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, Saranac, Saranac Lake, Schroon Lake, Ticonderoga, Tupper Lake, Westport and Willsboro

Area Director Electronic Newsletter

Welcome to the May 6, 2009 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.

It was wonderful seeing several people from Area 6 at the NSBA Convention in early April.  It was good to spend time with Larry and Chris from CEWW BOCES and Joey, Ron and Dan from Northern Adirondack.  It was good to meet the wives that accompanied their husbands on the trip.  We had a great convention, fine weather and were able to bring a lot back with us to share with our fellow board members and administrators.  As I said in my recent On Board column, attendance at conventions and workshops is essential for effective Boardmanship.  We expect it of our staffs and our constituents should expect it of us as their elected representatives.
 
I was glad to see Craig, Chris and Roger at the BOCES Workshop.  It's always a valuable time to gather up-to-date information.  The Executive Director of AESA, which is the umbrella organization for all BOCES and, in other states, those districts that have responsibilities similar to BOCES, was the keynote speaker.   Educational Service Organizations are efficiently helping their component districts do the best for their students and their community constituents.  BOCES Board members and superintendents should think about attending the annual AESA Conventions.  It is the only convention geared specifically to organizations like BOCES.  Check them out at www.aesa.us/.
 
As always, please contact me with a list of your upcoming events or with any questions you may have regarding Area 6 issues that I may be of help with.  

County Associations are in the midst of holding their recognition events for graduating seniors.  I really enjoy attending those and will do so if asked, as long as it doesn't interfere with my own Board meetings, which is the case with the Clinton County SBA this year.  I apologize for not being able to attend that big and enjoyable event.  Wayne has been great about attending as many of them as he is invited to.  
 
Chancellor Tisch has agreed to be one of our featured speakers, along with David Albert of NYSSBA, at the September 24 Area 6 Dinner in Malone.  Chancellor Tisch was delighted to be asked, especially since she is looking to improve her standing upstate.  Here is our chance to hear her and to share our concerns with her, in addition to having the talented and experienced David share with us his expertise, which will be important in keeping us aware of all developments that will affect our decision-making.  It should be an exciting evening.

Best of luck to all of you when you present your budgets to the voters.  These are challenging times.  Enough said.  

2009 Teacher Contract Survey Results

Data collection and inputting on the 2009 Teacher Contract Survey has concluded and final reports are being produced. Statewide results were mailed to all superintendents; letting them know county-level data is available upon request. A summary of the data was published in the April 27 issue of On Board.

Everett R. Dyer Distinguished Service Award

The Everett R. Dyer Distinguished Service Award nomination forms have been mailed to board presidents and superintendents and on the NYSSBA website - www.nyssba.org. Area 8 Director Antha Robbins chairs the committee, with NYSSBA Deputy Director of Communications Barbara Bradley serving as staff liaison.  The nomination deadline is June 1.

Technology and Schools

NYSSBA staff has been meeting with the Capital Region BOCES NERIC staff to discuss their technological capabilities for producing and delivering NYSSBA statewide training electronically. 

Several staff, along with President Schlifke, recently visited the IBM research facility in Hawthorne to discuss the use of technology to contain school district costs.

All in Favor brochure

“All in Favor” brochures have been sent to all district and BOCES superintendents and presidents.    The brochure does a great job of communicating the importance of school board elections.  If you have not received your copies yet, please contact NYSSBA at 800-342-3360.

McCormick to head NBC

During the National School Boards Association Annual Convention, former NYSSBA President Edward McCormick was elected chair of the National Black Caucus of School Board Members.  One of the perks of being chair of the National Caucus is that Ed now sits on both the NSBA Board and the NYSSBA Board (as an ex-officio director).  Congratulations Ed!

NYSSBA Multi-State Reception

The multi-state Presidents’ reception held during the National School Boards Association Annual Convention in San Diego was a huge success.  Three other state associations, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island, joined NYSSBA in co-sponsoring the reception, splitting the cost and bringing board members from different states together to share stories, ideas and laughs.  In 2010, NYSSBA is hoping more states decide to join us.

NYSSBA to meet with Local Associations

Tim Kremer has invited all executive directors of local school boards associations to meet with him and several senior NYSSBA staff on May 7 to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Task Force on Maximizing School District Resources - Phase II

The Task Force on Maximizing School District Resources - Phase II met for the first time on May 1.  Over 15 representatives from education, technology, business, banking and other industries and agencies joined the NYSSBA Executive Committee on the Task Force.  There appears to be very strong support for working together on this critical issue.

MTA

As of this writing, the state legislature is poised to bail out the Metropolitan Transit Authority in part by using a tax on payroll in the counties served by the MTA.  The tax of 34 cents on every $100 of payroll, applies to all employers, including schools.  In a cooperative effort with the Nassau-Suffolk, Westchester Putnam SBAs and the Lower Hudson School Study Council, NYSSBA members were influential in securing reimbursement for schools districts.  NYSSBA members throughout the state came to the aid of their downstate colleagues by sending over 1500 faxed letters and making hundreds of telephone calls to legislators.  While we are obviously pleased to have the state treat schools differently from all other employers by addressing the financial impact this action will have on them, we are disappointed that schools will be forced to pay this new tax and wait for the state to reimburse them at some future, unspecified date. Taxing our schools to pay for public transportation is a new and convoluted approach that does not bode well for possible future statewide expansion of the tax.

Mayoral Control

NYSSBA Executive Director Tim Kremer continues to work in cooperation with Steve Sanders on the issue of reauthorization of NYC mayoral control, which is now heating up.  NYSSBA position’s are stated in a letter posted on our website - www.nyssba.org - and potential bill sponsors have asked us to help draft bill language.  USDOE Secretary Arnie Duncan, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Chancellor Joel Klein have come out very strong in support of mayoral control.  Our work is cut out for us.

Leadership Toolbox Series

The next scheduled Leadership Toolbox Series will focus on the board’s role in teacher quality.  As this is a topic with a broad reach, it will be divided into two parts:  “The Board’s Role in Teacher Quality Part I: Attracting and developing high quality teachers” and “The Board’s Role in Teacher Quality Part II: Evaluating, training, and supporting teachers to whom you’ll grant tenure”.   The Leadership Toolbox Series on teacher quality will each be offered in three locations across the state (see 2009 events listing below).

Coupled with the Leadership Toolbox Series on teacher quality will be a number of 60 to 90 minute webinars.  These webinars will provide further learning and in-depth information on particular topics critical to teacher quality.  It is hoped that webinar topics accompanying the Leadership Toolbox Series on teacher quality will include:

¤    Teacher Performance Evaluations: an in-depth look at various models and evaluation tools with descriptions of use, benefits, and considerations;

¤    3020-a: a description of what happens when a 3020-a is filed, the process, and why it’s important to use evaluations and professional development to prevent getting to a 3020-a;

¤    School Climate: conditions on which a board should focus to develop a school climate conducive to attracting and retaining the best teachers.

2009 Annual Convention

The deadline for proposals for educational seminars for the 90th Annual Convention has past.  NYSSBA has received 109 proposals.  A NYSSBA internal review committee has met in April to begin the selection process.

Two of the four featured speakers that will be used this year for special 90 minute sessions have been selected.  These 90 minute sessions are going to replace the 3 hour in-depth workshops that have previously been held.

NYSSBA welcomes back two past exhibitors to our trade show this fall – French Toast Official Schoolwear and FKA Architects.  This brings our total number of exhibitors to 112. 
Furthermore, we are pleased to report that two past sponsors have renewed their sponsorships with us this year – Hodgson Russ LLP and NYS Laborers – bringing our total number of sponsors to 14.  Kate Chauvin is planning a trip the Utica/Syracuse area at the end of the month to meet with two other past sponsors about their participation with NYSSBA this year.  

We are pleased to welcome 5 new exhibitors to the trade show floor this fall – IDESCO, Inc. (ID badges), GREYHAWK (construction management), US Green Building Council (non-profit ‘green’ building organization), Lester B. Pearson School Board (Canadian school board offering educational opportunities) and Eduware (curriculum/software). 

Student Town Meeting

Albany radio station WAMC hosts periodic Student Town Meetings, providing teachers and students with an opportunity to analyze and discuss social and political issues with specialists in the community, plus a one-hour radio program broadcast on public radio.  Topics range from alcohol/drugs to war.  Tim Kremer was recently a guest on a student town meeting where the subject was whether students should be paid for getting good grades.  This town hall meeting can be heard at http://www.wamcstudenttownmeetings.org/topics-discussed_Brooklyn3_25_09.html, click on “listen to the discussion.”

Chancellor to visit NYSSBA Board

Newly appointed Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch will be meeting with the NYSSBA Board of Directors at their June 6 meeting.  Topics of discussion may include work on new state standards and assessments, P-16 student data systems, and the search for the new Education Commissioner.  A recap of the June meeting will be in a future newsletter.

Presidential Update

NYSSBA President Wayne Schlifke has been quite busy - besides meeting with IBM representatives with NYSSBA staff, he attended the Schuyler-Chemung-Tioga/Steuben Counties and the Allegany-Cattaraugus SBA Annual Meetings.  In the next few weeks, Wayne will be attending local association annual meetings for the 4 County SBA, the Monroe County SBA and Chautauqua County SBA.

Congratulations and Goodbye!

NYSSBA Research Librarian Diane Remmers, recently feted by staff with a party to celebrate her 25th year anniversary, has announced her retirement, effective at the end of May. We are trying to figure out how we’ll get by without her. Congratulations, Diane!

Upcoming Events - 2009

Fiscal Oversight Online
  May 13-June 24 (registration dates:  April 1-May 6)
  June 10-July 22 (registration dates: May 1-June 3)
  June 17-July 29 (registration dates:  April 1-June 10)
  September 2-October 14 (registration dates:  August 5-August 26)
  September 16-October 28 (registration dates:  August 5-September 9)
  October 7-November 18 (registration dates:  August 5-September 30)

Special Education Law Conference
  May 21, Albany, Albany Marriott
  May 28, Rochester, Rochester Marriott Airport
  June 11, Islandia, Islandia Marriott Long Island

Board Officer’s Academy
  May 28, Long Island
  July 31, Fairport, Woodcliff Hotel & Spa
  August 14, Latham, NYSSBA Headquarters
  September 17, White Plains, Crowne Plaza
  September 25, Islandia, Islandia Marriott

School Attorneys Conference
  May 29-31, Bolton Landing

NYS Association of School Business Officials Conference
  June 7-10, Saratoga

Rural Schools Association Conference
  July 13-15, Cooperstown

New Member Weekend Academy
  July 17-18, Buffalo, Hyatt Regency
  July 31-August 1, Ithaca, Ramada Inn
  August 21-22, Long Island, Islandia Marriott
  September 11-12, Albany, Desmond Hotel
  September 26, Newburgh
  October 2-3, Lake Placid, Crowne Plaza Resort and Golf Club

Summer School Law Conference
  July 17, Albany, Desmond
  July 23, Islandia, Marriott Long Island
 
Fiscal Oversight Fundamentals Workshop
  July 18, Buffalo, Hyatt Regency (with New Member Academy)
  July 27, Westchester/Rockland area
  July 28, Westchester/Rockland area
  August 1, Ithaca, Ramada Inn (with New Member Academy)
  August 22, Islandia, Islandia Marriott (with New Member Academy)
  September 12, Albany, Desmond Hotel (with New Member Academy)
  September 21-22, Binghamton, Broome Tioga BOCES
  October 3, Lake Placid, Crowne Plaza Resort and Golf Club (with New Member Academy)
  October 15, New York City (to be held during the 90th Annual Convention)
  November 21, Rochester, Rochester Marriott Airport Hotel
  November 21, Latham, NYSSBA
  December 5, Islandia, Islandia Marriott Long Island

Leadership Toolbox Series - “The Board’s Role in Teacher Quality Part I”
  August 3, Latham, NYSSBA
  August 5, Islandia, Islandia Marriott
  August 8, Cortland, Hampton Inn

Education Law Conference
  August 7 OR 14, Syracuse

Policy Workshop
  August 13, Rochester
  August 17, Latham, NYSSBA
  August 20, Islandia

Leadership Toolbox Series - “The Board’s Role in Teacher Quality Part II”
  September 12, Cortland, Hampton Inn
  September 16, Islandia, Islandia Marriott
  September 21, Latham, NYSSBA

NYS Council of School Superintendents Fall Conference
  October 4-6, Rochester

School Board Institute Courses (3)
  October 15, NYC (during the 90th Annual Convention)
  Plus 2 other dates via video conferencing

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

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

Leadership Toolbox Series - “School Safety Part IV”
  November 14, Watertown
  November 17, Latham, NYSSBA
  November 19, Islandia

School Law Conference
   December 9, Albany