HFCS Adopts 2012-2013 Budget

by Alex Brooks
The Hoosick Falls School Board adopted the budget for  the 2012-13 school year last week. Total spending of $20,984,082 is up by a little over $1 million, which is just over 5%. About $349,000 of the new money will come from an increase in State aid, about $465,000 will come from a larger fund balance being applied to next year’s budget, and about $175,000 will come from a 2% increase in the tax levy.
[private]Superintendent Ken Facin said the District has met its goal of keeping the tax levy increase to 2% while keeping programming intact. He said the way The District is able to accomplish this is by planning ahead, doing multi-year budgeting and identifying ways to reduce expenditures in a sustainable way.  The big savings this year came from a change in the health insurance offered. In its negotiations with the teachers the District was able to eliminate the most expensive of the three health plans offered, so it now offers only two choices. As a result the District’s budget for health insurance was reduced by $221,000 this year instead of the usual hefty increase.
Alternative Energy Sources
Facin said one of the most worrisome cost drivers for the future is rapidly rising energy costs. To meet this challenge the District is working on a capital project designed to reduce energy costs. Elements of this plan may include an alternative kind of heating system, photovoltaic energy generation from sunlight and more efficient lighting. The District is actively researching these things and is in the process of hiring a consultant to help them design the project.  Facin reported to the Board on his visit to a school in Cobleskill that heats entirely with a geothermal system drawing heat from 300 deep wells, a system which serves both heating and cooling needs. Facin said this system is cheaper than oil heat and it has other advantages over oil systems including lower maintenance cost, greater reliability and the low-cost air conditioning it brings.  The thing that would make it a lot cheaper, though, is the addition of solar electrical generation. One big issue with this is getting the electric company to “open” the grid so that the District is credited with electricity generated and that is fed back into the grid. The electric companies in New York State are required to do this for residential customers but not necessarily for a School District. Facin said he is working with State Assemblyman Tony Jordan to get this set up. For a school district, the key is to get credit for electricity generated during the summer when the District is not using much electricity.
Facin and Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Paul Baker also visited a school in Hartford, NY, that heats with wood chips, and they were very impressed with how well this low-cost system worked. They intend to visit another school in the Saratoga area that has a geothermal system.  Facin said he hopes to lead the way for other school districts in the state to find ways to reduce energy costs and also to reduce the District’s carbon footprint.
Resignations
The Board accepted the resignation of social studies teacher James Prendergast for retirement purposes “with deep regret.” Prendergast has been with the District since 1987.  The Board also accepted resignations from math teacher Margaret Patterson and School Social Worker Michelle Brusic.
No Tenure For Lamy
The Board passed a resolution concerning the probationary appointment of Administrator Brett Lamy. His original probationary appointment was for three years from August 3, 2009, to August 3, 2012. The resolution said that the Superintendent will not recommend tenure for Lamy at the end of the probationary period, but the District will instead grant Lamy a one year extension of the probationary period until August 3 of 2013.  Facin said he cannot comment on this matter or discuss the considerations that went into it because it is a personnel matter.
Non-Resident Tuition
The Board passed a resolution establishing a non-resident tuition rate for the 2012-13 school year based on a calculation provided by the NYS Education Department. Full day kindergarten through grade 6 will be $5,503 per year, and Grades 7 through 12 will be $6,767. Superintendent Facin said he is in discussions with several families who are interested in sending out of District students on a tuition paying basis.
PTA Donations
The Hoosick Falls PTA donated $300 for T-shirts for chorus students performing in the “High Note Festival.” They donated $100 for a new fish tank for the science department. They donated $100 for bicycle helmets for kindergarten students. They donated $750 towards the purchase of new music for the instrumental music program.[/private]