The 2015-16 school calendar unanimously passed the Board of Education during its meeting on Tuesday, January 20.

Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, said the 2015-16 school calendar presented to the school board this week represents community input and responses to concerns voiced by school board members.

“Most important, you never lost sight of what the calendar should represent, and that is [what’s] best for students,” said the superintendent.

Dr Erardi also highlighted a few things in the calendar, including a before-school professional development pilot in October and a changed plan for November conference dates, which were moved to earlier in the month away from the Thanksgiving break.

The calendar has teachers reporting for the 2015-16 school year on August 24 and students beginning school on August 27. The projected last day of school is June 9, and with five-built in snow days the projected last day of school is June 16.

Professional development days are indicated on the calendar as either a two-hour delayed start to school or as an early dismissal for school. Dr Erardi said there are three before-school professional development days planned in the calendar for the new pilot.

The superintendent also pointed out new wording on the calendar that explains the built-in snow days and more.

“There would have to be ten snow days for the April break to be disturbed,” said Dr Erardi, which he said is appreciated knowledge for those looking to plan a vacation with the family at that time.

Board Secretary Kathy Hamilton said she likes the calendar, but is concerned about the fall conferences being scheduled earlier in November.

Dr Erardi said the timing for the November conferences was endorsed by all of the kindergarten to sixth grade principals in the district.

The March conference dates have yet to be set, because, Dr Erardi said, the board may be asked to consider changing the March conferences from being mandatory to being “agreed upon.”

The school board unanimously accepted the 2015-16 school calendar.

‘Tenuous’ 2014-15 Budget

The school board also heard a report on the 2014-15 budget and discussed a facilities report during its meeting.

During his financial report to the school board, Business Director Ron Bienkowski said all the 2014-15 budget main object accounts are currently positive, but there are three “main problems or areas that have arisen in December as being in excess of the budget.”

The professional services account, which he said includes legal services and psychological and medical evaluations, is exceeding the 2014-15 budgeted amount by about $95,000; the out of district tuition account is anticipated to exceed the budget by roughly $45,000; and the electricity account, which Mr Bienkowski attributed to higher prices in a new contract, is expected to exceed the budget by about $63,000.

“About half of it will be covered by naturally occurring balances, while the rest will need to be covered by targeted spending restrictions,” said Mr Bienkowski.

He recommended restricting spending in the supplies account and in the building and site improvement account.

“The budget is very tenuous at this point,” Mr Bienkowski said. “Anything that comes that is unexpected, such as additional needs for students or placements… will basically fall to the bottom line and cause us to have a greater need to find money to cover those shortages.”

Mr Bienkowski also said some of the expenses could be covered by the state’s Excess Cost Grant.

After discussion, the board unanimously accepted the finance report.

Responding to a January 12 Board of Finance presentation, Dr Erardi reiterated his previously stated opinion at the January 20 school board meeting that he does not recommend the Board of Education consider closing a school for the 2015-16 school year.

The Board of Finance presentation was prompted by the latest school district enrollment study.

Dr Erardi said he offered Board of Finance Chair John Kortze and member John Godin, who presented his analysis of budget and enrollment predictions at the January 12 finance board meeting, partnership since the presentation was made.

“I’ve invited and extended an invitation to both of them to meet with me so I can better understand their work and they can better understand… our work moving forward,” said Dr Erardi. “I think it is absolutely essential that we work in partnership. It’s equally essential that there are conversations that are taking place with each board understanding exactly what the next steps are going forward.”

Dr Erardi also said he will attempt to attend a scheduled Thursday, January 22, Board of Finance meeting and encouraged school board members to also attend.

The superintendent also said a facilities study is set to begin when a meeting is held between staff and district leaders. He also said June 16 is his target date to present the school board the study.

“That’s my target date and that is the date we will be back to the board with our recommendation with regards to the facilities study,” said Dr Erardi. “We will keep the board very close to all of our work… but I am absolutely confident and I am positive that on Tuesday, June 16, your report will be completed and you will have a really strong sense of an administrative recommendation.”