Dear Connetquot
Community,
I hope that this
email finds you and your family safe and well.
I am writing this
in hopes of eliminating some of the misinformation that is currently being
shared throughout the community. At last week’s meeting of the Connetquot
Board of Education, some very important topics were discussed and some
impactful decisions were made.
What was acted upon:
As part of its
on-going work to reduce operating expenditures for 2020-21 to align with
current revenue estimates, the Board of Education proposed and approved
the abolishment of the following positions effective July 1, 2020: 1. the
assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, 2. the assistant
superintendent for special services, 3. the director of guidance,
4. an elementary assistant principal, 5. a high school assistant
principal and the high school dean of students. Furthermore, the district
approved a resolution to work to renegotiate our contract with Suffolk
Transportation given our reduced service needs as a result of the school
closure due to COVID-19.
In an effort to
continue to support our students socially and emotionally through this time of
distance learning, the Board also voted to allow for continued student
participation in clubs through virtual platforms. We realize for so many
students school goes well beyond what transpires in the classroom and they find
joy, inspiration and enrichment in the co-curricular activities they take part
in and felt that this was an important way to help them stay connected. Those
advisors who have access to and the ability to continue to facilitate club meetings
and activities remotely will do so while our schools remain closed. Greater
detail about this will be provided by each club advisor.
Although we are
uncertain as to what the future of this school year looks like, we are
committed to not overlooking the important milestones that this year represents
for many of our students. As such, the Board will be creating a community
committee to help discuss ways in which we can celebrate and honor our students
whose educational journey will reach pivotal junctions this June. These
include, but are not limited to, moving up events and graduations. The charge
of the committee will be to discuss and brainstorm ways to mark these momentous
occasions should our mandated school closure extend beyond the most recent May
15 date.
Matters discussed but NOT acted upon:
During budget
discussions, the Board also questioned what would be the potential financial
impact if the district were to rezone and close John Pearl Elementary School.
Following this
request, at the April 16 meeting preliminary information as to the potential
staffing implication and cost savings was shared. As a decision of this
magnitude would require careful planning and consideration, that conversation
generated new questions and additional information was requested by the Board
of Education.
As such, the
administration has now been asked by the Board to research what the rezoned
school boundary lines might be for the remaining three elementary schools on
the south end of the district (Bosti, Idle Hour and Sycamore), how long the bus
routes might be for students moving to new schools and what other expenditures
might be increased/decreased should this potentially occur in the future.
Additionally, the question of what would become of a vacant school building was
raised. To help better understand this, the administration will be speaking
with other local school districts to find out what they have done with recently
closed buildings.
The district is
now in the process of gathering all of this information and will share it
during a future public meeting, the date for which has not yet been established.
Where we stand now:
No final decisions
other than those listed in the first part of this message have been made on the
2020-21 budget due to the economic uncertainty in New York State and in the
absence of a state approved budget/school aid package.
Governor Cuomo has
provided dates by which a more realistic budget projection for state aid will
be disseminated – the first of those is April 30, 2020. However,
yesterday, the Governor stated that without federal government assistance
school districts across the state might be looking at a 20% decrease in state
aid due to the economic deficit New York State is facing. In Connetquot School District, the loss of 20%
state aid would mean a decrease of approximately 11 million dollars in revenue.
Decreased revenue of that magnitude is debilitating to any school
district. When we receive the new state aid revenue projection, we,
along with all other school districts, may need to rethink our entire budget
and the tremendous impact that kind of loss in revenue would have on all
programs and staffing. One way
we can all help, is to call upon our district representatives in Congress to
urge them to ensure greater support in the form of federal aid to our schools.
Without that help, it might not be possible for our state to avoid such drastic
cuts to public school funding.
This is not an
easy time to say the least, but please know we are committed to taking the time
needed to digest the information being provided before any decisions are made.
In the meantime,
we are all suffering – some from losses of loved ones, some from anxiety and
isolation, some battling their own or a loved one’s illness, some from working
day and night to fight against this horrible disease.
These are the
times when communities need to support each other, not tear each other
down. When this pandemic finally abates, will the hurt that we impose on
each other be able to be forgiven, or will it keep the community at odds in a
time when we are emerging frightened and stressed?
I realize that
many of the topics being discussed can bring up questions, concerns and a host
of emotions from individuals. Please, as we work through all of this, lets
agree to stay connected in a positive way and not lash out behind a keyboard,
without being able to see the hurt we have imposed. Be kind, ask
questions, seek to understand other’s points of view, without attack and censure.
We are one
community, let’s continue to make it a strong one. We will get through
this, but only if we work together.
Please stay safe
and healthy.
Sincerely,
Lynda G. Adams,
Ed.D.
Superintendent of
Schools