Hammondsport school meeting 11/19

Meeting:  The Hammondsport central school board met Nov. 19 for two hours and 20 minutes, plus a 20 minute executive session

Attendance: The full board was present, plus school officials and an audience of five.

Discussion Without Action: Superintendent Kyle Bower reported that the governor’s proposed deficit reduction would cut $201,061 from Hammondsport’s state aid in this current year.  (The overall district budget is $12,033,852.)  Bower stated he considers it likely that next year’s reduction will be even deeper, saying, “When this hits, it’s certainly going to hit us hard.”

“The unions have been very supportive in terms of ideas,” the superintendent said, adding that he saw no success in “nickel and dime” savings and no justice for students in cutting out such expenses as field trips and sports programs.  Bower reported that unexpended fund balances were in good shape, forming a pool of cash that could be drawn upon, but warned that doing so would make any future tax hike steeper.

Bower suggested that the only major savings would come from either reducing personnel costs or accelerating the consolidation onto the Main Street campus.  The board set a special Dec. 3 meeting to discuss the 2009-2010 budget.

• Land Agent Richard L. Tarbox reviewed with the board a subsurface natural-gas lease proffered by Fortuna Energy.  The board tabled action on the proposal.

• Bower reported that district administrators each year must complete 131 plans and documents for the state Department of Education.

Bids/purchases over $1,000: The board approved $4600 for membership in the New York State School Boards Association (NYSBBA).

• They also approved $6,000 to NYSBBA for “Fresh Perspectives” consultation to evaluate board, administrative, and office directions and functioning.

Appointments/resignations:  The following appointments were approved; Claire Tuck and Lisa K. Calkins, on-call substitute teachers, $80/day; Kimberly Miller, part-time food service, $10.60/hr; Scott Bluett, basketball scorekeeper, $500; Barb Fries and/or Annalee Mishrell, basketball scorekeepers, $500 total; Trevor Parke and Bill Fries, basketball scoreboard operators, $250 each; Scott Graham and/or Emery Cummings, shot clock operators, $250 total; Tracy Wood, shot clock operator, $250; and Stephen Copp and Jennifer Rethmel, parent members of the committee on special education.

Upcoming meetings:  The next regular school board meeting will be Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.