Editorial: District needs to pay its share

An interesting perspective.  I am not sure how the school ends up as the bad actor in this story. The time to have this discussion was in February. I am not sure the editorial is correct that this item can be added without violating education law. I will leave that to others to determine.

The district still has the opportunity to help the town deal with the issue. If they decide to fund the position as part of the 7/1/10 budget, it would still help the town in fiscal year 2010 without violating ed law.

Instead, the board sent a letter to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Roelle seeking compensation for Sergeant Secret’s salary but was rebuffed, with Dr. Roelle replying that it was too late because the 2009-10 school budget is already in place.

The district needs to change its stance. There is a projected $4.3-million surplus in the school budget for the academic year that just ended last week, and there is a surplus built into this year’s budget. The town, though, is in such financial distress that it will just barely have enough cash flow to pay employee salaries through this year, and is carrying a budget deficit that is still hundreds of thousands of dollars from being closed despite making nearly every conceivable cut in recent months. On the other hand, the district created two new reserves last month just to have a place to put its extra money once it becomes available.

Editorial: District needs to pay its share.

Comments

[Bob Dixon]

Don:

I think the point is that the BOE can always reallocate funds in the budget as the year progresses. We did it continually throughout our term. Remember reinstating the after school bus when the parents asked us to reconsider..

Was the Town Board aware of their dilemma back in Feb?

Perhaps of greater concern to all of us should be: How could Dr Roelle not have realized the importance of Officer Secret-especially during these times of great concern in our community about alcohol, drugs, student suicide and all the other demons (real or imagined) our teenagers go through.

Bob D

[Brent Hailpern]

I think Bob is right ... the district can reallocate expenditures - cut here, add there - but it cannot spend more than the approved budget (except under some difficult emergency conditions - I remember a boiler in the HS that needed to be replaced).

[Michael Gordon]

With all due respect, Bob, I don't think we need to worry about Dr. Roelle not realizing the important role that Sergeant Secret plays in our high school. Dr. Roelle and the high School administration understand how important it is to have Sergeant Secret in place. I think the issue is one of timing: why is the School District being asked, after its budget has been discussed at length and set, to devote a substantial portion of money on an expense that could have been raised during the School District budget process so that taxpayers could be heard? That issue, timing, is very important, especially in an environment where tax dollars are so precious and where the District has been working so hard to make its budgetary decisions so transparent.

No doubt, emergencies arise, and, as you and Brent note, in necessary and appropriate cases, budget transfers are available to handle those emergencies. I'm not sure how this situation will play out, but stay tuned.

[Robert T Dixon]

Hi Mike:

I could be wrong, but I do not think the Town Board was aware of the serious shortfall until after the School Budget was completed.

Even if the town were asleep at the switch, the point the Ledger, Brent and I are trying to make is that the district has the flexibility to do what's right. Roelle knows that. So Mike-don't be such a tight wad. If the Town Board deserves a slap on the wrist, don't take it out on the kids (in the long run I know you would not tolerate that).

Regards and good luck to you all on your second term-ain't it a hoot!

Bob D

[Brent Hailpern]

Bob - maybe the town needs a five year plan?

BTW ... I was not advocating that the district should pay what has been a town expense, just pointing out that the district can reallocate expenditures within its budget, but it cannot exceed the expenditure limit set in the budget (not even if it had additional income).

[Robert T Dixon]

Hi Brent:

Sorry to "misquote" you.

A five year plan would be a good idea.

It certainly would let the people know where it stands on its 10 year delayed "plans" for the new library, senior center, etc.

Bob D

[Michael Gordon]

Bob and Brent, I appreciate you guys focusing on what's best for the kids. I am confident the BOE will have the same focus while at the same time making sure we do right by our taxpayers.

[sheri K]

The Lewisboro taxpayers will still pay the majority of Sgt. Secrets salary no matter whose budget it falls under.

As a resident of Katonah, I have no problem contributing to his salary through the school budget. I just want to make sure that the school district can legally cover his salary under NYSED law.

[Robert T Dixon]

Hi Sheri:

It may be that the Town would want to keep him on their payroll so he can maintain his pension, seniority, etc and the town would bill the District for his services.

Bob D

[sheri K]

Bob D

I support the KL District paying for part of Sgt. Secret's salary.

My question is the legality of paying for a youth officer through the school budget. I would like someone to tell me (BOE members) if NYSED allows this, and on another note, would Sgt. Secrets pension etc. be sacrificed by this payment scheme?

As I said before, as a resident of Katonah, I have no problem contributing to Sgt, Secret's salary, I just want to make sure it is legal and that Sgt. Secret will receive all that he deserves through the police pension program.

[Brent Hailpern]

@Sheri - I doubt the district would actually pay the salary. They would probably make some kind of transfer payment to the town and the town would pay the salary. I remember a number of discussions when I was on the board for Lewisboro to reimburse the district for x, while the district was to reimburse Lewisboro for y.

@Michael - I actually never said if I thought it was a good idea or not :-) In fact, I do hope some accommodation is made - he serves a very important purpose at JJHS.

But I do agree with Don's initial comment: "I am not sure how the school ends up as the bad actor in this story."

[Briefing Book]

Try as one might to blame The Secret Affair on the school board (I’ve thought about it, but only so I could use that headline), it’s difficult to see how the school board has any role in this matter—good, bad or indifferent.

The panic about “Officer” Secret is understandable but unwarranted. This is a matter of partisan town politics, plain and simple. And there is no way town politics will allow Officer Secret to be removed from the schools. There are two Republicans—one of whom, Pete Delucia, is up for re-eleection—who are dead-set against Officer Secret’s removal. Any effort to take him out of the schools would require the votes of all three Democrats, including Bruce Pavalow. No way that happens when Democratic town supervisor Ed Brancati is up for re-election.

This is empty posturing on the part of the town board, which will end up paying for Officer Secret anyway. So there is no reason for the school board to pick up the tab, and a lot of good reasons not to. One of them is that doing so would put the school board squarely into the arena of partisan town politics, an area that the school board has successfully and properly avoided.

The town budget is the town board’s mess. Let them clean it up.

[Robert T Dixon]

Hi

Good posting-but where will the money come from?
Most everyone knows the School District has it hidden somewhere under the mattress. Not so sure about the town.

Bob D

[Briefing Book]

Bob, how the town government balances its budget is not the school board's problem.

Mr. Brancati and his fellow Democrats are not going to hand Peter Delucia and the Republican minority an issue for the fall campaign by firing the high school's youth officer--not after Peter Delucia spent the last year warning that the town government was heading into precisely this kind of deficit.

The town government's letter was a bluff to see if they could scare the school board into a quick cash donation. Since Frank Secret will be back in school in the fall, the school board should stick to its guns and avoid getting involved in partisan town politics.

[Bob Dixon]

Hi

So the town Board will keep the Sergeant and balance its budget by other means (most not good I think you would agree) and the school board will continue to keep its slush fund hidden in the mattress.

Now if we just had a benevolent dictatorship

Bob D.