Dear Colleagues,
Below is a quick synopsis of the BOE meeting on Thurs., Oct 10, 2013.
* The State provided the estimated Empire Health Insurance rates for Jan. to June 2014 last spring at 11.2%. A new estimate was received and confirmed at 4% from the State.
* This overbudgeted amount resulted in the BOE deciding to increase staff as follows:
***one full-time teaching assistant to be assigned on an as-needed basis by the principal in Grade 5 at Searingtown.
***one full-time teaching assistant to be assigned on an as-needed basis by the principal in Grade 3 at Searingtown.
***ten 3 hour aides to be assigned on an as-needed basis in Kindergarten classes in each of the elementary schools ( three at Center, four at Denton, and three at Searingtown).
* Board approved the above and staff is to be hired as soon as possible. I'm happy that the Board provided the much needed assistance at the elementary schools.
* The Board president and the Superintendent sent a letter to Assemblywoman Schimel, Senator Martins and Comptroller DiNapoli about the negative impact of the 2% Tax Cap and impending 1.6% Tax Cap for 2014-2015 on our schools. The difference between 1.66% and 2% is over 300,000 which is equivalent to three full time teachers which would adversely affect close to 300 students and their families based on grade level adjustments. They asked and noted that any help would be appreciated.
In unity,
Nidya Degliomini
President
Herricks Teachers' Association