The Ramapo Central School Board of Education recently met at Sloatsburg Elementary School — and witnessed a big turnout.

The Sloatsburg Elementary School gymnasium was filled to standing room only as the Ramapo Central School Board held its first meeting of the new year — in the board’s new mode of community outreach.

Interested in the Ramapo Central School District? The Board of Education is accepting applications for a vacant board seat. Submit a letter of interest and  resume to the district clerk by January 31st.

Partly to quell district rumors, partly to re-connect with district residents, and certainly to bring the Ramapo Central message directly to the people throughout the community, the BOE has significantly beefed up its communications effort while scheduling board meetings at various district facilities. The Tuesday, February 4, board meeting is scheduled for Montebello Elementary School.

District Superintendent Dr. Douglas Adams took the microphone early in the proceedings and calmly and affably addressed the audience. Contrary to what you may have heard, Adams said, there will be no recommended program or personnel cuts for the 2014-15 school year. Big applause. Dr. Adams also put the kibosh on rumors about possible budget cuts that might lead to school closings. Bigger applause and a general sigh of relief.

The Ramapo Central BOE and Dr. Adams have made it their mission to clarify misinformation about the district’s finances and budget plans through various channels. The Ramapo Central website mentions district rumors in several places, and, meanwhile, Dr. Adams’ January 17 BlackBoard email message to Ramapo Central members said:

I would ask that you not rely on rumors found on Facebook or other social media regarding next year’s budget, as it seems evident that a significant amount of misinformation has been recently circulated.

My concern as your Superintendent is to make sure that you have information that you can rely upon so that your family remains up-to-date on significant matters concerning the education of your children.  

I invite you to visit our District website where we will post all relevant information on a current basis.

It’s very possible that the rumors and conjecture about the district direction are rooted in the very real program and personnel cuts discussed and implemented during the 2013-14 budget process. New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s audit report on the district appeared to create a firestorm of confusion and blowback about the district’s direction. The report charged that the district had accumulated some $16.3 million in excess funds that could have been used in accordance with “applicable statutory requirements.”

The report came out in September of 2013, long after district voters overwhelmingly approved the 2013/14 budget, personnel and program cuts and all.

Last year’s budget process and the comptroller’s report looks to have galvanized the BOE, superintendent and school district community to engage in an ongoing, healthy conversation on how the some 4,500 k-12 district students will be schooled. How to weigh and balance the financial cost to maintain excellence in education is at the crux of the conversation. Engaged, active teachers and staff of all manner must be on hand to deliver the district’s mission to educate for personal excellence.

District leaders are determined to take their message that everyone must work together to meet the demands of the district’s curriculum goals and financial realities. The conversation is about agreeing on the message and goal.

Dr. Adams announced that his budget recommendations for 2014-15 will be to:

• remain within the New York State tax cap;
• maintain programs at existing levels, with reductions, if any, based solely on declining student enrollment; and,
• utilize a portion of the funds liquidated according to the District’s Corrective Action Plan approved by the Board of Education, which has been submitted to the Office of the State Comptroller, to cover most of the anticipated budget shortfall, estimated at $5 million.

Notice: The Ramapo Central School District Board of Education will be accepting applications for the vacated Board seat.  If you are interested in applying, please submit a letter of interest and your resume by January 31st to our District Clerk, Mr. Kelly Seibert at: Ramapo Central School District, 45 Mountain Avenue, Hillburn, NY  10931.