New Eldred board in place

SUSAN WADE
Posted 7/11/18

ELDRED, NY — Now that the leadership of the district is firmly in place, they will need to find the resolve to stay the course to restore Eldred Central School district to academic and fiscal …

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New Eldred board in place

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ELDRED, NY — Now that the leadership of the district is firmly in place, they will need to find the resolve to stay the course to restore Eldred Central School district to academic and fiscal health.

Carol Bliefernich and Amador Laput were returned to their roles as president and vice president of the school board, and Scott Hallock took his place at the table as the newly elected member of the board. These three will decide which two individuals will join them to occupy the seats of those who resigned following the school board election.

Bliefernich stated that as of July 2, five letters of interest had been submitted to fill the two seats. Interviews will be held on July 18 and the positions will be announced at the August 9 meeting.

No input from the public will be considered; instead, the public will get the opportunity to opine in the next vote which occurs in May 2019. The interviews will be conducted by the board members and Superintendent Dr. John Morgano. It is assumed, though not assured, that the individuals named in August will be among those candidates in 2019.

The individuals selected will serve until the next school board election. At that time, three positions will be on the ballot. The top vote getter will serve a full five-year term, the second highest will serve for three years and the third highest will serve for one year, thus maintaining the rotation by which a seat is open every year for a five-year term.

Treasurer Caleb Russell reported that he expects the unappropriated fund balance to be negative once the books are closed on the fiscal year ended June 30. Unappropriated funds are for operating purposes, and the fund balance is basically the same as money in the bank. Although funds are available for other purposes, many of these funds cannot be co-mingled.

Morgano has said repeatedly that restoring the unappropriated fund balance to 4% of operating costs, or about $800,000 in the next four years, is imperative to the long term financial viability of the district. He said at the meeting that any unexpended funds will be used to replenish the fund balance rather than for other purposes.

He also stated that he is creating goals to improve academic outcomes and to address building and grounds needs as part of a five-year capital plan. He said that combining the schools is not part of the foreseeable future, as such an action would leave them five classrooms short. Further, he said that insurance costs have not increased as a result of the bullying litigation, which is still in the appeals process.

Hallock was appointed to the audit committee to serve with Laput, who had previously been appointed. Paul Clark had also been appointed as a member from the community. Hallock said that he’s not in favor of Clark continuing to hold the position, saying that he didn’t want anybody negative on any committee. Bliefernich said, “I hear you, but in the interest of clarity, Clark has said that the people have spoken.”

Morgano said that the district cannot go back to its previous practice of spending beyond its means. Bliefernich noted that fiscal restraint will look less and less appealing in the future. She also said that the goal is to not shrink in any more ways, alluding to cutting programs, and that this is how “we will remain the gem that we are.”

eldred school board

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