Octorara: Will This Be a Transformation Year?

The Octorara Area School Board’s October meetings represent the calm before the storm. As ominous as that sounds, storms most often bring with them a renewed environment and growth. Yet, there is always the possibility that heavy rains, strong winds, and pounding hail will create havoc and cause real damage. Octorara is at the beginning of a transformational year, in more ways than one. It is very important that the public stay informed and actively participate as the Board addresses each concern. Below are just a few of those issues.

The Octorara Superintendent Search

As most are aware, Dr. Newcome is not seeking a new contract and the 2017-2018 school year will be his last at Octorara. While not much information is out to the public yet, the Octorara Board is in the early stages of the Superintendent search process. Becuase of the very nature of hiring a new executive, much of it is confidential. That said, there does seem to be a commitment to keeping the public as involved and informed as possible. In order to stay up to date, please watch for information releases that will be posted to the District website and attend future Board meetings.

Diminishing Captial Funds

At October’s Facilities Committee Meeting, Jeff Curtis provided members with an update to the 10-Year Capital Plan. At this time, we are looking at funds from capital sources being exhausted within the 2019-2020 school year, and a real shortfall of almost $1 Million. This deficit may require that facility repairs and improvements be put off. Regardless, once these sources are depleted, all capital expenses will either have to be paid out of the regular budget or the District will have to add to our debt. Everyone should have known this day was coming. Mr. Curtis did take action which has extended the life of our capital sources, but he came to our District a little too late. 

Are You Prepared for Another Property Tax Hike?

The Octorara Area Board of Directors and Finance Committee met on Monday, March 20, 2017. Seven Board members were in attendance. Sam Ganow and Hank Oleyniczak were both absent.

Push Back on a False Narrative

If you watched the live-stream of last night’s meeting, you would have heard Lisa Bowman, Board President, claim that there had been no suggestions or support for Budget reductions from any Board Member. I had to push back and spoke up. I had to remind Bowman that just in November, we had a heated discussion about building consolidation. In fact, since the very beginning of the budget process, I have suggested other ideas like returning to half-day kindergarten, eliminating the 1-to-1 iPad program, and getting rid of the armed security guard. I have even advocated taking a close look at CTE programs.

While these ideas may not be popular with other Board Members, the notion that no Board Member has supported reductions, that would limit the budget’s growth, is a complete and utter deception. If you watch the video, you will see that Bowman did immediately walk back her statement when confronted. Regardless, this has become habitual behavior from both her and Brian Norris. Almost every year, since I have been on the Board, either she, Norris, or both have tried to make claims like this or that certain votes meant more than written. Each time, I have had to push back.

There is a reality with our financial situation. Years before the 2016-17 budget, I warned that cuts were inevitable, while certain other Board Members were describing me as Chicken Little. I stated that if we did not control the growth of the budget, the choice of making cuts will be taken out of our hands. That is exactly what happened. Last year, the Board passed a budget with roughly $600,000 in cuts and taxed up to the legal limit. Even with that, it required a significant use of Fund Balance. That said, we did really luck out with interest rates and being able to refinance more debt, and that savings may end up eliminating this year’s deficit. But we all need to appreciate the luck that was involved that this was able to happen.

Octorara’s 2017-2018 Budget Process Begins… NOW!

The Octorara Board of Directors and Finance Committee met on Monday, August 15, 2016. All Board members were in attendance.

More Cuts and Tax Increases?

The Finance Committee has begun discussions on the 2017-2018 Budget. DIspite the Board not expecting to see a Draft Budget until December, the Finance Committee has already started to request information on “big ticket items” to find savings. Sam Ganow requested an in-depth analysis of Special Education, acknowledging that much of that is mandated spending. On the other hand, I asked that we examine building consolidation, which currently does not have much support.

We are also still waiting on the 10-year Facilities Long Range Plan. If the Board wants to start true long-range financial planning, we will use these costs and some projection of other future costs, including the next Teacher’s Contract, to help shape this year’s budget. We need a plan to fund the Capital Expenditures Fund and maintain the Reserve Fund, while not continuing to radically raise property taxes.

More Debt Refinancing

Regardless of what you may think about the weakness of the “Obama Recovery,” it has created some opportunities for the Octorara Area School District. The last time the District refinanced debt, we did not expect to be able to refinance again or squeeze any more savings.out of our debt. Well, no one would have ever predicted the absolute weakness could cause the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield to fall below 1.5%.

Now, I’m calling what we are looking at as refinancing, but it is a little more complicated than that. Essentially, the plan is (to put in home budget terms) to take a loan to make our mortgage payments. Most of us would think this is insane, but historically low-interest rates have a potential of saving $1.3 million between now and 2031, with most of the savings weighted between now and 2021. Of course, this all relies on interest rates staying low between now and when we do the refinancing. I don’t think that will be a problem. Do you? 

Octorara School Board: What Every Voter Should Know

Can the average parent, citizen, or taxpayer say with any certainty where the majority of board members stand on issues like:

• Accountability at every stage of schooling;
• Higher expectations for all students;
• The bigotry of low expectations;
• Consumer rights in education – School Choice:
  • charter schools,
  • open enrollment requests,
  • virtual schools,
  • career and technical education programs,
  • vouchers,
  • tax credits;
• Parents as the ultimate determiner of ethical and behavioral norms and traditions;
• Holding teachers and administrators responsible for student performance;
• Policies and methods that build on the basics, especially STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math) and phonics;
• Rigorous assessments on the fundamentals, especially math, science, reading, history and geography;
• Data-driven instruction: computerized databases and assessment tools to give teachers access to large amounts of student data, and ability to tailor instruction to different skill levels;
• Adoption of innovations like full-day school hours or year-round schooling;
• Ending social promotions;
• School Uniforms as a way to:
  • Distinguish those who do belong on campus from those who do not,
  • Give less opportunity to hide weapons or drugs in clothing,
  • Make social classes level and give a sense of community, and
  • Reduce the need for wardrobe policing and maintaining conservative dress.
• Transparency, so parents and the public can discover how the school is serving their pupils;
• Family literacy programs, which improve the reading, language, and life skills of both parents and children from low-income families;
• Abstinence education which teaches abstinence is the only protection that is 100% effective against out-of-wedlock pregnancies and sexually-transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS when transmitted sexually;
• Empowering teachers to take reasonable actions to maintain discipline and order in the classroom;
• Tenure systems based on the “last in, first out” policy being replaced with a merit-based approach;
• Merit pay for good teachers.

You should think about the issues that are important to you in our school district. What’s your hot button? You should then voice your opinions to your Region’s School Directors, and find out where they stand on issues that are important to you.

Members of a district’s board must be believe in the democratic process and understand that their role is to act strategically, in line with the interests of the entire community.

American Education Is In A Sorry State Of Affairs

Walter E. Williams, currently the John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics, wrote an editorial for Investor’s Business Daily. I’m providing this as “food for thought.”

American Education’s Big Problem: Bad Teachers

By Walter E. Williams
Posted 03/13/2013 06:23 PM ET

American education is in a sorry state of affairs, and there’s enough blame for all participants to have their fair share.

They include students who are hostile and alien to the education process, uninterested parents, teachers and administrators who either are incompetent or have been beaten down by the system, and politicians who’ve become handmaidens for teachers unions.

There’s another education issue that’s neither flattering nor comfortable to confront and talk about. That’s the low academic preparation of many teachers.

That’s an issue that must be confronted and dealt with if we’re to improve the quality of education. Let’s look at it.

Schools of education, whether graduate or undergraduate, tend to represent the academic slums of most college campuses.

They tend to be home to students who have the lowest academic achievement test scores when they enter college, such as SAT scores.

They have the lowest scores when they graduate and choose to take postgraduate admissions tests — such as the GRE, the MCAT and the LSAT.

(Read More At Investor’s Business Daily)