November 21, 2008
"Fortune befriends the bold." --John Dryden, English poet, literary critic and playwright
Board Letter
| 1. Windmill Update: We met with Kevin Schultz of Sustainable Energy Development (SED) this week. He will be getting his proposal for the study to us next week. His company has installed a number of windmills through out the northeast and appears very capable. I had met Kevin once before about three years ago through our Board President. The study will take 6 months. Development of the architectural plan including all permitting will take another six months. The actual construction will take two months. His company would oversee all aspects of the project through start up and operation.
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| If we did not want to own the windmill, he has capital investors who would own the windmill and sell the electricity back to us at a discount. The advantage of this set up is that there is no capital risk to us. The disadvantage is that we do not see as great a return on the windmill and still are not in control of our own energy.
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| At last night’s three Board meeting, the Town of Ontario expressed interest in working with us on the project. They would use the electricity for their town hall and fire department. There are some municipal cooperation grants out there that might help offset some costs. Speaking of costs, the study is more than I anticipated. SED estimates the cost to be $60,000, while it can be run through the project and generate 76% aid, it is still three times what we estimated. There are some NYSERDA grants that we could apply for. The problem with them appears to be that because of when those are decided, it could delay the project 6-8 months. We are exploring that avenue.
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| Last night on the news, they showed the new hydrogen fuel cell car being built in Honeoye Falls for GM. They expect to have it in the showrooms by 2015. The program said the hydrogen would be produced via cheap electricity from such things as windmills. Who knows, we may be using the excess electricity produced at night to refuel our buses.
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| Month County Sales Tax: The repayment plan is now set for the sales tax. Yesterday our attorney submitted to the county the vouchers for reimbursement to each school district. This will include all costs and legal fees we paid in the lawsuit. The county says it takes 30 days to process payments so we should get ours around Christmas. Maggie Brooks wasted a lot of tax payer money with this. |
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| CSEA Monthly Meeting: We had our November CSEA leadership meeting yesterday. It was a good session. We have developed a trusting relationship with each other (at least at the leadership level). One of the items we discussed was rolling our current contract forward for two additional years instead of going through negotiations again. The CSEA contract ends June 30th 2010. We would need to begin negotiation in about a year. Rolling the contract forward would give us a contract through June 30th 2012. I like the idea for several reasons which I have listed below, but I would like to know your thoughts. |
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It allows us to plan our CSEA budget for the next three years
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It avoids a cantankerous negotiation process through difficult economic times which in the end will probably have the same results.
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CSEA helped us during our lasy negotiation process by being the first to agree to reduce their insurance program to a Blue Point II $20 co-pay with a 10% contribution. I don’t think they should have to lead the way again. This would put the teachers next.
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The salary increases are 65 cents or 3.5%. The 3.5% is lower than either the teacher or administrative unions which are at 4.25% and 4%. For some, the 65 cents would be more than 4% but only for our lowest paid workers.
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These are the thoughts of Greg, Mark and I, however it is your thoughts that count. Please email me with your opinions on whether I should continue to explore this with CSEA.
| 4. Budget Work: We have been busily working on our budget. Although this is very early to begin this, these are different times. Administrators are analyzing program to find ways to maintain as much of them as possible though sometimes in different ways. While we prefer not to make any cuts, the financial reality of the next 2-3 years is going to force some difficult decisions.
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| Often during these times, Board members can feel pressured by one group or another to preserve their favorite program. We have to be very careful not to make any promises that we can not keep. I suggest we listen with concern to what they are saying and keep that knowledge as we go through the process. Also, understand that this probably will be 2-3 years of a downturn so we want to be careful not to cut too much the first year.
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| We will bring our initial thoughts to the executive session of the December meeting.
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| 5. Wayne County Budget: The County 2009 Tentative Budget got adopted this morning. It is $160,512,259 as compared with $165,545,736 for 2008. This is a $5,033,477 decrease or 3% from last year. This results in $35,066,207 distributed over a County assessed value of $4,413,875,894. The 2009 tax rate will be $7.94 down $.50 from last year or about a 5.9% reduction.
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11/21-23 – NAC Musical Ragtime @ PAC – 7:00 & 2:00 (Sunday)
11/26-28 – Schools closed – Thanksgiving Recess
12/2 – National Honor Society Induction Ceremony @ PAC – 7:00 p.m.
12/8 – TCA Friends of Music Meeting @ MS Conference Room – 7:00 p.m.
12/9 – FE Band & Chorus Concert @ PAC – 7:00 p.m.
12/10 – MS Chorus Concert @ PAC – 7:00 p.m.
12/11 – Board of Education Meeting @ DO – 7:00 p.m.
12/15 – HS Band & Chorus Concert @ PAC – 7:00 p.m.
12/16 – OE Band & Chorus Concert @ PAC – 7:00 p.m.
12/17 – MS Band & Chorus Concert @ PAC – 7:00 p.m.
Athletic Events:
11/25 – Co-Ed V Bowling vs. Mynderse – 4:15 p.m.
11/26 – Girls V & JV BB vs. Victor – 10:00 a.m.
11/28 & 29 – Wayne Tip Off Tournament:
11/28 – Boys JV Basketball game vs. Mynderse – 3:30 p.m.
11/28 – Boys V Basketball game vs. Mynderse – 6:30 p.m.
11/29 – Boys V Basketball game (Consolation game) – 5:00 p.m.
11/29 – Boys V Basketball game (Championship game) – 6:30 p.m.
12/3 – Co-Ed Bowling vs. Canandaigua – 4:15 p.m.
12/4 – Boys JV & V Wrestling vs. Midlakes – 6:00 & 7:00 p.m.
7. Attachments:
A)
Wayne High School Student Newspaper
B)
Wayne’s World – WTA Newsletter
C)
Policy Committee Meeting Minutes – 11/18
Att. C)
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POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES
DATE: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 TIME: 4:00 p.m. PLACE: District Office
COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Mrs. Newman, Mr. Paz, Mr. Havens, Mr. Switzer
PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
None
NEW BUSINESS:
(1) Committee Charge – 2008-2009: Mrs. Newman presented the proposed committee charge For 2008-2009. Following discussion, the proposal was accepted for recommendation to the Board of Education agenda for consideration at the December 11th meeting.
(2) Schedule of Annual Review – 50% Existing Policy Handbook – 2008-2009: Mrs. Newman noted the policy manual sections due for review this school year as noted below. Following discussion, the sections were scheduled & assigned to committee members as follows:
Section 5000 (Non-Instructional/Business Operations) – Mr. Atseff (December 16th)
Section 6000 (Personnel) – Mrs. Newman (January 13th)
Section 7000 (Students) – Mr. Paz (February 3rd)
Section 8000 (Instruction) – Mr. Havens (March 3rd)
(3) Schedule for Required Annual Review of Existing Policies: Mrs. Newman noted the policy manual sections that require annual review as noted below. Following discussion, it was decided to include review of policies in §§ 5000 thru 8000 in the schedule noted in #2, above. Those items not included in those four sections were scheduled & assigned as follows:
1410 Annual Review of Policy Handbook – Mr. Triou (December 16th)
3410 Code of Public Conduct on School Property (Policy and Regulations) – (Mr. Triou – December 16th)
5220 District Investments
5511 Audit Committee – Charter
7111 Attendance Regulations –Grades K -5
7112 Attendance Regulations –Grades 6-8
7113 Attendance Regulations –Grades 9-12
7300 thru 7314 Code of Student Conduct & Athletic Eligibility
7580 Wellness & Nutrition
(4) Schedule for Required Annual Review of Existing Regulations & Exhibits: Mrs. Newman noted the regulations that require annual review as noted below. Following discussion, it was decided to include review of regulations in §§ 5000 thru 8000 in the schedule noted in #2, above. Those items not included in those four sections were scheduled & assigned as follows:
3410 Public Conduct on School Property - Mr. Triou - (January 13th)
3420 Sexual Harassment & Discrimination – Mr. Triou - (January 13th)
5220 Investment of School District Funds
5400 Procedures for Purchasing of Goods & Services
5402 Purchasing Process
5420 Guidelines for Purchase of Non-Bid Items
8295 Guidelines - Use of Privately-Owned Computers by Staff Members (Regulation & Exhibit)
8296 Guidelines - Use of Privately-Owned Computers by Students (Regulation & Exhibit)
(5) Set Meeting Dates & Times for 2008-2009: Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m. at the district office
(6) Items Referred From Audit Committee: Mr. Havens presented revisions to Bylaw 1350
(duties & responsibilities– internal claims auditor)
and Regulation 5321
(reimbursement – travel & conference)
from the audit committee. Mrs. Newman scheduled both items for review at the December 16th.policy committee meeting.
(more)
(7) Tabled Item from 2007-2008 School Year: Mrs. Newman noted that the proposed revisions to Policy 5511
(Audit Committee Charter) was tabled by the Board of Education last spring for review by this committee this year. She will review the proposed revisions with Mr. Schultz, audit committee chairperson.
(8) Multiple Review of Business Items: Mr. Paz noted comments at recent meetings about the status of policy or protocol on consideration of items by the Board of Education at two separate business meetings. Mrs. Newman will review the topic with the protocol committee, of which she is also a member.
| NEXT MEETINGS: District Office @ 4:00 p.m. - December 16th January 13 & 27; February 3 & 24; March 3 & 17; April 7 & 28
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ADJOURNMENT: 4:30 p.m.,
Recorded by Jim Switzer
NEXT & FUTURE MEETING AGENDA ITEMS:
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Follow-Up: Single Reading, Proposed Committee Charge – December 11th Board of Education meeting
● Review of: Section 5000 (Non-Instructional/Business Operations) – Annual Review - (Mr. Atseff)
● Review of: Policies 1410 (Review Policy Handbook) & 3410 (Public Conduct on Sch Property) (Mr. Triou)
● Review of: Revisions to Bylaw 1350 & Regulation 5321 Referred from Audit Committee
● Review of: Tabled Policy 5511 – Audit Committee Charter
● Review of: Policy or Protocol – Multiple Review of Business Items
JES/jes:wp
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Letter to the Board
