Great
news: while out making my school visits recently, I saw my first robin! Unfortunately,
the bird was in Altoona and it may be another week or two until we see our own
signs of spring. The words “Polar Vortex” has become very unpopular this
winter.
Yes,
winter has certainly taken center stage this school year as many activities
were either cancelled or rescheduled.
The State has delayed the dates for administering the PSSA and is
considering the same for the Keystone Exams. Even as the official start of spring is March 20, the weather
may still be interesting as the most recent reports call for possible early
morning ice on that day. Fortunately,
as much as Old Man Winter is reluctant to leave, the sun will sooner or later
(hopefully sooner) grow stronger and the temps will force him out of the area
for several months.
Many
of you are now aware of the governor’s proposed budget. Once again, public education and local
entities must find ways to finance unfunded mandates:
· There is no real increase
for basic education funding.
· PlanCon is getting no new
dollars.
· There is a minute increase
in funding for special education for the fifth year in a row (2%).
· The pension debacle
continues to drain district (and state) coffers.
Once
again, we must do more with less money.
Because I believe it leads to many positive results, I remain committed
to continuing with full day kindergarten. At the same time, I am determined to
keep our district out of deficit spending.
A
fund balance is the difference between assets and liabilities. When assets are greater than liabilities,
the balance is positive. If you
follow our district finances, you will know that our fund balance is greater
than 15% of our total budget. By
law we must consume any fund balance in excess of 8% prior to increasing any
taxes. Maintaining a positive fund balance:
· improves the credit rating
of our district.
· allows us to make our bond
payments (without having yet received any of the PlanCon money from the State
to which we are entitled).
· enables us to prepare for
pension increases
· and for the unexpected
building and ground issues that happen as buildings age.
Although
this budget dilemma has caused considerable anxiety for educators, parents, and
communities, we at Central Cambria are handling it in the best way possible:
while some might wait or spend as if the problem might just disappear, we know
the wiser course of action is to prepare for next year’s deficit and plan for
an uncertain future in ways that maximize opportunities for our students.
As
some of you may be aware, the district is still negotiating with its teachers’
union. Talks have been ongoing
since January of 2012. I encourage
you all to click on this link to review what the District was willing to accept
and what the union voted not to accept.
Finally,
with spring around the corner, football is in the air. Many colleges, including PSU, have
begun spring practices. NFL free
agency continues for one more week and there are just 50 days until the draft
begins. As I wait (patiently?) for
football, I enjoy excellent hockey performances by our Pittsburgh favorites.
Admittedly, the Pens are on a two game losing streak, but they are still the
East division leaders.
As
time marches on at an increasingly rapid pace, it won’t be long before many of
us will be complaining about the heat and cutting the grass. For my part, I hope to ease my
“suffering” by recalling this winter of 2014 while wearing flip flops and
shorts.
Until
next month,
Dr.
D.
