The evening of 2022-01-04 was a meeting of the Honeoye Falls-Lima Board of Education (BoE), and Program Budget Advisory Council (PBAC).
As the first of this years budget meeting, the format was different. Instead of budget before business, like in past years, it was some business, break for budget, then back to business. Time will tell if this is really an improvement, but I thought it worked well enough.
Discussion around legislative talking points was interesting. As there were a number of points, this did cover alot.
Some backstory needed here, but I did receive an answer to a question I have been wondering for a while. A number of years back it was stated that ‘HFL follows the law’. This came up in regards to policies, and how they keep having to be updated to reflect changes to the law. Thus it would be simpler to, where possible, simply state that ‘HFL follows the law’ (in appropriate legalese). All good there. But it left me wondering what would happen if the law was ‘bad’.
We now find ourselves in a situation where the students are being harmed by the law (or mandates, however you want to split that hair). And the stance from Gene (Superintendent) and the Board remains ‘HFL obeys’. While I disagree with obeying orders above all, at least that question has been answered.
Which is the round about way of saying, HFL’s stance is to follow the directions of the Department of Health in all matters. Masks, vaccines, etc. Interesting, as they next discussed mental health. In particular, how the student aren’t doing well. Not being in the school, and thus not directly interacting with the kids, I can only speculate. But I do wonder how much of the current mental health issues are caused by the public education system. I’m not a student and I’ve had some unpleasant interactions with the schools rules. I have to assume it’s worse for kids then me, as they are younger and school is a larger portion of their life.
In all fairness, I don’t think there is any malice here (although I could be wrong). I think it’s more a case of trying to make the best of the mess they are in. In that I think they are doing a commendable job. I just think it would have been better for everyone if instead of complying, they bravely refused. But doing so is risky, and of questionable legality (is it illegal to disobey an illegal order? what about an immoral one?).
While there are a number of silver linings to the situation, one was mentioned. If you want things to change, talk/write to the State legislators directly. The Board has been told by those representatives that doing so is the best way to get their attention.
All that aside, on to the budget.
Projections are for ~20 fewer students next year (and for the next 5). Good to know, but listening to some parents, I wonder if home schooling will lead to a larger change next year.
At this early point, increasing the tax levy to the limit will gain the district ~$780k. Not nothing, but with how the tax cap treats inflation, not a great amount either. It will be interesting to see how big the budget gap is as the process continues. It will, of course, be zero at the end. But the journey to get there…
The budget presentation was from the Transportation and Facilities department. May technically be two departments, but from where I’m sitting it looks like one, so that’s how I’ll treat it.
Staffing continues to be an issue here. Much as everywhere else these days, although it was mentioned the problem was here first. Which tells me it isn’t going to change anytime soon. So the question becomes how to do more with less. Do we stretch what we have in increasingly creative methods? Or retool the entire system so that the demand is lower? Transportation clearly will be working on the ‘creative stretching’ approach. Which I think is proper, as at the end of the day they are a support service. It’s not their role to determine how education is done.
So that’s an hour budget talk in a paragraph. If you want to watch it, budget starts at ~38 minutes, presentation ends and questions start at ~1:25, while questions end at ~1:38.
After the budget it was public comment time. Three commenters. At the risk of overly simplifying them, one was pro-choice and the other two pro-mandate. Feel free to watch them yourself, starting at ~1:43. A line about masks being worn for comfort stood out to me. The implication being, even if there wasn’t any medical benefit, they should still be worn as they make people feel better. I find it interesting that the medical protections are being pushed for their non-medical benefits.
Gene’s report was an odd mix of depressing and encouraging. I really feel the guy needs a hug (or ten). While it’s not the same, it sounds like a bunch of students decided to become his ’email buddies’. Which looks to have been the bright spot of his day. Good for him, and them.
He also made a surprisingly good case for having Board meetings on Zoom: It frees up the facilities staff to clean the school. As they are already short staffed, it could be the difference between closing and remaining open.
On the less pleasant side, there is considerable absenteeism, both in staff and students. To such an extent that they are preparing for remote instruction again. Not ‘planning’, as the hope is it won’t get that bad. But best to be prepared. Gene did reiterate his opinion that if HFL has to close, it will be because of not enough able staff.
As an aside on the format, I will give them credit. When they decided to go ‘Full Remote‘ they did. None of the nonsense where it’s safe enough for the Board to meet together, but not the public. Unfortunate they are back to Zoom only, but at least they are consistent in how people are treated. But less work for facilities staff, so bonus there.
And those are my Observations From Audience Land for the January 04, 2022 meeting of the Honeoye Falls-Lima Board of Education.
Agenda’s and similar information can be found at HFL’s BoardDocs page. While a recording is also available.