BCS Sets Tax Levy

by Thaddeus Flint
“Every time the press comes to a District,” said Berlin School Board President Frank Zwack at the August meeting Tuesday, “it’s always with a negative outlook.” When it came to Board meetings at BCS in the past few years, this might have been true. There was almost always negativity present, and it was so pervasive and enduring that it was impossible to overlook.
[private]This might be changing. With three new Board members, who are actually former school Board members, at the table and Zwack running the show (a metal plaque at the entrance to the High School attests to his experience: Zwack is listed as School Board Vice President responsible for the construction of that building way back in 1989), there is suddenly very little negativity to report.
Taxes
Well, there are taxes. Depending on where one lives and how much one is going to have to pay, some residents might not see their upcoming tax bills in a completely positive light.
The Board approved an overall tax levy of $8,646,416, and set tax rates for the upcoming school year. Berlin is $57.37 per thousand, an increase of 2.77%, Grafton is $178.08 per thousand, an increase of .65%, Petersburgh is $25.98 per thousand, an increase of 1.85%, Poestenkill is $55.04 per thousand, a decrease of -3.69% and Stephentown is $50.62 per thousand, an increase of 4.27%. While these numbers will probably be the numbers, Rensselaer County still needs to check the complicated math before an official amount is agreed on.
Progress In Performance
At least an increase in taxes comes with an increase in positive results. District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stephen Young reported that results of the June graduation showed that 81% of seniors graduated on time. The previous year it was 71.1%. In 2011 it was only 67%. The State Department of Education was so surprised “They called me twice in the same day,” said Dr. Young. While these numbers could possibly be equated simultaneously with Dr. Young’s first year as Superintendent, he chose instead to bestow thanks to the teachers, staff and especially High School Principal Dr. Catherine Allain. “We have made significant progress,” said Dr. Young.
Common Core Standards
The Education Department however did have some rather bad news, not just for BCS, but for all Districts in the State. State test scores of new Common Core standards fell dramatically. State-wide only 31.1% of students in grades three through eight met new standards in English language arts (ELA), down from 55.1% the previous year. In math, 31% met the standard, compared to 64.8% the previous year.
For BCS the worst results were in grade eight math with only 15.1% of students meeting the new standards. Grade six math followed close behind with 15.9%. Grade three math and Grade six ELA, however, beat the State average with 36.9% and 31.8% respectively.
For comparison, in New Lebanon grade eight math was 7.9%, grade six math was 44.1%, grade three math was 36.4% and grade six ELA was 50%. At Hoosick Falls the results were grade eight math 17.9%, grade six math 40%, grade three math 32.1% and grade six math 40%.
“We cannot look at the results this year as we have in the past,” cautioned Dr. Young. “We do have room to grow. But now we have baseline data. We will move forward from here.” State Education Commissioner John B. King agrees. “These proficiency scores do not reflect a drop in performance but rather a raising of standards,” King said in a press release August 7. “The results we’ve announced today are not a critique of past efforts; they’re a new starting point on a roadmap to future success.”
Teachers and Principals were also evaluated, and Young said scores from the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) will be released shortly. Those found to be “Ineffective” or “Developing” will be required to work under an improvement plan. “It doesn’t mean they are bad teachers,” said Young. “It gives us information on how to improve.” The Superintendent added that he expected there to be “three or four [teachers] at least at each building level.”
Buildings Improve
The buildings are actually improving. The first phase of the restoration of Berlin Elementary is proceeding as planned. “We don’t anticipate any delays,” said Young. The windows replacement project is almost complete. Residents should go take a look. “Just drive by,” said Young, “you will be amazed.” The boiler at the Middle School/High School is also on track for completion before the school year begins on Thursday, September 5.
Meetings Improve
While students have little choice but to return to school, Zwack is hoping to entice the public to return to Board meetings. A continued lack of bickering, wrangling and squabbling could make meetings more pleasant. They are certainly shorter meetings, which Zwack also feels is important. “We need to keep them to a decent hour,” he said. They are soon to be more comfortable too. By November it is hoped that the Board meetings will have moved back to the auditorium at the High School, with its comfy chairs and a sound system which allows those who can’t read lips to keep abreast of what is going on.
Zwack also announced he would like the Board to look into a software package known as BoardDocs. Not only might it save the District costs on producing Board packets, but it could allow meeting minutes to be easily posted to the District’s website.
Dr. Young said he had used the system before. The ability to easily research all the minutes of all the meetings was certainly useful. For instance, “You could put in drug, search, dog and see if there were any documents,” he said.
And that might be interesting. The use of dogs to walk over all student’s belongings, and possibly their rights if they actually have any, in the search for illegal substances is a continuing subject. Board Member Katie Fiske has asked for clarification on a policy for the use of drug dogs on school property. “We are in contact with our lawyers at this time,” Dr. Young said. “We are going to wait until we get more feedback from [the District’s lawyer, Beth] Bourassa.”[/private]