“In the arena of human life the honours and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities.” - Aristotle

Att. a

                    Att. b

 
 
On April 5, our Board of Education held its annual meeting where we heard from your students who attend the two career tech centers, received a status report on the BOCES strategic plan, heard from or about three individuals running for seats on the Board and received information on the proposed administration and program budgets for 2004-05. You will have an opportunity to vote on Part I of the administration budget and candidates for the Board on April 28^th.
 
As you know we are required to conduct an annual meeting. Unfortunately, though it was very informative, it was sparsely attended. So in an effort to share this timely annual meeting information with all of you, we are using the broadcast mail system set up by the Board to increase two-way communication with you. The following is a synopsis of budget information shared at our meeting.
 
All of us continue to have challenges in varying degrees with our budgets. While the Governor’s budget provides no increase in operating aid and cuts in the other categories, the Legislature has asserted its commitment to restore BOCES, excess cost, and transportation aids. Also, based on recent estimates that there will be $3 billion more in state revenues than the Governor projected, and per the CFE court decision, they intend to provide additional aid to lower wealth districts. This is certainly encouraging.
 
Cost-effectiveness has been a priority for us at W-FL BOCES for a number of years and we have put great effort into significantly reducing discretionary line item expenditures to achieve that state. Also, in 2002-03 we instituted a mid-year freeze, except for essentials. This current year, 2003-04, all of our major program and admin operating budgets were cut below the level of last year by $2.4 million, or 5.5%. Those cuts included 38 positions, among them an assistant to the district superintendent, just to set prices and tuition rates. When requests for services were received, we cut an additional 71 employees (109 is 10% of the workforce).
 
Like your districts, our fixed costs have risen dramatically and that is reflected in our 2004-05 budgets. Like you we have unique challenges which I wanted to share with you. Those challenges are the significant decline in career/tech and special education enrollments. Due to economies of scale, the loss in tuition revenue doesn’t allow for an equal amount of budget reduction thus inflating tuition for the fewer students attending. BOCES are not allowed to have reserve funds and annually all unused revenues must be returned to the districts as surplus. However, to date across all budgets for next year we are eliminating another $646,000 in costs and eleven more positions. Also, next year will be the start up of payments on construction of a new special education center.
 
Administration – The portion (Part 1) of the 2004-05 administration budget (operating budget), on which you will vote, is up 2.89%, even with the additional cuts we’ve made. From 2000-01 through 2004-05 this budget will have risen a total of 2.73% over 5 years. The 2003-04 budget is down by 1.7%. The average annual increase has been .67% through 2003-04, while the average annual administrative increase for districts in the region was 4.28% over the same period. In 1999-2000 we charged $7 per student below the BOCES statewide average. By 2002-03 the difference had grown to $18, and the gap will widen more when 2003-04 statewide data is available. The above is evidence of our effort at being very cost-conscious.
 
This will be the first year we make payments on the construction of a new, voter-approved, secondary special ed center in Williamson that will replace space from a ten year old expiring lease and rental costs with Wayne Central. Payments reflect today’s construction costs. Consequently, there is a significant spike in the capital/rental portion (Part II) of the budget. At the beginning of the planning process, we thought we would have to house students in modular classrooms while the capital project was being completed. However, by compressing space for secondary students at the Wayne Technical and Career Center and entering into a three-year lease with the Newark School District for elementary classrooms, we have saved the local districts $1.2 million just in the first year alone by eliminating the use of temporary modular classrooms.
 
Career/Technical Education – The overall enrollment is down this year by 113 students. Staffing and specific program cuts, where appropriate, have been made again this year to address the decreases and $159,000, including 3.5 additional positions, were cut as well. The only positions left to cut are academic support positions and the CSO committee for this program advised us not to cut them after all. Because they exist, 131 regular ed students this year will be able to obtain the required graduation credits while at the centers and special needs students are able to attend the centers. Elimination of specific career/tech programs and further budget cuts could yet occur after we look at enrollment projections from the districts’ May request for services. ST-TEP and ACE/GED programs also have experienced significant reductions in enrollment since last year (75 and 100 respectively). Significant revenues from these programs have supported the regular technical/career budget because the Centers house and support these programs. The $330,000 lost because of fewer tuitions has had to be absorbed by the regular tech/career budget. If it hadn’t occurred, the budget would be up only 2.89% rather than 8.49%; that’s a big difference. Unfortunately this created a tuition increase of 9.8%. The planned tuition rate of $6,857, based on 10 fewer students next year, was supported by 16 of 17 CSOs present, but we were advised not to increase it beyond that. Also, the 113-student difference between enrollment requests last May and the actual number of students who appeared at tech center doors in September, necessitated further budget cuts coupled with an increase in tuition in order to offset lost revenue. The 2004-05 tuition increase is the first one budgeted since 2000-01.
 
Special Education and Alternative Education - The budget is up 3.4% even after cutting $271,000 including 7.65 additional positions. Districts sent 74 fewer special ed students this year representing a loss in revenue of $1.9 million. Here again, the CSO program committee advised us not to cut positions further because they would be additional work-study and classroom instructional support positions basic to the program. Here as well tuition rate is based on current enrollment in each of the special ed programs. The loss of students and tuition revenue in a program doesn’t necessarily equate to dollar for dollar   reductions in program costs. It depends on where the enrollment loss occurs as to whether further classes and support positions can be cut after the request for services are in. Consequently and unfortunately, tuition increase for our largest program, severely emotionally disabled, is 9.9%. However, the tuition rates charged by this BOCES are very comparable to the regional average of non-resident tuition rates, as determined by SED through a formula, districts can charge each other for educating a non-resident special ed student. The alternative education budget is up only .98% after two staff and other cuts were made. The tuition increase is 3%.
 
Instruction and Staff Development -This budget is up 1.7%. One position was eliminated during the past year. The core charge is increased from $5498 to $5663. RWADA charge increased for $1.40 to $1.44 per student. There is no increase in per workshop cost.
 

EduTech - This budget is up 2.3% after cuts of $182,000. There are no personnel cuts, but 22 positions have been eliminated over the last two budgets.

 
As you can tell, this is the second year for major BOCES cuts. It’s so difficult, as you know, to do this and maintain a minimal measure of quality at the same time. Dr. Marinelli and his staff have relied on our superintendents’ committees for advice.    We are a service agency and you are our customers. These are your programs and we serve your students. Therefore, knowing the customers’ requirements has been essential.
 
I have attached the PowerPoint presentation Dr. Marinelli presented at the annual meeting about the budgets. Also it reviews information about the progress on our Strategic Plan and the contribution we believe we are making in assisting districts to meet high standards for all students. Additional budget information is in the BOCES Annual Meeting booklet. If you have any additional questions please let us know.
 
 

 Att. c

APRIL 12, 2004
 
ONTARIO TOWN BOARD MEETING
 

 
Sole Assessor – A motion was made by Mr. Brewer, seconded by Mr. Fillmore, to accept the March 2004 report as presented. 3 Ayes 0 Nays 2 Absent (Camp, Shears) MOTION CARRIED

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING GRANT APPLICATION

ACCEPTANCE OF DEED
 

Resolution Authorizing the Engagement of Counsel
For the Assessment of the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant