Public Commentary and Questions

October 3, 2013 Board of Education Meeting
Aug. 5, 2013 Board of Education Meeting

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Aug. 5, 2013 Board of Education Meeting

Q: Why is the District going from a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) structure to an Assistant Principal structure?
A: Katonah-Lewisboro School District has used several administrative and support models to support students and staff, especially at the elementary level. Recently, the model has been that Katonah Elementary School has had an assistant principal while the other three elementary schools have had Teachers on Special Assignment. The significant difference between the two positions is related to the supervision of staff. The change from a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) to an assistant principal model will mean that the people serving in those roles will now be able to participate in the observation of teachers as related to the requirements of the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR). This switch is necessary to adhere to and comply with the volume of teacher observations and evaluations required by APPR, which has quadrupled the number of observations and evaluations the District must conduct each year.

All of our TOSAs hold administrative certification, have been trained in the supervision and evaluation of teachers, and will take additional workshops this year in order to support them in fulfilling this responsibility. As for the salary and step, the staff members were placed on the salary scale for the 2013-2014 school year only. If they were to remain in the position beyond this school year, the salary and step may be adjusted. If the staff members returned to the classroom, they would be placed back on the teacher salary schedule as per the contract. For the 2013-2014 school year, they will be members of the administrative association, not the KLDTA. 


Q: What is the process for the Board of Education not to approve a substitute teacher appointment? 
A: The Board of Education cannot comment on an individual employee, but all input is considered. It is important that anyone with a concern regarding the performance of a staff member report those concerns to the supervisor, in this case, the building principal. The building seeks guidance from Human Resources as appropriate to the nature of the concern. 


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October 3, 2013 Board of Education Meeting

Q. What is the Definition of the Final Budget presented in the External Auditors PowerPoint Presentation?
A. While explaining slide number 4, the auditor referenced the column with the heading "Original Budget" and the column with heading "Final Budget".  The community member asked what the difference was between these two columns was and why do the two columns differ.

Original Budget
Each year the community votes on a budget for the upcoming school year.  In the spring of 2012, the voters approved a budget in the amount of $112,996,167.  At the end of the fiscal year (2011-12) there existed encumbrances (purchase orders) in the amount of $1,244,804.  Those purchase orders were an obligation that the district had outstanding.  As a means of accounting for these outstanding purchase orders (from 2011-12) they are carried forward into the next year's budget appropriations (so that they can be properly accounted for).  When the encumbrances from the prior year (2011-12) are added to the 2012-13 approved budget the result is what the auditors refer to as the "Original Budget".

2012 Voter Approved Budget                                        $112,996,167
Plus Prior Year Outstanding Encumbrances                       1,244,804
"Original Budget"                                                        $114,240,971


On page 4 of the auditors presentation, this (figure of $114,240,971) is represented on two lines in the column headed "Original Budget":

Total Expenditures                                                      $113,137,370
Plus Transfers Out                                                           1,103,600
Total                                                                          $114,240,970 ($1 rounding)


Final Budget
Throughout the year (2012-13) there were adjustments to the budget based on court ordered tax certiorari judgments, gifts received, grants (SRO) received, insurance recoveries, etc.  These adjustments amounted to $442,541.  The "Original Budget" as described above is increased by this amount (as is allowed based on these particular circumstances) to yield the following "Final Budget"

"Original Budget" - explained above                                $114,240,971
Plus BOE approved adjustments (gifts, tax certs)                    442,541
"Final Budget"                                                              $114,683,512


On the page 4 of the auditors presentation, this (figure of $114,683,512) is represented on two lines in the column headed "Final Budget":

Total Expenditures                                                         $112,342,150
Plus Transfers Out                                                              2,341,361
Total                                                                             $114,683,511 ($1 rounding)
    

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