With just days to go before students burst through the school doors, eager to start another year of education, Penn Yan School administrators still have questions about state and federal aid.
Doug Tomandl, assistant superintendent for business, told the Penn Yan Board of Education at its Aug. 25 meeting that the district will receive about $600,000 in additional state aid than was originally expected. Some of the increase is due to the second year payment of federal funds from the American Recovery Act in the amount of $626,849. Another $541,394 comes to the school district from the recently passed federal jobs bill.
While this all seems to be good news, and it looks like the district will be getting $600,000 more in state aid than was expected, Tomandl says he’s concerned that the state education department may decide to make some mid-year cuts that could reduce the aid package.
On top of that, Superintendent Ann Orman said it’s unclear how much of the federal Race to the Top funds the district could get, but an early estimate is under $100,000, and the money will only be used for a specific purpose, most likely evaluations of new teachers and principals, based on student scores.
If the school does get that money, the evaluation process will need to be negotiated with the teacher’s union. Specific information won’t be available until May, and if the school district is going to participate, the program must be in place by July.
Other items on the board’s agenda Aug. 25 included:
• ASSESSMENTS: Howard Dennis, assistant superintendent for instruction, presented information on spring test results.
• SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Board Vice President Kathy Guenther thanked the transportation department for making a bus available for the collection of back to school supplies. She said volunteers were able to fill 600 backpacks with the donations people provided.
• VEHICLE INSPECTIONS: Tomandl reported that the department of transportation conducted an inspection of school buses which resulted in a 97.9 percent passing rate.
• DONATION: The board accepted a donation of $1549.47 from the Penn Yan Junior Mustangs for the purchase of carpet bonded cheerleading mats.
