Budget Area 3: Operations & Maintenance

During the final Community Roundtable, which took place on Monday, March 8, participants discussed each area of the school budget and made recommendations to the Board of Education regarding which programs and services could be cut and which should be maintained. In order to keep the conversation going, we invite readers to post their thoughts on the following question that was presented to participants at the Community Roundtable. (Click here to read a PDF document that outlines the steps taken so far in the budget development process.)

During the third Community Roundtable in December, participants discussed topics related to operations and maintenance. Some of the participants’ most common comments and recommendations were:

• Our facilities are well maintained, but our buildings and grounds staff is stretched too thin. Far from considering cuts in this area, the board should consider adding staff.
• Paying for maintenance now is cheaper than paying for repairs later.
• The district should continue to keep school doors open after hours; it’s worth any extra cost.
• Buildings and grounds staff should use “green” products as long as they are safe, effective, and cost-efficient.
• The school district has a responsibility to proactively address public health concerns (e.g., MRSA, H1N1 “swine” flu).

Operations & Maintenance Roundtable: Community Use of Facilities

The Community Roundtable on operations and maintenance that was held on Monday, Dec. 14, included lively discussion on a variety of topics. In order to keep the conversation going, we invite readers to post their thoughts on each question that was presented to participants at the Community Roundtable. Click here to read notes on what was discussed at the Community Roundtable.

In the past, Broadalbin-Perth schools have been available to a variety of community organizations for them to use for regular meetings and special events. Traditionally, the Board of Education has not charged community organizations for most events that are held at the school.

Buildings open after hours

Question: I called the middle school last week about picking up my child's assignments and was informed, "You can come in and get it until 7 or 8 p.m." This implies that the doors are open and anyone can gain access. Is there any concern for safety and security by allowing just anyone to enter the school after hours? We have strict rules while the students are on campus, however after hours there appears to be free, unchecked access for everyone, including someone who may have malicious intent.

Answer: It's been a long-standing tradition of our Board of Education to keep our school buildings open after the traditional school day ends. Our school buildings serve as community gathering places -- several organizations use our facilities to hold meetings, and many residents walk our halls during the winter months as part of their fitness routines. It's not fair to our taxpayers for us to close our doors when the students go home.

That being said, we are aware of the security risks of keeping our doors open after hours. Over the past five years, we have greatly increased our security measures and added video surveillance. These measures have helped us catch and prosecute people who do harm to our buildings.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent