used for school tax relief.

As for your question about Amsterdam's purchasing agent, that's my dad. His first name is also Marco, so I can understand your confusion.
- answered by Marco Zumbolo, School Business Administrator

Concerns about cold-weather busing

2010-09-17T13:51:00.002-04:00

Question: I think its wonderful that the school is trying hard to stretch a dollar, but I have concerns about the new bus policy for in-town kids. What happens in bitterly cold winter weather when the children are left standing a half a block away from their homes waiting on the bus to pick them up? There are no shelters in place and in previous years I would allow my little ones (primary school age) to sit in the house while I watched for the bus. On some days buses can run upwards of 20-30 minutes late. I feel that this amount of time is way too long for kids to be left unprotected in the harsh winter elements. Being an easy-going person I am rolling with the change, but am also concerned about the increased personal vehicle traffic to the schools on bitter cold days -- after speaking with my neighbors, we all decided we would rather take our children to school on those days than allow them to sit outside when conditions aren't suitable.
What plans does the school have to remedy the situation?

Answer: I understand your dilemma. However, the Board of Education felt that its decision to eliminate door-to-door pick-up in the village was a healthy compromise between raising taxes and eliminating all pick-up within two miles of the district -- they were being responsive to district taxpayers.

Obviously, Broadalbin-Perth can't control the weather. We can't even control when or how well the sidewalks in the village are cleared of snow. We can only control the bus schedule -- and we apologize for the delay in finalizing that. Until a bus picks up your child, you are responsible for your child. If you feel that it is in your family's best interest for you to drive your child to school on cold, snowy days, that's your decision. However, the district encourages parents within a neighborhood to work together to come up with a solution that meets their families' needs.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Where's the bus schedule?

2010-09-17T13:36:00.000-04:00

Question: Here it is one day before school starts and no one knows what time to have the kids out for the bus.

Answer: We sincerely apologize for the delay in publishing the 2010-11 bus routes. Typically, the routes change very little from year to year. That was the case this year, except for routes in the Village of Broadalbin, where door-to-door pick-up was eliminated and bus stops established.

Be sure to check the transportation page on the district website frequently since, as students enter or leave the district, bus routes might change.
- answered by Marco Zumbolo, School Business Administrator

Enrollment figures

2010-09-17T13:17:00.002-04:00

Question: I would like to know what the total student enrollment was for the 2009 school year.

Answer: During the 2009-10 school year, Broadalbin-Perth enrolled 1,949 students: 458 at The Learning Community (grades preK-2), 403 at the intermediate school (grades 3-5), 440 at the middle school (grades 6-8) and 648 at the high school (grades 9-12).
- answered by Lynn Bond, District Registrar

Charging for school lunches

2010-09-02T15:04:00.002-04:00

Question: I went to the freshman orientation today and was curious why the school board would adopt a policy saying there will be no charged lunches for students. So, what are they supposed to do if a child forgets his or her money/lunch or the parents forget to send money? Do you make them starve? I know at the middle school it came in handy twice to be able to charge when my child forget their money and I could not drive from Albany to bring it to them. I think it is wrong you do not allow them to charge for an emergency.

Answer: First, this is NOT a Board of Education policy. However, the board has encouraged me to collect outstanding charges through small claims court, if necessary, as a result of abuse of the system. In the past, the district has ended up with around $5,000 of unpaid charges each year.

That being said, at the elementary level, a student will never go without a lunch. They won't get a hot lunch: Children who forget their lunch or money from home will be served a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, milk and fruit, which meets the nutritional requirements for New York State. Their account will still be charged, but no student will be turned away no matter how many charges they've made.

At the secondary level, students who have more than $5 in charges on their account will not be allowed to make additional charges until their account is paid. They will not be offered even a cold lunch.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

School supplies

2010-09-02T12:39:00.001-04:00

Question: The school year is about here. I just have to know why, with school taxes so high, do you send letters home telling us that we have to send supplies for the school to use in the classroom?

Answer: We've always asked students to provide supplies on a classroom supply list, even in good times. Over the past three years, however, we have made significant budget cuts, including eliminating nearly all funding for classroom supplies. Under a contingent budget, which the district operated under three years ago, the school is actually legally prohibited from purchasing any supplies for students' use. After eliminating funding for student classroom supplies three years ago, we haven't reinstated that funding.

Why then, you might ask, do the district's spending and school property taxes continue to go up? Our spending is tied to our contractual obligations, and the cost of salaries, benefits, energy and other key district costs continue to rise. School property taxes are increasing faster than our district's spending primarily because of decreasing revenue -- specifically losing nearly $2 million in state aid last year.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Bus routes for 2010-11 school year

2010-09-02T12:17:00.000-04:00

Question: I was wondering when the new bus routes for the 2010-11 school year would be posted. The 09-10 bus routes are still up on the website.

Answer: We'll have them posted as soon as we can. We're making a lot of changes, so it's taking longer to finalize the routes than it has in previous years. As soon as the routes are finalized, they'll be sent to the district webmaster for placement on the website. Sorry for the delay - we appreciate your patience!
- answered by Marco Zumbolo, School Business Administrator

School district boundaries

2010-08-30T11:24:00.001-04:00

Question: Seeing the tax rates per town table in one of the other questions leads me to ask - how are school district lines determined? How is it that towns that have their own schools are part of our district? How is it that parts of Broadalbin and Perth don't belong to the B-P district?

Answer: According to New York State Education Law (Article 37, Section 1801: Formation and Changes of Central School Districts), "The commissioner of education is hereby authorized and empowered to lay out central school districts for the establishment of central schools to give instruction in elementary or elementary and high school subjects and to fix, determine and define the boundaries of said districts as hereinafter provided."

That being said, the boundaries of the former Broadalbin and Perth central schools were created long before my time. When the two districts merged, their boundaries were also merged. Today, the boundary we work with is based on the taxable parcels in the district tax rolls.

School district boundaries have a lot to do with the proximity of a property to area schools. For instance, you could live in the Town of Amsterdam but still live a long way away from Amsterdam schools; however, you might be very close to B-P schools. This might also explain why some parcels in the Town of Broadalbin are part of the Mayfield Central School District and some parcels in the Town of Perth are part of the Greater Amsterdam School District -- and why Broadalbin-Perth's district boundary includes part of nine different towns. The map below from the New York State Interactive Mapping Gateway might help you visualize this (click on the image to enlarge; click here to customize your view):

There are a few places along the boundary of the B-P district where things get a bit complicated. For instance, along Log City Road in the Town of Amsterdam there are several places where neighboring parcels are in different school districts.

Boundaries between school districts can be changed. For instance, a family living on Log City Road whose property is part of the Greater Amsterdam School District can formally petition the Amsterdam Board of Education to let Broadalbin-Perth annex their property. However, this rarely happens since school districts are understandably reluctant to part with existing taxable parcels.
- answered by Marco Zumbolo, School Business Administrator

2010-11 School tax rates

2010-08-27T09:38:00.002-04:00

Question: I have not seen the 2010-11 tax rate published or covered by the local media. Has the district set this yet? If so, what is the rate?

Answer: Members of the Board of Education accepted a 14.32% tax levy increase during their August meeting. Because of changes to assessments and equalization rates, the true value of taxable parcels in the district dropped by more than 3.6%. Therefore, the true-value tax rate district-wide increased 18.63%. The table below breaks that down by town (click on table to enlarge it):

As always, if you have any questions about your individual tax bill, feel free to call 954-2500 to make an appointment or stop by my office (20 Pine Street) and I would be happy to go over it with you.
- answered by Marco Zumbolo, School Business Administrator

Free and reduced-price school lunch

2010-08-27T09:29:00.000-04:00

Question: Just wondering why "reduced lunches" never seem to increase in price, but yet the normal lunch cost for students increases every year by at least 10 cents? What exactly is the purpose for reduced lunches anyhow? I would imagine that most, if not all, eligible for reduced (or free?!) lunches qualify for food stamps - so why not force the parents to take the time to prepare their children's lunches at least several times per week? I would like to see "reduced lunches" minimized to a certain number of eligible lunches during the school year, perhaps 50-60 total lunches. Maybe the cost of lunches for those that pay full price could be reduced if there weren't so many getting it reduced on a daily basis. Seems that those who work hard for their money never catch a break, whereas those that get help are always getting something for free!

Answer: The first thing you should know is that the free and reduced-price school meals program is a federal program, so a lot of the ideas you have regarding change can't be addressed by the district under the current legislation.

For the 2010-11 school year, the cost of our regular lunch is $2 in the elementary schools and $2.35 in the middle and high school. When we increase the prices of our school meals, it's because the cost of food went up.

Our program, like most school lunch programs, runs in the red, even though the program is subsidized by state and federal funds. The school district actually gets a higher state and federal reimbursement on meals served to students who are part of the free and reduced-price school lunch program than on those who pay full price, which is why the district conducts a drive every year to enroll eligible families. Here's how the reimbursements break down:

For every free lunch served, B-P gets a total reimbursement of $2.78.
For every reduced-price lunch served, B-P is reimbursed $2.52; add on the 25 cents that the student pays, and B-P's total reimbursement is $2.77.
For every full-price lunch served, B-P is reimbursed 32 cents; add on the $2.35 that high school students pay, and B-P's total reimbursement is $2.67. The total reimbursement for each full-price lunch served in the elementary schools is $2.32.

The federal and state reimbursements are based on data from the Consumer Price Index that reflect the typical cost to a school district to serve a lunch.

Federal law mandates that school districts charge no more than 40 cents for a reduced-price lunch. Broadalbin-Perth charges 25 cents so that the total reimbursement for a reduced-price lunch comes out about the same as a free lunch ($2.77 versus $2.78).

So, as you can see, it actually benefits the school district to find all families who are eligible for the free and reduced-price school meals program and get them signed up.
- answered by Marco Zumbolo, School Business Administrator

Second public comment session at board meetings

2010-08-26T16:27:00.001-04:00

Question: How is a parent/taxpayer/citizen to ask questions and/or make comments to the Board when the only part of the agenda that allows for public comments occurs prior to the Board actually discussing any issues?

Answer: You're correct - a second public comment session at the end of the regular board meeting would be helpful. From now on, we'll include a public comment session before the regular meeting and at the end of the regular meeting, before the board goes into executive session.
- answered by Georgia Baldwin, District Clerk

Universal Pre-K

2010-08-17T14:10:00.000-04:00

Question: I'm interested in our pre-kindergarten program. How is our pre-K program funded? Do we, as taxpayers, fund it or does the state pay for it? Thank you in advance for helping me understand how it is funded.

Answer: Universal Pre-K (UPK) is a federal program. Schools receive their federal UPK grant money as part of their state aid; however, schools are accountable to the federal government for the use and reporting of those funds.

For the 2010-11 school year, Broadalbin-Perth’s UPK grant totals $166,764. This money covers approximately 87 percent of B-P’s UPK expenses. In past years, this percentage was higher; however, funding for UPK is frozen at 2009-10 levels. The UPK grant covers the cost of teacher and teacher assistant salaries and some benefits, as well as program supplies and equipment.
- answered by Marco Zumbolo, School Business Administrator

Fitness Center information

2010-07-12T14:17:00.000-04:00

Question: Why isn't there information about the fitness center on your website? The cost, hours, days open would be helpful.

Answer: Information about the fitness center, which is located in Broadalbin-Perth High School, can be found on the district website, http://www.bpcsd.org/, under the Athletics menu -- "Fitness Center Information." Click here to access the page.
- answered by David Samek, district webmaster