Area 6 Director Dana Smith Represents the Following School Districts:

Au Sable Valley, Beekmantown, Brasher Falls, Brushton-Moira, Canton, Chazy, Clifton-Fine, Clinton-Essex-Warren-Washington BOCES, Colton-Pierrepont, Crown Point, Edwards-Knox, Elizabethtown-Lewis, Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES, Gouverneur, Hammond, Harrisville, Hermon-DeKalb, Heuvelton, Indian Lake, Keene, Lake Placid, Lisbon, Long Lake, Madrid-Waddington, Malone, Massena, Minerva, Moriah, Morristown, Newcomb, Northeastern Clinton, Northern Adirondack, Norwood-Norfolk, Ogdensburg, Parishville-Hopkinton, Peru, Plattsburgh, Potsdam, Putnam, Raquette Lake, Saint Lawrence-Lewis BOCES, Saint Regis Falls, Salmon River, Saranac, Saranac Lake, Schroon Lake, Ticonderoga, Tupper Lake, Westport and Willsboro

Area Director Electronic Newsletter

Welcome to the October 30, 2008 issue of the Area 6 electronic newsletter. The electronic newsletter is designed to facilitate communication between members of your NYSSBA Board of Directors and the Areas they represent. The newsletter contains information about Area 6 and NYSSBA. I hope you find it informative. I would appreciate your sending comments and suggestions for future newsletters to me at area06director@nyssba.org. If any of your board colleagues do not have computer access, a copy will be sent to the district office for distribution. If others with email did not receive their own copy, please submit their e-mail address to NYSSBA at info@nyssba.org.

Convention Recap

The Convention has once again become a part of history, and we in the North Country were fortunate to have such a grand turnout this year.  I want to thank all the Board members, administrators and presenters, along with those accompanying them, for their interest and participation.  It was a wonderful convention and, despite some crowding problems, along with some large rooms with small crowds and a ceiling leak, the comments I received were positive.  The Trade Show was excellent.  The vendors were enthusiastic and those I spoke to enjoyed the opportunity to talk to those who stopped by.  Barry Entwistle, his staff and all of the support from the NYSSBA staff deserve a rousing applause for their hard work and pleasant demeanor throughout.  Thank you. 
 
A bus to next year's convention (October 15-18) has been secured on the west side of Area 6.  Anyone who wishes to ride is welcome to begin thinking about getting their reservations in.  The cost right now appears to be set at the same as this year's cost.  We'd welcome anyone from any district who wishes to leave early Thursday morning and be back home mid to late afternoon on Sunday.

Help us plan for the 90th Convention by sharing your thoughts with Barry Entwistle, NYSSBA Director of Leadership Development, at barry.entwistle@nyssba.org.
 
Teacher of the Year

I was fortunate to have known and worked with the Teacher of the Year when I was on the Horseheads Board of Education in the 1990's.  She has been outstanding for her whole career. 
 
FRN

I'm still looking for more FRN participants.  So far, we have only Chris Belair, who we are fortunate to have as an experienced representative.  If anyone is interested, please let me know by telephone or email.  You can contact me through NYSSBA. 
 
SLN

All Boards should be thinking about sending at least one representative to SLN in March.  Area Directors will not be making appointments.  Instead, the NYSSBA Board decided to request that each member board send one representative to the conference to work with our State Legislators.  It is always a great event and the personal contact is valuable for the whole Area.  Since we will be staying right in downtown Albany, the access will be easier and faster.  Your Board presence would greatly enhance our influence in Albany. 

Comptroller School District Audits

NYSSBA and statewide organizations representing superintendents and school business officials are backing an effort by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to give districts more flexibility in spending money set aside in certain reserve accounts.

DiNapoli recently said school districts cannot legally access as much as $407 million they have set aside in one particular reserve fund meant to cover accrued sick lave and vacation benefits. He said those are surplus funds and called on the Legislature to fix the problem.

As many as 251 districts across the state may have unneeded surpluses in the reserve fund, according to DiNapoli. That number, as well as which districts should be on the list is under dispute as some districts maintain there has been a misinterpretation over financial reports they have filed with the state.  Nonetheless, with the state in the midst of an ever deepening fiscal crisis, school districts will need as much flexibility as possible and NYSSBA will continue to work with state leaders to pass this much needed legislation.

3020-a Teacher Misconduct and Discipline Survey

On October 3, NYSSBA mailed to all member districts a four-page 3020-a survey.  In 1997 and again in 2004, NYSSBA surveyed our member districts on cases filed under Section 3020-a.  A summary of the results has been presented at conferences and used for specific recommendations for reform.  The results have also been quoted extensively by the media across the state and helped convince Assemblyman Magnarelli to introduce a bill containing our reform recommendations,.  But we are not finished yet.  Since current information is vital to support these efforts, NYSSBA sent out a new survey to all member districts on October 3.  The deadline for NYSSBA to receive the survey is November 14.  If you have not received your survey or have any questions, please conatct Patricia Gould, NYSSBA Assistant Council, by e-mail at pat.gould@nyssba.org or 800-342-3360.

Membership Update

Invoices for the 2009 NYSSBA dues were mailed to superintendents on Friday, October 24, 2008.

Maximizing Resources Task Force Report

In October of 2007, the delegates of the Annual Business Meeting directed NYSSBA to create a task force to explore and formulate ways for school districts to contain costs.  The NYSSBA Board of Directors named this group the Task Force on Maximizing Resources and assigned this task to the NYSSBA Executive Committee.  As part of the deliberations, the task force reviewed the reports of two key commissions - the NYS Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness and the NYS Commission on Property Tax Relief.  The result of this is a report by the task force containing 55 recommendations worthy of consideration by school districts as well as state lawmakers.  These recommendations were selected for their potential to provide meaningful cost relief for the largest number of school districts.  The full report is available online at www.nyssba.org.   I urge you to review the report, consider and discuss the recommendations, and share your thoughts with NYSSBA online.

Your Opionion Counts!

The September Pulse Poll on the millionaire's tax garnered over 1,000 responses, which is the highest reponse to-date since the pulse poll was launched earlier this year.  In the meantime, data continues to roll in on the 2008 membership survey.  NYSSBA’s Communications Department continues to input data and prepare for an in-depth analysis once all surveys are tallied.  A full report will be delivered to the membership by year’s end.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Members of the NYSSBA Communication and Research Department served as judges for the New Jersey School Board Association's communications competition, evaluating the content and design of a number of publications, websites and videos produced by school districts in the Garden State.

NYSSBA Legislative Action Center

Have you seen the redesigned Legislative Action Center on the NYSSBA Website?  Go to www.nyssba.org, click on Advocacy/Legislation, then click on Legislative Action Center.  Get direct access to your representative(s), learn what the key issues are and get information so you can weigh in on important legislative initiatives.

2009 Walk of Excellence

During the National School Boards Association Annual Convention, April 4-8, 2009 in San Diego, CA, NSBA will be hosting a Walk of Excellence.  The Walk showcases tabletop displays used by school districts to highlight effective local programs to conference attendees.  If you or anyone from your district plans to attend the NSBA Convention and would like to showcase your program, go to http://www.nsba.org/conference/excellence/eef_home.crm to access the online proposal form.  If you have any questions regarding the Walk of Excellence, contact Bethany Kashawlic at bkashawlic@nsba.org or Valarie Carty at vcarty@nsba.org.

Upcoming Events - 2008
 
Fiscal Oversight Workshop
  November 15, Fairport, Woodcliff Hotel
  November 15 - Ronkonkoma, Courtyard by Marriott Long Island
  November 22 – Elmira, Holiday Inn Elmira
  December 13 – Oneonta, Holiday Inn Oneonta

Wellness Policy Workshops
  November 7, Rochester Marriott Airport
  November 14, Latham, NYSSBA Headquarters
  November 20, Islandia Marriott Long Island

Superintendent Search Workshops
  November 18, Rochester Marriott Airport
  December 10, Islandia Marriott Long Island
  December 16, Latham NYSSBA Office

School Law Conference
  December 10, Albany Holiday Inn Turf
  December 11, Rochester Marriott Airport

Upcoming Events - 2009

School Law Conference
  January 22, Islandia Marriott
  December 9, Albany

Fiscal Fitness Workshops
  January 23, Latham, NYSSBA headquarters
  February 13, Long Island
  February 27, Rochester
  March 20, Buffalo
  April 24, Utica

Fiscal Oversight Fundamentals Workshop
  January 24, Latham, NYSSBA headquarters
  February 28, Long Island
  March 21, Rochester
  July 27, Westchester/Rockland area
  July 28, Westchester/Rockland area
  August 10, Southern Tier area
  August 11, Southern Tier area
  August 24, Oswego/Syracuse/Utica area
  August 25, Oswego/Syracuse/Utica area
  October 15, New York City (to be held during the 90th Annual Convention)
  November 7, Rochester area
  November 14, Ulster/Orange County area
  December 5, Long Island

National School Boards Association’s Federal Relations Network Conference
  February 1-3, Washington, D.C.

Fiscal Oversight Online
  February 18-April 1
  April 15 - May 27
  April 29 - June 10
  May 13 - June 24
  June 10 - July 22
  June 17 - July 29
  September 2 - October 14
  September 16 - October 28
  October 7 - November 18
 
State Legislative Network Issues Conference
  March 1-3, Albany

National School Boards Association’s Annual Convention
  April 4-7, San Diego, CA

Joint BOCES Workshop
  May 1 and 2, location to be determined

Special Education Law Conference
  May 22, Albany
  May 28, Rochester
  June 11, Long Island

NYS Association of School Business Officials Conference
  May 31-June 3, Saratoga

Board Officer’s Academies
  June 20, Rochester
  August 14, Latham, NYSSBA Headquarters
  September 25, Long Island
  November 7, Westchester

Rural Schools Association Conference
  July 13-15, Cooperstown

New Member Weekend Academies
  July 17-18, Buffalo
  September 11-12, Albany
  TBD, Long Island
  2 more dates and locations TBD

Veteran Weekend Academy
  TBD, Albany

Summer School Law Conference
  July 17, Albany
  July 23, Long Island

NYS Council of School Superintendents Fall Conference
  October 4-6

School Board Institute Courses (3)
  October 15, NYC (during the 90th Annual Convention)
  Plus 2 other regional lcoations and dates TBD

Pre-Convention School Law Seminar
  October 15, New York City

90th Annual Convention
  October 15-18, New York City