SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING

  4/30/2009

6:00 pm

Supervisor Belden and Board members Dick Gladu and Rudy Meola were present.  Mark Martucci came in later in the meeting.  Edna Frasier was absent.  There were about 30 people in the audience.

Supervisor Belden called the meeting to order at 6 pm and turned the meeting over to Ticonderoga Superintendent of Schools, John McDonald.

Councilman Dick Gladu explained that the budget that Dr. McDonald was going to discuss was the spending plan that was approved by the School Board on April 22, 2009.  There will be another public meeting in Ticonderoga on May 12, 2009 with a vote open to all registered voters on May 19, 2009.

Dr. McDonald explained that only half budget equation was available until recently.  The budget was developed by administrators and department heads.

A handout accompanied the visual presentation. 

Dr. McDonald mentioned that the proposed budget will continue the good educational program.  The Ticonderoga School District has been ranked among the top 2% of high schools in the by US News & World Report for the  2nd consecutive year which is an honor that they don’t apply for.  60 % of the students are taking at least one advanced placement course.  There are good regents scores and a good Pre-K program to get kids ready.  The 21st Century After School program is run by Silver Bay and they hope to get funding for another 5 years.

In response to questions by Mary Ann Eaton and Donna Van Wirt, Dr. McDonald stated that they have about 40% of students on reduced lunch  and that many of these kids that don’t have a place to study after school and the After School program gives them that place. They are identified by an enrichment program and then they encourage the kids who need it to attend.  It is a privilege to attend so that discipline is not a problem.    There is also a structured mandatory study hall for students who don’t do their work. 90% of the students are involved in some type of after school program.  There were 11.9% in Special Education last year. The drop out rate is yearly 2% and that means about 8% over 4 years but it is much better than urban areas.

The class sizes are around 14 for grades 3 and below; then around 22 in middle school and no more than 25 in the high school.

In the budget process, area superintendents have lobbied local representatives.

The budget is labor intensive with about 80% in salaries and benefits which is in line with other schools.

The school district is part of a consortium which provides a self-insurance for health benefits.  97 cents of every dollar in premiums goes back to members. Teachers now pay 10% of the premium and a greater percentage of drug coverage.  For retirees it varies from none to 10%.

Steve Ramant, Rudy Meola and Bruce Clark all asked questions.

Dr. McDonald explained that when looking at benefits in negotiations, the Taylor Law only allows looking at schools - not to compare to commercial insurance.  The Family plan costs the district $16,000.  They have saved $200,000 by going to Plan B. 

Contributions to the retirement system fluctuate so district has to put in more money.  

State Aid is a combination of assessed value (which is 1 billion in the district half of which is in Hague) and high need.  Ticonderoga doesn’t get as much State Aid because of the high assessed value.  IP gives the district about 100K.

The federal stimulus money will in effect be used to offset cuts in state aid but it must supplement and not supplant.  An application must be written.  They don’t want to put in a program that the funding will not be there for down the road and then taxpayers have to pick it up.

In a discussion about per pupil costs, it was noted that if there was a school district in Hague, the state aid would be almost nothing and taxpayers would be paying anyway.  Consolidation is an issue that should be looked at.  

The building bids have come in higher than expected so there has to be a reduction in the job.  There were only 2 bidders.

If the budget doesn’t pass, the Contingency Budget would actually cost more so the system does not work.

Property tax reform is needed.  

At the end of the presentation, the Board took up one matter of business.

Councilman Meola moved and Councilman seconded, a motion to hold a public hearing on the 12th day of May 2009 at 6:15 pm at the Hague Community Center regarding the amendment of the Zoning Code of the Town of Hague to allow the rental of single family homes.  Motion approved.

Motion by R. Meola, seconded by R.  Gladu to adjourn meeting at 7:30 pm.  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Stock

Acting Clerk