by Alex Brooks
The Hoosick Falls School Board meeting for January began with a presentation by the District’s Business Administrator, Pamela Hatfield, on veterans exemptions that the District may offer.
[private]Enabling legislation was passed by the NY State Legislature and signed by Governor Cuomo just before Christmas, which allows school districts to offer veterans exemptions but leaves the decision up to the local districts whether they want to offer them or not.
Until now, municipalities have offered veterans exemptions, but school districts were not authorized to do so. The basic exemption would exempt 15% of assessed value up to a maximum of $12,000, and there are additional exemptions for vets who were in combat or have disabilities from their service.
Hatfield said that if the Board wants to have this in effect for the tax collection this year, it has to be in place by March 1, so it would have to act on it at the February meeting. To do that there has to be a public hearing on it before that meeting. The Board scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday, January 29, at 6 pm in the High School Cafeteria.
Hatfield laid out a few basic facts about the proposed exemptions. Granting exemptions to veterans will not change the amount of money the District collects in taxes. It will shift some of the tax burden from veterans to the other taxpayers in the District. Hatfield estimated the total shift would amount to less than 1% of the tax levy.
Unenrolled Students In HFCS Activities
The Board again discussed a policy which would allow non-enrolled students to take part in clubs and activities at HFCS. Superintendent Facin noted at the start that this would not apply to sports because the State does not allow non-enrolled students to play on a school’s sports teams. It would apply to music, art and drama activities, chess club and the like.
The policy as written says that in competitive situations such as lead roles in drama productions or auditioned music groups, preference would be given to enrolled students. School Board President Greg Laurin endorsed this idea, but both Rick Ferrannini and Dave Sutton questioned whether it is wise to give preferential treatment in competitive situations. The policy committee will take the Board input under advisement in formulating the final wording to present to the Board.
Fiscal Stress Test
District Business Administrator Pamela Hatfield presented to the Board the results of the Comptroller’s “fiscal stress test” for the Hoosick Falls District. The District’s score was 6.7%, which is about half the average scores of Capital District schools or of medium-sized upstate schools. The test is an online self assessment in which you plug in figures for your District, and it calculates your score. Facin said this evidence that the District’s finances are on a solid footing is “very good news.”
School Board President Greg Laurin said the Hoosick Falls Chorus will be one of six Capital District high school choruses taking part in the Albany Pro Musica High School Choral Festival at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on January 31. Laurin noted that the other schools taking part include Shaker, Shenendahowa, Ravena-Coeymans and Saratoga Springs. “We are with the elite schools,” he said.
There was much praise for Ambigay Yudkoff and what she has done with the Hoosick Falls chorus from several Board members. Tickets for the Choral Festival cost $10.
Pellet Boiler Update
With the District spending large sums on oil during some of these recent cold snaps, it was welcome news when Facin told the Board he had sent the contract for the pellet boiler installation to David Dungate of Bioenergy Partners LLC and he expects to have it ready for Board inspection and final approval soon.
Three Seats Up For Election
Board President Greg Laurin said three School Board seats are up for election this spring – those held by Bridget Foster, John Helft and David Sutton. Sutton will not be running for re-election because he is now on the Hoosick Town Board. “My intention is to serve out my 13th year on the School Board, and that will be it. This has been some of the most rewarding work I have ever done,” said Sutton.
Laurin encouraged people who may be interested in serving on the School Board to step forward. He said, “The goal is to be the best school in New York State.” He urged anyone in the community who would like to help the District get there to consider running.
Other Actions
• The Board accepted the resignation for retirement purposes, with deep regret, of Special Education teacher Nancy Laurin, effective at the end of this school year.
• The Board moved its February meeting from Thursday, February 13, to Wednesday, February 12, because Sharon Katz and the Peace Train Singers will be doing a concert at the School on the evening of February 13. Tickets for the concert cost $10, and it will be a benefit for the HFCS Performing Arts Council.[/private]