Local District Advocacy & R.E.A.D.’s Work on Unfunded Mandates

1. Local District Advocacy & R.E.A.D.’s Work on Unfunded Mandates READ School Districts: Brewster, Croton-Harmon, Garrison, Haldane, Hendrick-Hudson, Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery, Lakeland

2. Started in 2004 • Member districts include Brewster, Croton-Harmon, Garrison, Haldane, Hendrick-Hudson, Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery, Lakeland • Superintendents and board trustees • The seven R.E.A.D. districts represent… • Over 85,000 residents, • 14,900 students, and • Approximately $365 million spending on schools. R.E.A.D. Presentation, Fall 2010 NYSBBA Conference

3. Mission • To improve public education by combining the vision, talents, and resources of neighboring districts to advocate among: • Local, state, and national legislators • Media • State-wide associations and groups • The local community R.E.A.D. Presentation, Fall 2010 NYSBBA Conference

4. R.E.A.D. Why Local Advocacy? • Sounding board for districts with similar interests. • Enhances commitment. • Does not conflict with state or regional school board associations. • Orients members to political landscape. • Provides insight into other local districts. 4

5. R.E.A.D. Key Goals Driving R.E.A.D. Advocacy • Fair and sufficient funding for all districts • Relief from state and federal mandates • More effective local school board function and control • Relief from standardized tests Specific Focus (Past 3 Years) • Rolling back unfunded mandates, by making lawmakers aware of their actual costs • Sharing cost saving ideas among the R.E.A.D. districts • TRS and ERS pension fund shortfalls 5

6. Unfunded Mandates R.E.A.D. created a template that itemizes and presents information on estimating the cost of unfunded mandates. • Over 90 mandates are included, segmented into categories: 6 R.E.A.D. Presentation, Fall 2010 NYSBBA Conference

7. Unfunded Mandates • State, Federal and SED mandates are included. • Does not include mandates which R.E.A.D. feels are necessary district obligations. • Does not include costs associated with Benefits (retirement system, health, etc.), Wick’s Law (over the life of the loan), Triborough and other major benefit, negotiation or construction costs. • The compilation is an objective view of mandate costs. • Each mandate has cost consequences whether or not they are beneficial. • The list is continuously updated and revised to be a more accurate representation of mandate obligations. • The most recent revision is an update developed in December 2009. R.E.A.D. Presentation, Fall 2010 NYSBBA Conference 7

8. Unfunded Mandates • Be informed: • We need to understand where and how funding is spent. • Responsible leadership: • We represent taxpayers. These mandates are paid for by local property taxes. • Accountability and transparency: • School districts must show how they spend money. 8

9. Mandate Cost Calculation • Each district compiles their own data. • NYSBBA and Westchester Putnam School Board Association (WPSBA) are helping to coordinate the effort. • Definitions for mandate have been developed so that districts are consistent in identifying costs associated with mandates. • Methods for estimating personnel hours and other costs, ST3 locations, etc. are provided to make cost calculations easier. • Templates for estimating testing costs and Wick’s law costs are provided. R.E.A.D. Presentation, Fall 2010 NYSBBA Conference 9

10. Unfunded Mandates • Categories, descriptions, and account codes are provided. • School districts provide actual amounts. • Aid is subtracted from total costs. As per ST3)/Descriptions . (These are codes we think are applicable. You might code things differently in your district.) R.E.A.D. Presentation, Fall 2010 NYSBBA Conference 10

11. The Cost of Unfunded Mandates • In FY ‘08-09, the total cost for these unfunded mandates for seven districts was $94.4 million, or an average of20%of the entire school budget. Total School District Budgets: $464.8 million Source: Unfunded Mandate spreadsheet, 8 districts, FY ’08-’09: Brewster, Carmel, Croton-Harmon, Garrison, Haldane, Hendrick-Hudson, Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery, Lakeland 11

12. The Cost of Unfunded Mandates • In FY ‘07-’08, the total cost for nine Westchester and Putnam Districts was $222.2 million dollars or an average of16.3% of the entire school budget. Total School District Budgets: $682.5 million Source: Unfunded Mandate spreadsheet, 9 districts, FY ’07-’08: Brewster, Briarcliff, Chappaqua, Croton-Harmon, Garrison, Haldane, Hendrick Hudson, Lakeland, and White Plains 12

13. The Cost of Unfunded Mandates *Other = Health & Safety (1.4%), Finance (.4%), Buildings and Grounds and other (category not specified) mandates (<1%) Source: Unfunded Mandate spreadsheet, 8 districts FY ’08-’09: Brewster, Carmel Croton-Harmon, Garrison, Haldane, Hendrick-Hudson, Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery, Lakeland 13

14. Statewide Costs * Not including big 5 cities and special act districts. Source: Unfunded Mandate spreadsheet, 8 districts FY ’08-’09: Brewster, Carmel Croton-Harmon, Garrison, Haldane, Hendrick-Hudson, Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery, Lakeland 14

15. Potential Cost to State State Costs for Prekindergarten, Primary, Secondary and Continuing Education ~26.1% of state budget 680 school districts, 3 million students *Mandates based on extrapolation to 675 districts, state spending is based on 680 districts. Most likely percents would be higher. 15

16. The Cost of Unfunded Mandates The numbers add up quickly for eight school districts... • Over $587,881 in testing costs. • Over $151,460 in internal audit costs. • Over $541,093 in data warehousing costs. • Over $287,338 in special education legal costs. • Over $66,185 in Special Education (STAC) reporting. • Over $118,000 in clerical costs associated with professional development & monitoring highly qualified teacher requirements. • Over $209,779 in inspections, monitoring, and compliance (OSHA, DEC, elevators, fire safety, extinguishers). Source: Unfunded Mandate spreadsheet, 8 districts FY ’08-’09: Brewster, Carmel Croton-Harmon, Garrison, Haldane, Hendrick-Hudson, Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery, Lakeland 16

17. The Cost of Unfunded Mandates * Not including big 5 cities and special act districts. Source: Unfunded Mandate spreadsheet, 8 districts FY ’08-’09: Brewster, Carmel Croton-Harmon, Garrison, Haldane, Hendrick-Hudson, Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery, Lakeland 17

18. Why Bother? • Financial evidence of the burden of legislative actions and impact on schools and the tax payer. • Compelling financial argument to legislators and for legislators to use with others. • Explanation provided to taxpayer. • Going Forward – • Argument for involving superintendents and trustees in review of legislation so that they can identify hidden costs. • Argument for financial calculation of the cost of bills before they become law. • Argument in opposition to a highly restrictive tax cap. 18

19. Legislation Initial RequestMay 2011 • Unfunded mandate reduction act, following the lines of the federal paperwork reduction act. • Requires a cost estimate for each new mandate from the legislature or the education department. These costs would be calculated for the different types of local districts and accumulated for a statewide total mandate cost. • Reduce school districts printing costs bill • Permits school districts to circulate and publish documents electronically, using district or BOCES websites. Paper copies of documents would be prepared and mailed only on request, on an ‘opt-in’ basis. • NYSED would be required to accept the STACS special education reports in electronic form. • Legislation to reduce the cost of the new controller’s audits, which have cost taxpayers more to conduct than they have saved. • Reduce the frequency to every two years • Streamline the requirements on districts who have had clean records for two cycles, to a half-cost audit. • Support for the bill allowing amortization of TRS payments (Member Abbate’s Bill Number A06309 - Same as State Senate Number S 4067). 19

20. Advocacy - 5 NYSSBA Resolutions (3 Adopted, 2 Proposed) Two R.E.A.D. resolutions this year, identified as Hendrick Hudson SD resolutions, concerning pension fund and testing relief, supported by all R.EA.D districts. • Government • Meetings with Legislators • Provided unfunded mandate data/ analysis to SED, Commission on Real Property Tax Relief, Commission on Unfunded Mandates • Working with Assemblywoman Galef on mandate relief. Media Exposure • School Districts • Original mandate template completed by 9 districts. • Other local advocacy groups have formed. The Gazette Successes

21. R.E.A.D. How to Start an Local Advocacy Group • Consider… • Location • Common issues • Shared legislators • Commitment (monthly meetings, website, goals) 21

22. R.E.A.D. How to calculate your unfunded mandate costs and participate in the larger initiative. EmailKarenzevin@croton-harmonschools.orgfor copy of unfunded mandate, testing, and Wick’s law template. OR Double click on icon for a copy of the unfunded mandate worksheet. Unfunded Mandate, Wick’s Law and Testing Templates 22

23. R.E.A.D. QUESTIONS 23

24. R.E.A.D. Brewster Central School District 30 Farm to Market Road Brewster, NY 10509 Superintendent Dr. Jane Sandbank jsandbank@brewsterschools.org 845-279-8000 President of Board of Education Dr. Stephen Jambor oehan@aol.com Haldane Central School District 15 Craigside Drive Cold Spring, NY 10516 Superintendent Dr. Mark Villanti mvillanti@haldane.lhric.org 845-265-9254 President of Board of Education David Merandy dmerandy@haldane.lhric.org Hendrick Hudson Central School District 61 Trolley Road Montrose, NY 10548 Superintendent Dr. Daniel McCann Daniel.McCann@henhudschools.org Phone: 914-257-5112 President of Board of Education Marion Walsh Marion.Walsh@henhudschools.org

25. R.E.A.D. Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery School District PO Box 287 Highland Falls, NY 10928 Superintendent Dr. Debra Jackson djackson@hffmcsd.org Phone (845) 446-9575 President of the Board of Education Kevin D'Onofrio kdonofrio@hffmcsd.org Lakeland Central School District 1086 East Main Street Shrub Oak, NY 10588 Superintendent Dr. George Stone gstone@lakelandschools.org 914-245-1700, ext. 222 President of Board of Education Elizabeth Kogler

26. R.E.A.D. Garrison Union Free School District 1100 Route 9D Garrison, NY 10524 Superintendent Gloria J. Colucci* gcolucci@gufs.org 845-424-3689 President of Board of Education Carol McCullough cmccullough@gufs.org, Croton-Harmon Union Free School District 10 Gerstein Street Croton-On-Hudson, NY 10520 Superintendent Dr. Edward R. Fuhrman Jr.* Edward.fuhrman@chufsd.org 914-271-4793 President of Board of Education Karen Zevin Karen.zevin@chufsd.org * R.E.A.D. Co-Chairs for 2010-2011 Website: http://www.READ1.Org