Hoosick Falls School Board Reaches Agreement With Teachers

by Bea Peterson
A new five year contract agreement has been reached between the administration and the teachers, and the Hoosick Falls School Board approved it at their meeting this month. The new contract is effective July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2015, and it is an extension of the current contract. The existing step schedule remains in place, but the salaries in the schedule will increase a total of 7.29% over the five years of the contract, which averages out to just under 1.5% increase each year. The teachers agreed to dropping one of the three health insurance options that was available to them, so they now have a choice of two providers. The one that was dropped was the most expensive for the District, and dropping it is expected to save the District about 1% on the tax levy each year, about $80,000. The contract also eliminated the stipend for Athletic Coordinator, which will now be called “Athletic Director” and will be handled by Assistant Principal Brett Lamy without any change in his compensation.
The contract also includes an agreement for teachers to attend meetings after school on student results.
Teacher Evaluations
The upcoming school year will be the first for implementing a new state-mandated teacher evaluation system, known as the Annual Professional Performance Review(APPR). 40% of it is based on student results, half of that on state assessment tests and half on locally selected measures of student achievement.  The other 60% will be other measures of teaching effectiveness, the details of which are still being worked out. The District has convened an APPR Committee to work this out over the course of the summer. The teacher evaluation will rate each teacher with one of four ratings: highly effective, effective, developing, or ineffective.
The board awarded a contract to run the Universal Pre-K program to the Commission on Economic Opportunity. The contract is for $60,896 ($3,044 per child). The bids were opened June 1.  55 kids applied for a place in this program, but only 38 were accepted, chosen by lottery.
Students Recognized
The Board began the meeting with the presentation of certificates to high school students with an average of 95 and above who are on the Principal’s List. Presentations were made by High School Principal Stacy Vadney and Board Vice-President John Helft. Drama Scholars received their certificates from Vadney and Music Teacher Rob Allen. The Baseball and Softball teams won scholar team awards for their high academic average, and individual Scholar Athletes on all the spring teams received awards as well. Afterwards the students enjoyed ice cream sundaes.
Performing Arts Booster Club co-presidents Beth and Dwain Wilwol gave a final report to the Board. They are resigning after 14 years. The Club has been disbanded and reorganized into the Performing Arts Club.
Heather St. Hilaire reported on the many activities of the PTA. The emphasis this year has been on literacy with thousands of dollars contributed to various book programs in the school. The PTA has started a library committee that works in the elementary library on Saturdays.
School Business Administrator Pam Hatfield told the Board she is looking into student accident insurance that could save the school $1,400 a year. The new carrier has a higher rating and offers better coverage.
Lunch prices will increase for the next school year. The NYS requirement for more fresh fruits and vegetables are part of the reason. Overall students will have more selections and more food choices.
In other business, the Board
• approved the latest School Safety Plan. Superintendent Ken Facin said the plan was reviewed by NYS Trooper George Murphy during a recent lockdown. He made some minor recommendations that were included in the plan.
• approved a new computer disaster recovery plan that was recently put in place. The school has contracted with a storage technology company which will electronically search for updated student and school data and back it up off site every night.
• abolished a Tax Certiorari fund of $117,000 as it has expired and the claim against the District is no longer valid. $95,400 of it was put into a new Tax Certiorari Reserve for pending claims and the rest was returned to the general fund.
• approved a motion to continue to use the Hoosick Falls Soccer Club fields for the fall 2011 season at the same rate of $5,000.
• approved a resolution for the District to purchase three new school buses as approved by the District voters, the cost not exceed $308,500.
• resolved to do more of their communications electronically in the future. Mr. Facin said it’s time they cut down on the amount of paper he and Board members use.