Akron Board of Education sets tax rates, receives budget update
Akron Central School Business Administrator Cynthia Tretter met with the Board to give a budget update at their August 11 Board meeting. She noted that the District has more reserves than anticipated due to factors which changed after the budget was prepared.
When developing the budget for 2020-2021, the District had information from the state that 20 percent of their state funding would be withheld. During the course of the year the state returned that 20 percent and unanticipated Federal funding was received.
“We are managing those reserves well,” Tretter said, noting that as the District moves toward permanent bonding of the capital project the reserve balances will help keep interest rates lower.
Tretter presented Board members with a handout giving prior year projects and final tax rates, as well as examples of equalization rate changes and impact on tax rates.
Board members approved tax rates later in the meeting: Newstead $13.215685; Clarence $13.215685; Alden $16.416999; Royalton $18.293894; Royalton $18.293894; Lockport $16.838698; Alabama $16.649499; Pembroke $14.818054.
Training expanded
Teachers and staff will have expanded opportunities for training at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year, Superintendent McCabe shared during last week’s Board of Education meeting.
The first of three Superintendent Conference Days will focus on building knowledge and capacity to work with Native American students, with training for all staff. Time to look at International Indigenous People Day, September 30 and historical trauma as well as time to develop plans for what will be called “Every Child Matters Day,” is included in the first day.
A Dynamic speaker on relationships is leading the second conference day with a focus on reconnecting with students and building relationships.
Rekindling Spirit, getting excited about everyone being back together, should have the Elementary, Middle School, and High School rocking the third day.
Capital Project
Work under the Capital Project is on schedule, Superintendent McCabe told Board members. The domestic hot water tanks for bathrooms and showers should be in place prior to the opening of school and the new fuel island at the bus garage should be ready for a fuel delivery soon.
Instructional Personnel
Board members voted to create a temporary, 1.0 Full-Time (FTE) Academic Learning Center and Afterschool Programs Coordinator, effective September 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022; approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Akron Faculty Association regarding that position, and approved the special assignment of High School Teacher, Susan Palmer to that position.
Anna Bargnesi was appointed to a full-time, long-term substitute Special Education Teacher position effective September 1, 2021 through January 24, 2022, or until Alicia Nowak returns.
Molly Milleville was appointed to a full-time, long-term substitute Elementary Education Teacher position effective September 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. (TOSA Stephanie Schreck).
Board members accepted the letter of resignation from school psychologist, Danielle Behringer, effective August 20, 2021, and the letter of resignation from teaching assistant, Amanda Cottle effective August 4, 2021.
Summer 2021 curriculum work and staff, as submitted by Mrs. Andrea Kersten, Director of Educational Services, was approved for several teachers, subjects, and grade levels.
Kathy Chubb was approved as an instructional substitute for the 2021-2022 school year.
Sheila Madore was appointed to the probationary position in the English 7-12 tenure area for a two-year probationary period retroactive to September 1, 2013 and ending August 31, 2022. (replacing Matthew Abrams)
Amanda Hooper was appointed to a probationary position in the Mathematics 7-12 tenure area for a probationary period beginning on September 1, 2021 and expiring on August 31, 2025. (new position).
Ryan Levy was appointed to a probationary position in the Social Studies 7-12 tenure area for a probationary period commencing on September 1, 2021 and expiring on August 31, 2025. (Replacing Susan Palmer).
Danielle Burns-Heim was appointed to a probationary position in the Social Studies 7-12 tenure area for a probationary period beginning on September 1, 2021 and expiring on August 31, 2025. (a new position).
Joy Kelley was appointed to a full-time regular probationary position as a Teacher Assistant in the tenure area of Teacher Assistant (a new position).
Alex Kostek was appointed to a full-time regular probationary position as a Teacher Assistant in the tenure area of Teacher Assistant, beginning on September 1, 2021 and ending on August 31, 2025.
Non-Instructional Personnel
Board of Education members accepted the letter of resignation from senior clerk typist, Gloria Cinotti, effective August 6, 2021 and the letter of resignation from auto mechanic, Jacob Clark, effective August 9, 2021.
Sandra Janson was appointed to the position of senior clerk typist on a permanent basis effective as of August 26, 2021. Ms. Janson currently holds a permanent appointment as a senior clerk typist with the Williamsville CSD and this is a transfer appointment under Rule XVI of the Rules for the Classified Service issued by the Erie County Commissioner of Personnel. The Board determined that there is no preferred list in the District for the position of senior clerk typist and there is no departmental promotion list in the District The transfer appointment was approved by the Erie County Personnel Office.
Jennifer Maier was appointed to an auto mechanic position effective August 23, 2021.
Kerry Gates was appointed to a temporary senior clerk typist position effective August 9, 2021 through September 3, 2021.
2021-2022 hours for food service helper, Christi Dukat were amended and Food Service Summer Training hours approved for food service substitutes Wendy Baumler, Darlene Hudson, and Karen Reigle-Scheitheir.
Carylee Logan and Paul D’Addario were approved as Bus Attendant substitutes; George Roeser and Tracy Spenton as Bus Driver substitutes, Wendy Baumler, Darlene Hudson, Karen Reigle-Scheitheir, and Laura Stuber as Food Service Helper substitutes, and Kaleigh Aquino, Charlene Jonathan, and Cynthia Judd as Teacher Aide-Monitor substitutes for the 2021-2022 school year.
Board members accepted the letter of resignation from Brenda Sundown from her Varsity Volleyball Coach position effective August 10, 2021 and the letter of resignation from Antoinette Abrams from her J Volleyball coaching position. Abrams was appointed to the vacant Varsity volleyball coaching position for the 2021-2022 volleyball season.
Extra-curricular appointments for 2021-2022 included: Matthew Baumgarten – National Honor Society, John Chubb – National Honor Society, Debra Hart – Musical Stage Play Director; Thomas James – Scorekeeper, Robert Kowalik – Cross Country Varsity Boys Coach, Matthew McHale – Musical Stage Play Director, Susan Myers – High School Guidance Co-Chair, Meghen Pitts – Musical Stage play Director, and Kathryn Welnowski – High School Guidance Co-Chair.
District Items
Board members voted to create a temporary, part-time position of Temporary Director of Instructional Technology, effective August 16, 2021 through June 30, 2022 and appointed Debra Eppolito to that position subject to approval by the Commissioner of Education of a waiver under Section 211 of the New York State Retirement and Social Security Law.
Assistant Principal, Mary Fial was approved as Lead Evaluator and Chief Faculty Advisor.
The amount of $37,405.00 was approved retroactively for transfer from the Employee Benefit Accrued Liability Reserve Fund of the District to the unrestricted fund balance of the District. This represents amounts paid out by June 30 for retiring individuals.
The amount of $195,000 was approved retroactively to June 30, 2021 for transfer from unappropriated fund balance of the District to the Reserve for State and local Retirement System Contributions Fund for the purpose of paying required contributions to the state employees’ retirement system.
The amount of $175,000 was approved retroactively to June 30, 2021 for transfer from the unappropriated fund balance of the Akron Central School District to the Reserve for Teachers’ Retirement Contributions of the District.
Non-public transportation request to St. Mary’s of Swormville, 6919 Transit Road, Swormville was approved.
An updated policy on Smoking, Tobacco, and Cannabis (Marijuana) Use was approved.
Adam Massaro and Nicholas Yelich were approved as athletic volunteers in Football for 2021-2022.