Volume: 31
Issue: 08
May 2015
For photos and more information, please visit our website at www.fortplain.org
2015-2016 Budget News: On May 19th, qualified residents of the Fort Plain CSD will go to the polls to vote on a proposed 2015-2016 budget which contains a ZERO percent
tax levy increase. All current academic programs will be maintained, including the third grade learn-to-swim program and full day PreK. The proposed budget also adds more elementary
art instruction, expands the Family Peer Advocate, and brings in a part-time AgriBusiness teacher to instruct the new HFM BOCES program which will be located at the Fort Plain Jr/Sr
High School. To accomplish these program enhancements, the proposed budget calls for the use of $950,000 from district savings and allows for a small increase in state education aid,
due in part to the changes in the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GAP). Superintendent Burton recently reviewed the proposed 2015-2016 budget at the public budget hearing held on May
6th. “The Board of Education crafted the proposed budget with a goal of improving programs in a fiscally responsible manner” he said. “We have been fortunate to be able to maintain
and increase our academic programs into next year” with a zero percent tax levy increase for the taxpayers.
Notice of Budget Vote and Election: Voters will respond to two propositions and two school board vacancies when the district budget vote and election is held on Tuesday, May 19th.
Voting will take place at the Harry Hoag Elementary School, from 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Proposition #1 is to adopt the annual budget of the school district for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.
Proposition #2 asks for authorization to aquire two school vehicles, at a cost not to exceed $160,000. The funds for the vehicle purchases will come from the previously approved Bus
Purchase Reserve Fund and the purchases will have no effect on the tax levy. Voters will be asked to elect two (2) members to the Board of Education, to fill three (3) year terms. Candidates are incumbents Jami L. Stevens and Mary Beth Hudyncia. A qualified voter is one who is a citizen of the United States of America, eighteen (18) years of age or older, and a resident
of the school district for at least thirty (30) days immediately preceding the annual election.
Merger Discussion Halted: During its April 15th meeting, the Board of Education agreed to continue to pursue shared services with neighboring school districts (see article below) and
perhaps enter into a merger study sometime in the future, but not at this time. Therefore, the Board decided to commence a search for a new district superintendent, who will assume the
duties of the district on or about July 1, 2015. The new superintendent will replace Douglas Burton, who will retire on June 30th, after 14 years of service.
Final State Budget Approved: The Fort Plain CSD expects to receive an estimated $225,217 in state funding, as part of the final state budget approved by the State Legislature. To
receive the aid, legislators approving the budget are requiring that the district retool its teacher evaluation plan - known as the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) - under
a new set of still undetermined rules. The district’s plan must be approved by the State Education Department by November 15, 2015. The state aid amount include a $2,728 restoration of the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA). This represents a partial restoration of the amount that has been deducted annually from the district’s promised state aid since 2010. The
GEA has been used as a way to help the state balance the budget. Statewide, nearly $10 billion in school aid has been removed from districts since the GEA was introduced. “I’m glad
to see that our district will benefit from an increase in state aid, but I’m disappointed to see that the GEA still remains,” said Superintendent Burton. Legislators have agreed to end the
GEA permanently in 2016-2017.
Congratulations Students of the Month: The following Jr/Sr High School students were honored as the April Students of the Month: Kayla Alaimo, Michael D’Arcangelis, Michael Hoffman, Isiah Cechnicki, McKay Nare, and Johnathan Cleary.
Students and Seniors Spend Time Together: The Jr/Sr High School students in Mrs. Petty’s Life Skills classroom have been visting the Fort Plain Senior Center once a month, playing bingo with the members there. Senior Center director Maggie Ahrens reports that the seniors look forward to the visit all month! To expand on this interaction, Mrs. Petty decided to
invite the senior citizens to the school to share a home-cooked meal. On May 4th, the first Life Skills Luncheon was held! While preparing for the event, the students learned the math of
measurement, how to maintain a safe and clean kitchen, the importance of making healthy choices, and how to both serve & clean-up after a large gathering. The menu for the luncheon
featured homemade lasagna. The sauce was made from scratch, with tomatoes canned last fall in the Life Skills room, after they were harvested from the students’ school garden. The
first-ever luncheon was a big success, with students and seniors alike enjoying the time spent in each others’ company.
Shared Services - What Are They? Shared services are a way to help school districts meet the multiple educational, health, social, and service needs of children in a collaborative way.
For several years, the Boards of Education for the Fort Plain and Canajoharie school districts have encouraged coordinated service and program delivery through inter-school agreements, shared funding, and policies that encourage shared services. Working through BOCES and NERIC, the two districts currently share a number of key support personnel, including:
a Remote Technology Coordinator, Special Education Director, and Food Service Manager. Students benefit directly from shared Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy. For the past four
years, the Wellness Committees have jointly hosted the Community Health & Wellness Fair, which is offered as a free service to the community. Fort Plain sends third grade students to
the Nellis Pool for the learn-to-swim program. HFM BOCES will be offering a brand new AgriBusiness program this fall, located at the Fort Plain High School and open to both Fort Plain
and Canajoharie students. Sports and co-curricular clubs benefit greatly from combining the two student populations into one large talent pool. Current joint teams include swim, cross
country running, and wrestling. The community also supports the concept with joint AYSO and joint Youth Football. The Drama Club was a leader in shared programming, having operated
as a joint club for over twenty years. On the internal structure front, the districts continue to equalize some of the software and data delivery services that help districts to run smoothly.
Both schools currently use the same technology for student meal accounting, special education, and school bus routing. The districts will continue to looking at other areas to equalize,
including student management systems and other software and hardware needs. With common goals of presenting students with the broadest education possible, at a reasonable price
for the community, the two districts will continue to look at ways to both save money and increase programming by avoiding overlap and working together.
Class of 2018: Roast Beef Dinner
Elks Lodge in Fort Plain - Tuesday May 19th
4:00-8:00 p.m. Eat In or Take Out
Adults $10.00 Kids 5-12 $5.00 Kids under 5 eat free
There will also be a basket raffle
Come out and vote on the school budget and
then come down to get something good to eat!
Kindergarten Registration Time
Children must turn 5 years old on or before
December 1, 2015 to be eligible
To prepare for upcoming screening, please
contact the Harry Hoag School Office with
information about your child
993-4000
**space left to fill -- will do PTECH article if nothing else is offered up by Wednesday night***
SCHOOL BUDGET VOTE & BOARD of EDUCATION ELECTION
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Harry Hoag School: 25 High St, Fort Plain, NY