Click for the detailed notes of the regular Board of Education meeting in January.

A little light holiday reading...

There was a BOE meeting Tuesday December 15. Full notes here.

The New York Times reported yesterday that Governor Paterson is "withholding" some school aid payments. The Newburgh School District can probably weather the immediate effect of this because the utility tax will bring in some income, the general fund has a surplus "fund balance", and the surplus can be spent as the Board wishes because the budget passed. It's unclear what the long term effect of this withholding of aid will be. If the state eventually makes the payments, the current step seems like grandstanding. If this ends up being an true permanent reduction in aid, the effect will be to substantially reduce the Newburgh School District's ability to cope with next year's budget--where "cope" means "minimize layoffs of teachers".

Paterson Trims Aid to Schools and Localities
By Kareem Fahim
Published: December 13, 2009

Gov. David A. Paterson announced on Sunday that he would unilaterally withhold $750 million in scheduled payments to schools and local governments, saying that strong action was necessary to protect New York State from insolvency.

The reductions of 10 to 19 percent in aid will affect schools and social service providers, health insurance payments, cities and counties. Mr. Paterson said the withheld funds were not "a cut" or an "impoundment" -- perhaps drawing a legal distinction because only the Legislature is empowered to make permanent budget cuts.

Some lawmakers called the move illegal, but the governor said "we are well within the bounds of legal authority."

The governor did not indicate when he would restore the funds, except to say, "as sufficient revenues become available."
...

The EdVANTAGE Blog covers this issue well

A few late filings...

There was a Finance Committee meeting on Nov 17, 6pm, detailed notes here. There was concern about possible cuts in aid from the New York State Education Department. The Board expressed a desire to limit the tax levy increase for next year's budget to 1 or 2 percent.

There was a Newburgh School District BOE Workshop Meeting on Nov 17, 7:10pm. There were two presentations about energy conservation programs. Some notes are here.

And there was a regular BOE meeting on Nov 24, which started with an executive session at 6pm, a few notes here.

A court decision from May 11, 2009 in the Augustin v. Enlarged City School District of Newburgh case is available via Google Scholar at this link. Judge Connor granted the Newburgh School District's motion for summary judgement on all issues except for one, a federal claim of employment descrimination. The case was subsequently settled.

The first half of the decision contains much information about the procedures followed (or not followed) by the Newburgh School District when dealing with this difficult situation. Some interesting background information is presented. For example around page 428 there is a succinct explanation of the tenure recommendation process:

Pursuant to the recommendation process in the District, Human Resources makes a recommendation about whether a teacher should be granted tenure or terminated to the Superintendent of Schools ("Superintendent"), who usually relies upon that recommendation in making her own recommendation to the District's Board of Education ("Board") without performing any independent investigation. If a teacher requests the reasons for an adverse recommendation by the Superintendent, Human Resources provides the Superintendent with those reasons and drafts the Superintendent's response to the teacher, which response the Superintendent is required to provide, pursuant to the Education Law. This correspondence and any response by the teacher are provided to the Board for its consideration in voting on whether or not to adopt the Superintendent's recommendation.

One (contended by the complainant) fact recorded by the judge is incredible--that a substitute teacher about whom HR received many complaints and who teachers requested not be assigned to their classes was hired as a full time teacher. If Augustine was hired full time in January of 2003, Nick Johns would have been Superintendent at the time. He resigned as Superintendent in February 2004.

In any event, there was a special meeting of the Board of Education on May 27, 2009 at which, according to the official meeting minutes, this resolution was unanimously approved:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board hereby consents to the settlement of the litigation, Docket No. 07 CIV 5790 (WCC), venued in the U.S. District Court for the Southern Disctrict of New York, upon such terms presented at this meeting and recommended by the insurance counsel.

I've finally caught up with meeting notes. Here are the highlights from October.

On October 6 there was a special meeting. The clerk's minutes are here. Edward Forgit was appointed Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at $143k.

There was a Board Workshop on Oct 20, detailed notes here. At this meeting a Board Member asked several pointed questions about quality of workmanship done at construction projects at North High.

There was a regular Newburgh Schools BOE Meeting on Oct 27, detailed notes here. There were many H.R. items added too late to be included on the published agenda of this meeting, and a few interesting pieces of information peeked out in the committee and administrator reports.

State Senator Larkin, and several other visitors were at this meeting. A brief on the district financial audit and a presentation on tax issues were given. Two public comments raised issues at Temple Hill.

See details in the long version.

For additional details, please see, the official minutes of the September 29, 2009 meeting from the Newburgh School District Clerk. The minutes are very good.

Temple Hill Elementary School has abruptly been assigned a new Acting Principal, Roberto Cruz. The Newburgh School District Board of Education did not vote on this at a regularly scheduled meeting.

The meeting began shortly after 7pm with an effort to "recognize those that have a direct impact on the success of our students." The employees of the district being recognized distinguished themselves by having achieved perfect attendance.

After that there was a one hour and eighteen minute executive session.

After the one hour and eighteen minute executive session items X, Y, Z, AA, and BB were added to the agenda, and the Public were invited to comment on agenda items. There were no public comments, not even on items X, Y, Z, AA, and BB.

Four ESL teaching positions were created.

Three Pre-K Teacher positions and four Pre-K Teaching Assistant positions were abolished. It is my understanding that at least one of the classes slated for elimination (this is at the Washington Street Pre-K) has been restored due to the late enrollment of additional students.

Dr. Douglas J. Bolton was hired as an Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at 135k.

Goncalo Pinheiro was hired as a Math, Science and Technology specialist at GAMS.

Roger Ramjug was hired as an Energy Project Facilitator at 92k. In theory, savings on energy costs resulting from the work of Energy Education, Inc. will cover the cost of this position.

During the Public comment on non-agenda items:

1) Ron Hughes asked for a contact and an update on the status of the Old Balmville School Building.

2) Jenny Stevens explained to the Board the importance of the health office aide position at South Junior High School. This position was eliminated in the budget cuts.

3) Joan Goudy-Crosson and Laura Fraher of the Washington Street Pre-K program, supported by many teachers in the program, thanked the Board for its support, and talked about the efforts to increase enrollment and Washington Street.

From the May 27, 2009 issue of the Mid Hudson Times. Lewis has served on the Newburgh School District Board of Education for many years.

Lewis 'shocked' by election defeat
By Jessica McAleese

More than one week after learning that he had not been re-elected by voters, Newburgh Enlarged City School District Board of Education President Runston T. Lewis says he is still in a state of shock.

"I was very surprised," said Lewis, who finished fourth in last Tuesday's election to newcomers John Guidice and Nathan Veseley and incumbent Pamela Resch. The lifelong City of Newburgh resident who has spent the past 19 years on the school board blamed his loss on backlash from the layoffs and other measures that the district had to take in order to deal with the slumping economy. He also noted that both the Newburgh Teachers Association (NTA) and the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) declined to endorse any of the candidates running in this year's election.

"I met with both groups and I understand they were upset over the layoffs and I guess that was their way of showing it," he said. "But at the same time I don't think they expected me to lose."

Given his long track record, Lewis said it's disappointing and unfair to have to depend on the support of a certain group in order to get elected. He insisted that voters should instead make their decisions based on a candidate's background, qualifications and history of success.

"I've been successful for 19 years," he said. "I've always worked very well with the unions and the administrators to come up with decisions that benefit everybody. I even got a letter from the NTA president that would attest to that. He said he was very sorry about the way things turned out."

Looking ahead, Lewis said he is exploring his options but has yet to decide if he will run for re-election in the future.

"It's hard but I will move ahead," he said. "The district will continue to survive."

NTA President Phil Cordella could not be reached for comment.