by Thaddeus Flint
It was buses, the transportation budget, school grounds, and what to do about lockdowns at the Berlin School Board meeting on Tuesday March 21.
[private]As budget season sets in, it was the turn of the District’s Transportation Department to let the Board know what they will need to continue running the buses in 2017.
According to District Transportation Supervisor Fred Kowalik, one thing they will need is a bigger bus.
In the past few years, at the suggestion of the District’s Business Manager Karen Capozzi, Berlin has been trying to keep up with a yearly bus replacement program. The idea is to spread the debt out by buying new buses every year or so instead of hitting the taxpayers all once for some outrageous amount residents might not want to support. Buses, according to Kowalik, survive in the Berlin District about 10 years. While, muddy, salty, bumpy roads take their own toll on vehicles, technology is also a reason for replacement. After 10 years a bus has aged compared to new ones which are safer and more economical to drive.
This year Kowalik is looking to get a 66 passenger bus. A significant reason for the size is the District’s January 26 decision to have its sports teams join the Wasaren League. The change will bring about a fuller schedule of events for sports team, with many away games for larger teams. By using a 66 passenger bus, the District would be saving money by not paying for extra buses, and drivers, when smaller buses won’t accommodate an entire team. The District currently has one 66 passenger bus, but Kowalik wants to avoid the possibilities of delays and last minute rescheduling if that bus happens to break down.
The expected cost of the new bus will be $120,000, although about 60% of that cost would most likely be covered under State aid.
A unanimous vote approved that the 66 passenger Bus Proposition be submitted to District voters at the May 16, 2017 annual school district budget vote.
As for the rest of the Transportation budget, Kowalik provided the good news that there would be no need for an increase in 2017-2018. Even with an increased number of bus runs for sporting events, and unavoidable contractual increases, an expected “conservative decrease” in fuel costs, according to Kowalik, should even out expenses.
Kowalik did point out one future cost that could, in the long run, save the District money. If a new bus garage ever came to light, having a bus washer on-site would allow the bus garage to wash off salt accumulations from chassis as needed. One bus was recently taken off the road for chassis rust by DOT inspectors.
“Rust is a big problem,” said Kowalik.
Another busing problem which has irked parents and students since the first days of school bussing is about to go away: that is “Where is my bus?”
The District’s buses have recently been equipped with GPS devices that constantly report their locations. An application called SpotMyBus will ring a smartphone or tablet when the bus is about to arrive. The app is free to download. The District is just waiting for three consecutive days in a row of “normal” bus traffic to get the correct times before it goes live.
The Board also recognized the parents would like to know, as timely as possible, what’s going on when a school goes into lockdown. The general consensus was that it was up to the emergency or law enforcement agency in charge during a lockdown situation to decide what to publicize and when. Information can spread very fast in this age of social media, however not all that information is all that accurate. While the District has just launched a Facebook page, the District’s Superintendent Dr. Stephen Young pointed out that it wouldn’t be updated right away. He also cautioned that the PTA’s Facebook page might not have all the correct information.
It was decided to invite to the State Police and Questar III’s Director of Safety to attend the April Board meeting and let them tell parents how lockdowns will be handled and how to get the most accurate information as soon as possible.
Two other propositions that will go to voters in May, were also agreed to unanimously. The first will ask residents if they want to allow a Berlin High School student to serve on the School Board as a non-voting member. Presumably a willing student could be found that is up to the tediousness of the task.
The second proposition will ask voters to approve a new $100,000 Capital Project. This one will look at work to take place either at the MS/HS auditorium (lighting, seating , etc), the MS/HS gymnasium (lighting, painting, bleachers), or at the Elementary school (gym, stage, lockers). The final proposition question will be drafted after the District consults with legal counsel in order to make sure that the wording covers the maximum amount the District can spend.
Grafton School Property Needs Work
The District still must spend more money at its remaining unsold school in Grafton. The oil tank at Grafton Elementary must be taken out of service, according to Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds Cyril Grant. The DEC regulations require that the tank be cleaned and closed if it has not used for a certain period of time. The cost will be around $3,000. In the meantime the District is still trying to find a party to sell the building to. Grant said that there have been a few new interested parties, “but I don’t know how interested.” Dr. Young added that he thought the possible intent was for private apartments.
The District will continue to hold property in Grafton, as it does now in Stephentown after the elementary school there was sold in January of this year. Board President Frank Zwack said he wanted to reach out to the community to see how both those properties could be best used in the future. He suggested naming the properties and possibly working with the State to develop trails at the Grafton property that would lead onto the nearby State Park land.
“Let’s give them an identity and make them vibrant” said Zwack.
Announcements:
• Berlin High School will host an academic tournament called “MasterMinds: Teacher Edition” to support the BHS Varsity MasterMinds team in their quest to participate in the National Academic Quiz Tournament’s Small Schools National Championship in Chicago. The tournament will be 6:30 to 8 pm on Friday, March 31 in the Berlin Middle/High School auditorium. Admission is free but donations will also help the team get to Chicago.
•The Berlin and New Lebanon Annual Wrestling Expo and all-you-can-eat breakfast will be Saturday April 1st from 8-11am at the Berlin Middle/High cafeteria.
• The 5th Annual BES Lip Sync will take place on Thursday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the MS/HS Auditorium. [/private]