A number of important topics were discussed at the August 12, 2008 School Board Meeting that Hein and I attended.  Topics included:

• Disposition of the Fair Plan revenue being returned to the district
• Unappropriated Fund Balance increase
• Approach to new superintendent search
• Board objectives for 2008/09

Fair Plan Revenue

Approximately $590,000 in sales tax revenue, that was going to be lost with the FAIR Plan, and was not budgeted for 2008/09, will now be received.

The options for this revenue are legally limited.  Generally, it must be used to reduce the TAX LEVY.  The tax levy is the TOTAL property tax required to meet the budget.

The tax levy INCREASE will become 2.7% vs. the originally budgeted 3.9% increase.  NOTE:  The effect on your individual property tax depends on your assessment.

Unappropriated Fund Balance

Legally, each school district may maintain up to 4% of their total budget in a “contingency” fund.  Brighton maintained a 3% balance.  But due to an anticipated year-end surplus, this fund balance is being increased to 4%.

Is this a good financial decision from the taxpayers’ perspective?  Could this surplus be used to further reduce the tax levy?

Finding a New Superintendent

The Board discussed options on how to proceed with the search for a new Superintendent.  Should a search consulting firm be hired?  Should the Board take on the task themselves?

As I listened to this discussion, I was concerned that the Board, with potential community input, did not consider setting some broad parameters on the search?  For example:

• Greater Rochester area or Upstate NY or all NY or a national search?
• Salary range?
• School size and type background?
• Years as a Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent?

When you consider the purchase of a new car, you don’t start with ALL cars.  You decide you want to first look at (say) SUVs, under $30,000, from Toyota, Honda and GMC.  If you then do not find a vehicle that satisfies you, you broaden your search.  But you start with some general parameters.

Board Objectives 2008/09

One of the objectives will be evaluation of the technology program.  Brighton has spent approximately $1 million annually for the last 10 years on technology.  I have personally been critical of this expenditure level.  I frequently have asked how do we relate educational outcomes to this $1 million expense?

It will be extremely interesting to see how this evaluation proceeds.