BOCES presents the human side of its budget
By Frances Ruth Harris
CHESTER — Amanda Almodovar told the Chester school board that she always wanted to become a teacher. She said she knew she wanted to work with children when she was in the first grade.
It's budget season, when local schools are presenting their spending plans for the 2015-16 academic year to the public. Last Wednesday, the school board listened to reasons why they should support Orange-Ulster BOCES, which offers students from throughout the county, like Amanda, a wide range of career and technical training. Its specialized curriculum allows students to work and study in labs, workshops, and commercial-type kitchens too costly for individual schools to support in their town districts, especially when they're small, like Chester.
Amanda, a senior at the Chester Academy, said she's grateful to BOCES for the opportunity to validate her desire to teach by getting real experience. Her instructor, Rebecca Gihr, said she's hard working and very dedicated.
Three days a week, Amanda helps children who attend Chester's pre-school. She participates in a variety of of volunteer activities, like the breast cancer, leukemia, multiple sclerosis fundraising walks, and is also an athlete. She wants to earn dual certification in elementary education and special education when she moves on to Mount Saint Mary College.
"She exhibits a natural talent for working with children and is an amazing student that is admired by others," said Gihr.
BOCES representatives and school board members greeted Amanda's presentation with smiles of pride.
BOCES budget upBOCES Superintendent and CEO William Hecht and Assistant Superintendent for Finance Deborah McBride Heppes presented the BOCES budget, which has been going up.
The budget BOCES proposes for 2015-16, to which 17 school districts will contribute, is $123 million, which reflects an 8.5 percent increase over last year's $112.5 million budget, and a 14 percent increase over the $109 million budget for 2013-14. These increases far exceed the New York State tax cap of 2 percent, which, in general, are allowed with 60 percent voter approval if the tax levy exceeds a certain amount.
In the case of BOCES, however, school boards vote on its administrative budget — that vote will happen this year on April 23 — while the BOCES board approves the capital and program budgets. The NYS Department of Education and the Department of Audit and Control monitor the BOCES budget.
BOCES has 27 faculty and staff members retiring, out of a staff of 1,200. The Human Resources' Assistant Superintendent's position will not be funded in 2015-16.
The Chester school board p;resident, Frank Sambets, asked how BOCES will manage without a human resources' person. Hecht said that he'll be meeting with superintendents to discuss creative ways to address the administrative loss and to share responsibilities.
The Chester Union Free School district actually gets some money from BOCES, which pays the district for the lease of the Chester Learning Center at the old junior/senior high school. Of the $401,004 cost of the lease, $151,004 is allocated for capital improvements next year, with the $250,000 balance to be paid to the Chester School District.
Technology servicesThe school board also heard the budget presentation for its own instructional services, technology, and athletics departments.
The technology department wants to replace digital devices at a rate of 20 percent each year so that at, any given time, no device will be more than five years old. Chester also plans to bring its successful Chromebook to the lower grades. "Virtual high school" opportunities online will also continue, and students will again have the option of earning college credits online.
Compass Learning K-8 will give targeted help to students in the early grades. Compass data identifies areas where a student may need improvement in English Language Arts and math. Compass also proves grades and attendance data. Google Drive will be available for blended classrooms. Chester's stellar athletics program has all varsity teams qualified for Section 9; all have been involved in post-season play for the last three years.
And there was a development April 1 that Chester and other schools throughout New York have been eagerly awaiting: a state budget, which will yield the amount of aid local districts can expect from the state. New York state lawmakers on Wednesday approved a $142 billion state budget that increases funding for schools and revises teacher evaluations.
Related stories"NY lawmakers OK budget: More school money, ethics rules"