For those who missed the October 9, 2018 meeting, CRONM has begun videotaping the meetings. Below is link to the October 9, 2018 meeting. We apologize for the layout in advance. This is our second crack at videotaping and unfortunately neither videotaping, editing, posting, ect.. are part of or skill set. We hope to get better footage at tomorrow’s meeting.
The Agenda for the meeting can be viewed by clicking below:
10/9 meeting --First Half BOE meeting
Second Half
The minutes of the October 9, 2018 meeting can be viewed by visiting the district website or clicking on link below:
The October 9, 2018 meeting ended well after 11 pm and while it was long, the most important nugget that we took away from was that Board/District is still negotiating the teacher contract. Apparently, there was some discussions, just discussions nothing has been determined, of some programs possibly being trimmed and or risk of being cut if the District and Board were not able to come to an agreement on the teacher contract negotiations.
Not sure whether CRONM misunderstood what was said and we welcome our fellow residents to listen to the tapes and confirm whether our understanding is correct; however, it appears that in developing the 2018-2019 budget, the Superintendent and District decided and determined to an “across the board trimming” of all school programs. This “trimming” was done without Board input, possibly knowledge, or approval as we witnessed during the meeting. Most importantly, the trimming was done without any notice to the residents, who apparently approved the 2018-2019 budget during the May 2018 Budge vote and unwittingly voted to approve a Budget that included an “across the board trimming of school programs.”
During the October 9, 2018 meeting, Superintendent Seniuk claimed that because of our "tight budget," she applied an across the board "trimming" of all extra curricular programs. This "trimming" was apparently a surprise to Board Members, with the Board President at one point, remarking to the Superintendent that she did not recall discussing or approving such a trimming. According to the Superintendent, the “trimming” was approved during the July 2, 2018 re org meeting. CRONM was at the July 2, 2018 re org meeting. We took copious notes. There was no discussion or reference to trimming of any programs as indicated by the superintendent. In addition, it does not appear in the minutes that the District has on their website. What does appear is a $32,000 decrease in extracurricular activities in the 2018-2019 Budget. Without any further discussion or explanation to anyone that the above related to. Why is it so hard for the District to just explain to the residents "hey, in coming up with the budget, we determined that "$32,000.00 needed to be trimmed so that we can provide xyz in the upcoming year?" We spent thousands and thousands on developing this state of the art website that could certainly accommodate such a notification. But we digress.
Here is the video of President Hyland questioning our Superintendent about this “trimming” and having no recollection of a discussion of same or voting on same before it was passed: https://youtu.be/dZ7v8mOTU38.
In addition, we recommend watching the public comments of the meeting or at minute marker 53:00, where a concerned resident questioned the possibility of programs like art, music, and wings being “on the chopping block” if a resolution between district and teachers is not achieved.
While our school district is small in size compared with other districts, we are not small in collected tax revenue. Approximately $23 million in tax revenue is collected from our 12,000 residents and neighboring businesses. In addition, this year the district asked for an additional $736,352 from resident taxpayers - a 3.34% increase, which was approved in the May election vote. With the addition of State Aid, Reserve funds, and some additional revenue sources, this creates $32,492,312 in revenue to be used for the 2018-2019 Budget.
Of the $32,492,312 figure, the 2018/2019 budget for Expenses for Instruction, Psychological Services, Health Services, Guidance, Co-Curricular Activities, Athletics, Transportation, Community Service and Transfer to Special Aid was $23,816,656 or 73.23% of the overall budget.
Meanwhile, the actual dollar amount spent on school programs, was approximately $2 million (approximation we are currently working on getting final number). Compare that figure with the amount of budget spent on Administrative Expenses for Board of Education, Administration, Financial, Auditing, Legal, Insurance, Personnel, Registrar, Records Management, Supervision and Conferences—a wopping $4,194,673 or 12.91% of the overall budget.
Our small district with three elementary schools employs a Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, and 2 Assistant Superintendents. The above account for $800,000 annually in salary and benefits.
Does anyone else question why a three elementary school district needs to spend $4,194, 673.00 on Administrative expenses and costs? For more on the budget, please visit district website or https://www.nmerrickschools.org/domain/13.
Why are our children’s programs even being discussed and/or being “trimmed” when they are such a small portion of the overall budget? Did you know that the two largest cost increases in the 2018-2019 Budget were:
1) A new $735,000 for the principal payment due on the school bond – this payment did not exist a year ago and will continue to be in the Budget for the next ten years. It is due to the Bond for Capital improvements to our schools.
2) A $481,988 increase in Health Insurance costs for District employees – we don’t expect that these costs will go down in future Budgets.
Did you know that Administrative (non teacher/cscs) related salaries, legal fees, consultant fees, and service costs continued to increase by an additional $175,000?
To be clear, CRONM supports our teachers and CSCS personnel getting raises. Don’t forget, some of our teachers and CSCS personnel reside in North Merrick and majority in the surrounding Massapequa, Bellmore, south shore neighborhoods. CRONM believes that with smart and innovative thinking, our teachers can get the raises they require without having to trim any existing school programs.
Remember the budget is “tight” and extracurricular are being “trimmed” because there appears to be a disproportionate amount spent on administrative costs vs. costs on our children.
The PTA already has to fundraise for all the wonderful programs they create for our children and the 6th grade classes have to fundraise for field trips and activities to celebrate their graduation.
CRONM believes if the Superintendent and District conduct an evaluation of their ever-expanding department, they can locate various areas to trim the “fat” so to speak and find the money to provide our teachers with their much needed raises instead of cutting or trimming “music, art and other necessary school programs.”
Remember there is a public works meeting that starts at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow in the board room at Fayette. The meeting will come to order at 6:30 p.m. and the board will immediately go into executive session. Executive Session will conclude at 7:00 and the Board will go into a Public Work Session and discuss committee minutes, retreat, goals setting EID holiday and public comment cards. At the conclusion of the Public Works session or 7:30 the Board will go into Executive Session to discuss “negotiations”. Board will reconvene at 8:00 for the regular public meeting.
To view notice posted somewhere on district website (we tried to locate it but couldn’t find it on the website, below is link to email received from Joanne Long).
https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track…
See everyone on November 13, 2018.