Chappaqua BOE Roundup: Board Backs Mandate Relief List

The Chappaqua school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to support a mandate reform playbook recently published by the New York State School Board's Association (NYSSBA). The playbook (click here for it) calls for several reforms, including:

• Create a new pension tier that would include a defined contribution plan, or a hybrid that incorporates defined contribution elements with defined benefit plan elements. Currently the pensions, which the state mandates school districts and local governments to contribute to, have a defined benefit structure.
• Repeal the Triborough Amendment to the Taylor law and allow for salary freezes for union employees in the event of contract expiration without a new agreement. It also calls for getting rid of "step" increases in salary between contracts.
• Get rid of using seniority as the only factor when districts lay off employees.
• Institute a cap on employer contributions for employee health insurance to 85 percent for individuals and 75 percent for families

The school board also agreed to continue review of a mandate reform flyer that the Financial Advisory Committee wants to send out, with a possible approval of it at the next meeting in June. The board agreed to wait until then after taking into consideration some concerns from President Janet Benton about the accuracy of some information in the flyer.

With Term Winding Down, Bresner Likens District's Finances to GM

As the board members talked about state mandates, Vice President Gregg Bresner, who is stepping down at the end of the school year after having decided not to run again, gave a presentation on "crowding out" of educational services by state mandates, particularly with pension contributions. Bresner compared the school distrct's future to that of General Motors before its 2009 bankruptcy, noting the high levels of pension obligations in both cases.

Members Skeptical of Assembly's Tax Cap Plan

Board members, reacting to a proposal in the state Assembly to implement Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed 2-percent annual property tax cap with an exemption for pension costs, criticized the new plan. The concerns that some members raised ranged from the proposal not doing anything to reform pensions, to the cap harming the district's ability to pay for educational programs, even with the exception.

Update on Assistant Superintendent Searches

Superintendent-designate Lyn McKay updated the board on the search process to fill her current job of Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, which will be re-classified as an assistant superintendent position. She will make a recommendation to the board for the position at its next meeting in two weeks. McKay will assume her new job in July.

Meanwhile, McKay will give information at the next board meeting about replacing Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Tom Cardellichio, who passed away last month.